1955 Shepherd Rams football team

The 1955 Shepherd Rams football team represented Shepherd University as a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) during the 1955 college football season. In their third and final season under head coach Donald E. Fuoss, the Rams compiled a perfect 8–0 record, shut out four of eight opponents, and outscored opponents by a total of 299 to 31.[2] Shepherd has a record of 4–0 in conference play, winning the WVIAC title.[3]

1955 Shepherd Rams football
WVIAC champion
ConferenceWest Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record8–0 (4–0 WVIAC)
Head coach
CaptainJohn Shearer, George Hott, Dick Widdows[1]
1955 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Shepherd $ 4 –0 –08 –0 –0
Concord 5 –2 –05 –4 –0
West Virginia Tech 3 –2 –05 –3 –1
Fairmont State 6 –3 –06 –3 –0
West Liberty State 3 –3 –03 –4 –1
Potomac State 4 –4 –04 –4 –0
West Virginia Wesleyan 3 –4 –03 –5 –0
Salem 3 –4 –04 –4 –0
Glenville State 1 –7 –01 –7 –0
Davis & Elkins 0 –7 –00 –7 –0
Morris Harvey * 2 –0 –04 –5 –0
Bethany (WV) * 2 –0 –06 –1 –0
Bluefield State * 1 –0 –07 –2 –1
West Virginia State * 0 –1 –01 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • * – Did not qualify for conference standings
    Conference standings based on power ratings

It was the first WVIAC championship in the history of athletics at Shepherd.[1] It was also the first perfect season in 30 years of Shepherd football history.[4] The Rams out-gained opponents by an average of 397.8 yards per game to 160.1 yards per game.[2] Only one other team in the country scored more points than Shepherd,[5] and that team played one more game than Shepherd.[6] Its average of 33.9 points per game was the highest in the country.[4] The team was inducted into the Shepherd University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.[7]

The team's key players included quarterback John Shearer, halfbacks George Hott and Barry Hall, and ends Bill Gaskins and Dick Widdows.[8][9][1] Shearer led the WVIAC in total offense (1,278 yards) and passing (1,002 yards).[10] Hott led the conference in scoring.[11]

In the fall of 1955, Shepherd was a small college with an enrollment of 1,600 students. There were no athletic scholarships, no grants-in-aid, and no booster club.[2] The Rams played their home games in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 17at Fairmont StateFairmont, WVW 26–6
September 24at Glenville StateGlenville, WVW 26–6
October 8at Bridgewater*Bridgewater, VAW 24–0[12][13]
October 15Potomac StatedaggerShepherdstown, WVW 33–0[14][15]
October 22vs. Davis & ElkinsWinchester, VAW 47–6[16]
October 29Gallaudet*Shepherdstown, WVW 41–13[17][18]
November 5District of Columbia Teachers*Shepherdstown, WVW 56–0[9][19]
November 12Apprentice*Shepherdstown, WVW 46–0[20][8]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

Players
  • Claude Flagg[1]
  • Bill Gaskins, end[1]
  • Barry Hall, halfback[1]
  • George "Red" Hott, halfback and co-captain, 6'3", 195 pounds[1][2]
  • Dick Hughes[1]
  • John Pratico[1]
  • John Shearer, quarterback and co-captain, 6'3", 200 pounds[1][2]
  • Cinders Snyder[1]
  • Barney Tucker[1]
  • Dick Widdows, end and co-captain[1]

References
  1. "Spotlight on Sports". The Daily Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. November 8, 1955. p. 12.
  2. Tom Stimmel (November 20, 1955). "Shepherd Quiet After Big Year". Post Herald and Register. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "2005 WVIAC Football Media Guide". West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. July 15, 2005. p. 36. Retrieved June 26, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  4. "'Get Coach,' Not Stars, Says Unbeaten Shepherd". Atlantic City Press. November 17, 1955. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Completes Its Best Season". The News. Frederick, Maryland. November 22, 1955. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Shepherd's Big Year Marred by No Flukes". The Evening Star. November 25, 1955. p. A15 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Shepherd Adds Three, 1955 Team to Athletic Hall of Fame". Shepherd University. June 30, 2016.
  8. "Shepherd Chalks Unbeaten Season". Post and Herald Register. Beckley, West Virginia. November 13, 1955. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Shearer Stars as Shepherd Beats District Teachers, 56-0". The Sunday Star. Washington, D.C. November 6, 1955. p. C4 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Shepherd, Shearer Top WVC Statistics". Charleston Daily Mail. November 26, 1955. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "WVIAC Statistics". Post Herald and Register. November 27, 1955. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Eagles Bow To Shepherd By 24 to 0". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 9, 1955. p. B4 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Eagles Drop 24-0 Contest To Shepherd". The Roanoke Times. October 9, 1955. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Shepherd Turns Back Potomac State, 33-0". Post Herald and Register. Beckley, West Virginia. October 16, 1955. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Shepherd Plans For Homecoming". The Daily Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. October 6, 1955. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Shepherd Grabs WVIAC Crown; Bisons Unbeaten". Raleigh Register. October 24, 1955. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Shepherd Routs Gallaudet, Hott Tallies On Long Run". Sunday Times. Cumberland Times. October 30, 1955. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Shepherd Scores 6th". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. October 30, 1955. p. III-6 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Shepherd Wins 7th, Sets Record". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. November 6, 1955. p. III-3 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Builders Routed, 46-0, In Finale By Shepherd". Daily Press. Newport News-Hampden-Warwick. November 13, 1955. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
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