1954 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team

The 1954 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team represented Michigan State Normal College (renamed Eastern Michigan College in 1956 and Eastern Michigan University in 1959) in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1954 college football season. In their third season under head coach Fred Trosko, the Hurons compiled an 8–1 record (5–1 against IIAC opponents), tied with Central Michigan for the IIAC championship, and outscored their opponents, 210 to 67.^[1] Nicholas Manych was the team captain.^[1] The Hurons lost to Central Michigan by a 28 to 7 score in the final game of the season, resulting in the two teams sharing the conference championship.^[2] Quarterback Bob Middlekauff led the team with 934 yards of total offense. Virgil Windom led the team with 530 rushing yards and in scoring with 11 touchdowns and 66 points.^{[1]: 178, 184, 189, 191} Middlekauf was also named MVP of the IIAC.^[1]: 142

1954 Michigan State Normal Hurons football
IIAC co-champion
Conference	Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record	8–1 (5–1 IIAC)
Head coach	Fred Trosko (3rd season)
MVP	Robert Middlekauf
Captain	Nicholas Manych
Home stadium	Briggs Field
Seasons ← 1953 1955 →

1954 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Michigan State Normal +	5	–	1	–	0			8	–	1	–	0
Central Michigan +	5	–	1	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Western Illinois	3	–	1	–	2			6	–	1	–	3
Illinois State Normal	3	–	2	–	1			5	–	3	–	1
Eastern Illinois	1	–	4	–	1			2	–	6	–	1
Southern Illinois	1	–	5	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Northern Illinois State	1	–	5	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 18	at Hope*	Riverview Park Holland, MI	W 19–0	2,500	^[3]
September 25	Hillsdale*	Briggs Field Ypsilanti, MI	W 32–13		^[4]
October 1	Wayne*	Briggs Field Ypsilanti, MI	W 7–0	4,000	^[5]
October 9	Eastern Illinois	Briggs Field Ypsilanti, MI	W 33–0		^[6]
October 16	at Northern Illinois State	Glidden Field DeKalb, IL	W 34–0		^[7]
October 23	at Southern Illinois	McAndrew Stadium Carbondale, IL	W 20–0	6,500	^[8]
October 30	Western Illinois	Briggs Field Ypsilanti, MI	W 33–19	5,100	^[9]
November 6	at Illinois State Normal	McCormick Field Normal, IL	W 25–7		^[10]
November 13	at Central Michigan	Mount Pleasant, MI (rivalry)	L 7–28		^[2]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[11]

After the season

The following Huron was selected in the 1955 NFL Draft after the season.^[12]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL club
21	243	Nick Manych	End	Baltimore Colts

References

1. "2014 Digital Media Guide: Eastern Michigan University" (PDF). Eastern Michigan University Football. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
2. "Hurons Lose; Tie For Crown; Chippewas Hand Michigan Normal First Loss of Season, 28-7". The DeKalb Daily Chronicle. November 15, 1954. p. 12.
3. "Hope Drops Opening Tilt, 19-0". The Holland Evening Sentinel. September 20, 1954. p. 7. Retrieved March 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "One Major Mich. Power Suffers Loss". The Herald-Press. Associated Press. September 27, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved March 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Hurons Snag Wayne Pass to Win, 7-0". Detroit Free Press. October 2, 1954. p. 14. Retrieved March 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Mich. Normal Raps EI, 33-0". Decatur Sunday Herald and Review. October 10, 1954. p. 20. Retrieved February 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Michigan Normal Blanks Northern Illinois, 34-0". Battle Creek Enquirer. Associated Press. October 18, 1954. p. 10. Retrieved December 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Jones, Merle (October 25, 1954). "Michigan Hurons Beat Southern, 20-0". The Southern Illinoisan. p. 7. Retrieved February 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Normal Wins 7th In Row". Lansing State Journal. Associated Press. October 31, 1954. p. 66. Retrieved February 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Barnhart, Jim (November 7, 1954). "Michigan Normal Halts ISNU". The Pantagraph. p. 12. Retrieved February 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
12. "1955 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.