The 1954 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Iowa as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1954 Big Ten football season. In their third season under head coach Forest Evashevski, the Hawkeyes compiled a 5–4 record (4–3 in conference games), finished in fifth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 192 to 141.

The 1954 Hawkeyes gained 2,083 rushing yards and 677 passing yards. On defense, they gave up 1,496 rushing yards and 913 passing yards.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 161.

The team's statistical leaders included Eddie Vincent (618 rushing yards); Jerry Reichow (34-of-73 passing for 386 yards); Frank Gilliam (15 receptions for 223 yards); and Earl Smith (66 points scored, 17.8 yard per punt return).2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 278-279. Guard Cal Jones was a consensus All-American. Eddie Vincent set the Iowa record (still intact) for longest run from scrimmage with a 96-yard run against Purdue on November 6, 1954.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 284.

Iowa's game against Michigan State was nationally televised on ABC, the second Iowa game to be televised.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 234. The team played its home games at Iowa Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Home attendance was 245,421, an average of 49,084 per game.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 260.

Schedule

Personnel Players The following players received varsity letters for their performance on the 1954 Iowa football team:

George "Binky" Broeder, fullback and captain, No. 32, St. Louis, MO Cameron Cummins, tackle, No. 72, Cedar Rapids, IA Richard Deasy, tackle, No. 73, Chicago Don Dobrino, quarterback, No. 20, Mt. Olive, IL James Freeman, end, No. 80, Iowa City, IA Frank Gilliam, end, junior, No. 87, Steubenville, OH Lester Green, tackle, No. 78 John Hall, tackle, senior, No. 75, Chicago Jim Hatch, fullback, Lancaster, WI James Head, fullback, No. 42, Evansville, IN Don Inman, halfback, No. 40, Tama, IA Cal Jones, guard, junior, No. 62, Steubenville, OH Dick Klein, tackle, senior Bud Lawson, center, No. 50, Fairfield, IA Eldean Matheson, halfback, No. 12, Lake Mills, IA Lou Matykiewicz, quarterback/end, senior, No. 23, Calumet Park, IL Kenneth Meek, end, No. 82, Ladd, IL Terry Moran, guard, No. 63, River Forest, IL Ken Ploen, quarterback, No. 11, Clinton, IA Bill Reichow, guard, No. 21, Decorah, IA Jerry Reichow, quarterback, junior, No. 25 Terry Shuck, tackle, No. 79, Des Moines, IA Norman Six, center, No. 52, Newell, WV Earl Smith Jr., halfback, No. 14, Gary, IN Robert Stearnes, halfback, No. 44, Gary, IN Donald Suchy, center, No. 55, Belle Plaine, IA Rodger Swedberg, tackle, No. 74, Sycamore, IL Eddie Vincent, halfback, junior, No. 41, Steubenville, OH Roger Wiegmann, fullback, No. 30, Waverly, IA

2022 Media Guide, pp. 250-258.

Coaches Head coach - Forest Evashevski Assistant coaches - Bump Elliott, Whitey Piro, Jerry Burns (freshman)

Awards and honors Guard Cal Jones was a consensus first-team pick on the 1954 All-America team. He also received first-team honors from the AP, UP, and INS on the 1954 All-Big Ten Conference football team. Jones was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Fullback George "Binky" Broeder was the team captain.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220.

Center Warren Lawson was selected as the team's most valuable player.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222.

References