1955 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

The 1955 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan College, renamed Central Michigan University in 1959, in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1955 college football season. In their fifth season under head coach Kenneth Kelly, the Chippewas compiled an 8–1 record (5–1 against IIAC opponents), tied for the IIAC championship shut out three of nine opponents, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 327 to 79.^[1]

1955 Central Michigan Chippewas football
IIAC co-champion
Conference	Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record	8–1 (5–1 IIAC)
Head coach	Kenneth Kelly (5th season)
MVP	Bernie Raterink
Home stadium	Alumni Field
Seasons ← 1954 1956 →

1955 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings

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

The team's statistical leaders included Mike Sweeney with 302 passing yards, Bernie Raterink with 1,044 rushing yards, and Ray Sine with 140 receiving yards.^[2] Raterink received the team's most valuable player award.^[3] Four Central Michigan players (Raterink, guard Ray Figg, center Dick Kackmeister, and end Jarv Walz) received first-team honors on the All-IIAC team. Raterink was also named most valuable player in the IIAC.^[4]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 10	Pittsburg State*	Saginaw, MI	W 33–0		^[5]^[6]
September 24	Western Michigan*	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI (rivalry)	W 27–12		^[7]
October 1	at Southern Illinois	McAndrew Stadium Carbondale, IL	L 13–14		^[8]
October 8	Northern Illinois	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	W 61–0		^[9]
October 15	Western Illinois	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	W 20–0	6,400	^[10]
October 22	at Illinois State Normal	McCormick Field Normal, IL	W 35–7		^[11]
October 29	at Milwaukee State*	Milwaukee, WI	W 63–12		^[12]
November 5	at Michigan State Normal	Briggs Field Ypsilanti, MI (rivalry)	W 27–20	5,000	^[13]
November 12	Eastern Illinois	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	W 48–14		^[14]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[15]

References

1. (PDF). Central Michigan University. 2015. pp. 100, 110. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
2. 2015 Media Guide, pp. 88-89.
3. 2015 Media Guide, p. 95.
4. 2015 Media Guide, p. 96.
5. "Chips Win First Game". Lansing State Journal. Associated Press. September 11, 1955. p. 71. Retrieved March 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Gorillas Lose Grid Opener". Kansas City Times. Associated Press. September 12, 1955. p. 19. Retrieved March 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Central Michigan Whips Western". Lansing State Journal. Associated Press. September 25, 1955. p. 71. Retrieved March 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Jones, Merle (October 3, 1955). "SIU Upsets Central Michigan, 14-13". The Southern Illinoisan. p. 9. Retrieved February 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Central Michigan Sets Scoring Mark". Battle Creek Enquirer. Associated Press. October 9, 1955. p. 4:1. Retrieved February 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Central Michigan Wins, 20 to 0". Lansing State Journal. October 16, 1955 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Central Michigan in Easy Victory, 35 to 7". Lansing State Journal. Associated Press. October 23, 1955. p. 71. Retrieved October 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Central Michigan Romps, 63 to 12". Lansing State Journal. Associated Press. October 30, 1955. p. 66. Retrieved March 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Central Michigan Measures Michigan Normal, 27 to 20". Lansing State Journal. Associated Press. November 6, 1955. p. 69. Retrieved March 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Chips Rack Up 8th Win". Lansing State Journal. Associated Press. November 13, 1955. p. 65. Retrieved February 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 14, 2022.