1953 Iowa State Cyclones football
ConferenceBig Seven Conference
Record2–7 (1–5 Big 7)
Head coach
CaptainJack Lessin, Jim Rawley
Home stadiumClyde Williams Field
Seasons
← 1952
1954 →
1953 Big Seven Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 4 Oklahoma $ 6 – 0 – 0 9 – 1 – 1
Missouri 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
Kansas State 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 3 – 1
Colorado 2 – 4 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
Nebraska 2 – 4 – 0 3 – 6 – 1
Kansas 2 – 4 – 0 2 – 8 – 0
Iowa State 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1953 Iowa State Cyclones football team represented Iowa State College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts (later renamed Iowa State University) in the Big Seven Conference during the 1953 college football season. In their seventh and final year under head coach Abe Stuber, the Cyclones compiled a 2–7 record (1–5 against conference opponents), finished in last place in the conference, and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 211 to 120.[1][2] They played their home games at Clyde Williams Field in Ames, Iowa.

The team's regular starting lineup on offense consisted of left end Barney Alleman, left tackle Ralph Brown, left guard Bill Wilson, center Jim Rawley, right guard Gean Kowalski, right tackle Jack Lessin, right end Kim Tidd, quarterback Bill Plantan, left halfback Dan Rice, right halfback Dick Cox, and fullback Max Burkett.[2] Jack Lessin and Jim Rawley were the team captains.[2]

The team's statistical leaders included Max Burkett with 342 rushing yards, Bill Plantan with 723 passing yards and 41 points (five touchdowns and 11 extra points), and Gary Lutz with 249 receiving yards.[3] Max Burkett was selected as a first-team all-conference player.[4]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 192:00 pmSouth Dakota*
W 35–09,986–11,000[5]
September 261:30 pmat Northwestern*
L 0–3537,960
October 32:00 pmat Kansas
L 0–2323,676
October 102:00 pmKansas State
  • Clyde Williams Field
  • Ames, IA (rivalry)
L 12–208,037
October 172:00 pmMissouridagger
  • Clyde Williams Field
  • Ames, IA (rivalry)
W 13–612,486
October 242:00 pmat Drake*
L 7–125,648–7,500[6][7][8]
October 313:00 pmat Colorado
L 34–4122,136
November 72:00 pmNebraska
  • Clyde Williams Field
  • Ames, IA
L 19–2712,116
November 142:00 pmat No. 6 Oklahoma
L 0–4743,713
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

References

  1. ^ "1953 Iowa State Cyclones Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "2017 Iowa State Football Fact Book" (PDF). Iowa State University. 2017. p. 146.
  3. ^ 2017 Fact Book, pp. 112-113.
  4. ^ 2017 Fact Book, pp. 74-75.
  5. ^ Leighton Housh (September 20, 1953). "Iowa State Veterans Romp, 35-0: S. Dakotans Can´t Match First String". The Des Moines Register. pp. 1S, 8S – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Housh, Leighton (October 24, 1953). "Drake Plans Surprises, But Iowa State Is Strong Favorite". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. p. 9. Retrieved July 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  7. ^ Housh, Leighton (October 25, 1953). "Bulldogs Win, 12-7, In Last 2 Minutes". Des Moines Sunday Register. Des Moines, Iowa. p. 1S. Retrieved July 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  8. ^ Housh, Leighton (October 25, 1953). "Fumbled Punt Gives Drake Needed Break (continued)". Des Moines Sunday Register. Des Moines, Iowa. p. 7S. Retrieved July 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
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