1953 Army Cadets football team
Encyclopedia
The 1953 Army Black Knights football team represented the United States Military Academy
. Led by head coach Red Blaik, the team finished with a record of 7-1-1. The Army Cadets finished the season by winning the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy
, awarded to the top college team in the East.
, future Green Bay Packer Max McGee
starred for Tulane. In the Army-Navy game
, Army’s 20-7 victory over Navy was its first since 1949.
The turning point of the season was an October victory over #7 ranked Duke University. Duke featured stars such as Red Smith and Worth (A Million) Lutz. Tommy Bell ran up the middle. Quarterback Pete Vann switched the ball to his left hand, and made a southpaw pass. Red Smith was tackled by Bob Mischak on the final play. Mischak ran 73 yards to make the tackle. Red Blaik called it a marvellous display of heart and pursuit.
was the top candidate to become the Giants new head coach. Although Giants co-owner Wellington Mara
was a classmate of Lombardi at Fordham University
, the Giants were actually interested in Army head coach, Colonel Red Blaik. Blaik had declined the job, but recommended Lombardi, who was his offensive co-ordinator at Army. Despite being Red Blaik’s top aide, Vince Lombardi was anxious and frustrated. Three other Army assistants, including Murray Warmath
were now head coaches. In June, Lombardi had turned forty years old. Lombardi would be hired as the offensive co-ordinator for the 1954 season.
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
. Led by head coach Red Blaik, the team finished with a record of 7-1-1. The Army Cadets finished the season by winning the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy
Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy
The Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy is an annual award given to the best team in the Northeast in Division I FBS college football.The Lambert Trophy was established by brothers Victor and Henry Lambert in memory of their father, August. The Lamberts were the principals in a distinguished Madison Avenue...
, awarded to the top college team in the East.
Regular season
The Cadets had lost six players, including Freddie Myers, to academic ineligibility. The Cadets defeated Furnam 41-0, the team’s first shutout since the 1951 scandal. After a loss to Northwestern, the Cadets were undefeated for the rest of the season. In a scoreless tie against the Tulane Green WaveTulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
, future Green Bay Packer Max McGee
Max McGee
William Max McGee was a professional football wide receiver who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1954-67. He served as the team's punter during a few years of his career. McGee may be best known for his performance during the first Super Bowl game. Prior to his NFL career, he played college...
starred for Tulane. In the Army-Navy game
Army-Navy Game
The Army–Navy Game is an an American college football rivalry game between the teams of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. The USMA team, "Army", and the USNA team, "Navy", each represent their services' oldest...
, Army’s 20-7 victory over Navy was its first since 1949.
The turning point of the season was an October victory over #7 ranked Duke University. Duke featured stars such as Red Smith and Worth (A Million) Lutz. Tommy Bell ran up the middle. Quarterback Pete Vann switched the ball to his left hand, and made a southpaw pass. Red Smith was tackled by Bob Mischak on the final play. Mischak ran 73 yards to make the tackle. Red Blaik called it a marvellous display of heart and pursuit.
Season schedule
New York Giants coaching vacancy
Before the end of the 1953 season, the New York Daily News had a headline in their paper that Vince LombardiVince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
was the top candidate to become the Giants new head coach. Although Giants co-owner Wellington Mara
Wellington Mara
Wellington Timothy Mara was the co-owner of the NFL's New York Giants from 1959 until his death, and one of the most influential and iconic figures in the history of the National Football League. He was the younger son of Tim Mara, who founded the Giants in 1925...
was a classmate of Lombardi at Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
, the Giants were actually interested in Army head coach, Colonel Red Blaik. Blaik had declined the job, but recommended Lombardi, who was his offensive co-ordinator at Army. Despite being Red Blaik’s top aide, Vince Lombardi was anxious and frustrated. Three other Army assistants, including Murray Warmath
Murray Warmath
Murray Warmath was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Mississippi State University from 1952 to 1953 and at the University of Minnesota from 1954 to 1971, compiling a career college football record of 97–84–10...
were now head coaches. In June, Lombardi had turned forty years old. Lombardi would be hired as the offensive co-ordinator for the 1954 season.