1954 Omaha Indians football team

The 1954 Omaha Indians football team was an American football team that represented the University of Omaha (now known as the University of Nebraska Omaha) as an independent during the 1954 college football season. In their eighth year under head coach Lloyd Cardwell, the Indians compiled a perfect 10–0 record, defeated Eastern Kentucky in the 1955 Tangerine Bowl, and outscored opponents by a total of 360 to 67.[1] The Tangerine Bowl was the first bowl game in Omaha program history.[2]

1954 Omaha Indians football
Tangerine Bowl champion
ConferenceIndependent
Record10–0
Head coach
CaptainRudy Rotella, Emil Radik
Home stadiumUniversity Stadium
1954 Midwestern college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Omaha    10 0 0
No. 4 Notre Dame    9 1 0
Wabash    7 1 1
Cincinnati    8 2 0
Youngstown    7 2 0
Washington University    6 3 0
Carthage    5 3 0
Dayton    5 5 0
Marquette    3 5 1
Wayne    3 5 1
John Carroll    3 5 0
Rose Poly    2 5 0
Drake    2 7 0
Xavier    2 8 0
Baldwin–Wallace    1 8 0
Rankings from AP Poll

Omaha tailback Bill Engelhardt was the national total offense champion among small college players with 1,645 yards. He tallied 584 rushing yards on 134 carries and 1,061 passing yards (56 of 109 passing) during the regular season. He also scored 88 points on 13 touchdowns and 10 extra points.[3] Engelhardt also tallied 151 yards and scored all seven Omaha points in the Tangerine Bowl.[4]

The team played its home games at University Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska.[5]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 18at Fort HaysHays, KSW 27–19[6]
September 25at Morningside
W 45–0[7][8]
October 2Washburn
W 27–62,500[9]
October 9Bradley
  • University Stadium
  • Omaha, NE (Centennial Day)
W 39–03,500[10]
October 16at Emporia StateW 38–6[11]
October 23St. Ambrosedagger
  • University Stadium
  • Omaha, NE
W 35–145,500[12]
October 30at Northern Illinois StateW 26–74,000[13]
November 6Wayne
  • University Stadium
  • Omaha, NE
W 59–76,100[14]
November 11Doane
W 57–23,200[15]
January 1, 1955vs. Eastern KentuckyW 7–612,759[4][16]
  • daggerHomecoming

References

  1. "1954 - Nebraska-Omaha". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  2. "Tangerine Bowl OK for Omaha U.: U.S. Honors Also to Champ Ground Gainer Engelhardt; Game at Orlando, Fla". Omaha Daily Journal-Stockman. November 15, 1954. p. 5 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Omaha's Bill Engelhardt National Yardage Champ". The Gateway. November 19, 1954. p. 5 via Newspapers.com.
  4. Bob Howard (January 2, 1955). "Omaha Beats East Kentucky 7-6 In Ninth Tangerine Bowl Game: Engelhardt Stars For Indians, Named Most Valuable Player". Orlando Sentinel. pp. 1A, 2B via Newspapers.com.
  5. "OU Grid Season Opens Tomorrow: Omaha Eleven Journeys to Fort Hays for Game". The Gateweay. September 17, 1954. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  6. Maurice Shadle (September 19, 1954). "Omahans Win, 27-19, in Kansas: Indians Capitalize on Foe's Errors to Take Opener". Sunday World-Herald. p. 1C via Newspapers.com.
  7. Russ Ward (September 26, 1954). "Omaha Indians Humble Morningside by 45 to 0". The Sioux City Sunday Journal. pp. IV-1, IV-4 via Newspapers.com.
  8. Maurice Shadle (September 26, 1954). "27 Omaha U. Players Take Place in 45-0 Rout". Sunday World-Herald. p. 1C via Newspapers.com.
  9. Maurice Shindle (October 3, 1954). "Two Steck Touchdowns Gun indians Past Washburn, 27-6". Sunday World-Herald. pp. 1C, 8C via Newspapers.com.
  10. Maurice Shadle (October 10, 1954). "Alert Indians Roll to Fourth Straight, 39-0 Over Bradley". Sunday World-Herald. pp. 1C, 2C.
  11. "Omaha U. Breezes to Fifth Victory, 38-6: Passes Click for 4 Indian Touchdowns". Sunday World-Herald. October 17, 1954. p. 1C via Newspapers.com.
  12. Maurice Shadle (October 24, 1954). "5,500 See Indians Down St. Ambrose: Undefeated Omaha U. Shakes Early Jitters to Win Homecoming, 35-14". Sunday World-Herald. pp. 1C, 3C via Newspapers.com.
  13. Burdick, Chuck (November 1, 1954). "Strong Band of Huskies Lose Homecoming Contest". The DeKalb Daily Chronicle. p. 10. Retrieved December 8, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  14. Maurice Shadle (November 7, 1954). "Bowl-Thirsty Indians Crush Wayne, 59-7: Detroit Club Is No Match Before 6,100". Sunday World-Herald. pp. 1C, 2C via Newspapers.com.
  15. Maurice Shadle (November 12, 1954). "Omaha Jolts Doane, 57-2, for Ninth Win: Engelhardt Runs, Passes to 277 Yards; Bowl Outlook Strengthened?". Evening World Herald. pp. 31, 33 via Newspapers.com.
  16. Maurice Shadle (January 2, 1955). "O.U. Takes Thriller From Rivals, 7 to 6: Engelhardt's Toe Fashions Bowl Victory". Sunday World-Herald. p. 1C via Newspapers.com.
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