The 1951 Stetson Hatters football team was an American football team that represented Stetson University as an independent during the 1951 college football season. In their second and final year under head coach Joe McMullen, the Hatters compiled an 8–1–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 340 to 122. They were invited to the Tangerine Bowl, where they beat Arkansas State. It was the highest scoring team up to that point in Stetson football history. The team's sole loss was to Florida State by a 13–10 score as the Seminoles blocked a punt and returned the ball for the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Stetson' offense, run out of a winged T formation, was known as a "versatile and deceptive" group led by senior quarterback Bill Johnson and end Dave Laude. Jay Pattee was the team's assistant coach.
McMullen resigned as head coach in June 1952 to become head coach and athletic director at Washington & Jefferson in Pennsylvania. The Hatters compiled a 16–3–2 record (.810) in their two years under McMullen.
The Hatters played their home football games at DeLand Municipal Stadium in DeLand, Florida.
Schedule
Statistics and awards
The Hatters tallied 3,653 yards of total offense (excluding the Tangerine Bowl) consisting of 2,250 rushing yards and 1,403 passing yards. On defense, they gave up 1,881 yards of total offense, including 928 rushing yards and 953 passing yards. The individual leaders during the regular season included: Quarterback Bill Johnson completed 87 of 175 passes for 1,314 yards, nine touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Johnson also tallied 128 rushing yards to lead the team with 1,314 yards of total offense. Johnson also received the Phil Jochem award as the team's outstanding player. Halfback Bobby Marks led the team with 561 rushing yards on 86 carries, an average of 6.5 yards per carry. End Dave Laude was the team's leading receiver with 20 receptions for 276 yards. Laude also received the DeLand Elks' cup as the team's most valuable lineman. Halfback Fulmer Armstrong led the team in scoring with 10 touchdowns for 60 points. Armstrong also led the team in punting with an average of 39.3 yards on 28 punts. Halfback Herb Werner ranked second on the team in scoring with 54 points on nine touchdowns.
B. J. Leathers received that team's Joe McMullen "60-Minute Man Award" as the player who saw the most action during the 1951 season.
Roster Thirty-two members of the team were awarded varsity letters at the end of the 1951 season. The letter winners included:
Charles Appel, Miami Beach, Florida Fulmer Armstrong, senior, DeLand, Florida Henry Boyer, Neptune Beach, Florida Kermit Coble, senior, Greensboro, North Carolina Al Daub, Rutherford, New Jersey Ron DeLilla, Rutherford, New Jersey Ron Fazekas, Buffalo, New York Robert Freeze, Clearwater, Florida Jerry Gallagher, Lake Worth, Florida Tom Gibson, Miami, Florida Walt Golde, Rutherford, New Jersey Willi Han, Torrington, Connecticut Dick Hendry, senior, Ft. Myers, Florida Clarence Hughes, senior, Daytona Beach, Florida George Jochem, Miami, Florida Bill Johnson, senior, Waterville, Ohio Jim King, St. Petersburg, Florida Red Lonsinger, Des Plaines, Illinois Earl Looman, Fremont, Ohio (later an NFL draft pick) Don Martin, senior, Toledo, Ohio Lou Paar, Buffalo, New York Sonny Parrish, Miami, Florida Bill Phillips, Daytona Beach, Florida Joe Raffale, West New York, New Jersey Al Sappia, Ridgefield, New Jersey Frank Singletary, Remberton, Georgia Guido Tambur, Toledo Jim Yonga, Miami, Florida
The team's manager, George Wilde of West Palm Beach, was also awarded a letter.
References