1959 Western Illinois Leathernecks football
IIAC champion
ConferenceInterstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record9–0 (6–0 IIAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumHanson Field
Seasons
← 1958
1960 →
1959 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Western Illinois $ 6 – 0 – 0 9 – 0 – 0
No. 17 Northern Illinois State 4 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Central Michigan 4 – 2 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Southern Illinois 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Eastern Illinois 1 – 4 – 1 3 – 5 – 1
Eastern Michigan 1 – 5 – 0 1 – 7 – 0
Illinois State Normal 0 – 5 – 1 3 – 5 – 1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA poll

The 1959 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1959 NCAA College Division football season. They were led by third-year head coach Lou Saban and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a perfect 9–0 record overall and a 6–0 record in conference play, winning the IIAC title.[1] Despite its record, the team was unable to participate in a postseason bowl game, as the Illinois state teachers college board banned its schools from participating in postseason sporting events.[2]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 19at St. Ambrose*Davenport, IAW 40–7[3]
September 24Bradley*
W 56–31[4]
October 3at Central Michigan
W 26–204,800[5][6]
October 10Southern IllinoisNo. T–18
  • Hanson Field
  • Macomb, IL
W 33–64,300[7][8]
October 17at Northern Illinois
W 18–13[9]
October 24at Arkansas State*No. 17
W 22–19[10]
October 31at Eastern IllinoisNo. 11Charleston, ILW 28–8[11]
November 7Illinois State NormalNo. 10
  • Hanson Field
  • Macomb, IL
W 58–0[12]
November 14Eastern MichiganNo. 9
  • Hanson Field
  • Macomb, IL
W 22–0[13]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from UPI Poll released prior to the game

[14]

References

  1. ^ "Western Illinois Football Record Book" (PDF). Western Illinois University Athletics. p. 69. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "Stratton in Favor of Dropping Ban on Post-Season Games". Herald and Review. Associated Press. November 11, 1959. p. 9. Retrieved November 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "St. Ambrose Is 40-7 Loser". Des Moines Register. September 20, 1959. p. 6S. Retrieved November 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Western Illinois Thumps Bradley Braves, 56-31". Journal Gazette. Associated Press. September 25, 1959. p. 5. Retrieved November 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Central Michigan Bows to Western Illinois, 26-20". Lansing State Journal. UPI. October 4, 1959. p. 62. Retrieved November 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  7. ^ "Western Hands Southern 33-6 Loss; Garron Runs 99 Yards". The Southern Illinoisan. October 11, 1959. p. 13. Retrieved November 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  9. ^ "Huskies Bow to Western". The DeKalb Daily Chronicle. October 19, 1959. p. 12. Retrieved November 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Wheaton, After 7th Title, Meets Wesleyan This Week". Freeport Journal-Standard. Associated Press. October 26, 1959. p. 8. Retrieved November 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Western Tops Eastern, 28-8". Herald and Review. November 1, 1959. p. 18. Retrieved November 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Coffman, Ron (November 8, 1959). "Unbeaten Western Drubs ISNU, 58-0". The Pantagraph. p. 27. Retrieved November 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "West. Illinois Wins Ninth in Row, 22 to 0". Chicago Tribune. November 15, 1959. p. 2:6. Retrieved November 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Brief Summary of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 10, 2022.


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