1951 Stanford Indians football team
Encyclopedia
The 1951 Stanford Indians football team represented Stanford University
in the 1951 college football season
. Stanford was led by first-year head coach Chuck Taylor. The team was a member of the Pacific Coast Conference
and played their home games at Stanford Stadium
in Stanford, California
.
had ended in disappointing fashion after high expectations and a fast start. Head coach Marchmont Schwartz
had resigned following the season, and to replace him, Stanford hired Chuck Taylor, a former Stanford All-American guard and member of Stanford's undefeated 1940 team
which defeated Nebraska
in the 1941 Rose Bowl
.
and senior end Bill McColl
, Stanford ran out to a 9–0 start and took a #3 ranking into the Big Game
, where they were 13-point favorites over rival California. Cal upset the Indians 20–7, but as PCC champions, Stanford was invited to the 1952 Rose Bowl
against Big 10 champion and 4th-ranked Illinois. The Indians led at halftime 7–6 and trailed only 13–7 to start the fourth quarter, but a 27-point scoring outburst gave the Fighting Illini a convincing 40–7 victory.
, the only time a Stanford coach has received the award. In addition to numerous awards, McColl was a Consensus All-American
, finished fourth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy
, and would go on to a seven-year professional career with the Chicago Bears
. Kerkorian was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
and backed up Johnny Unitas
with the Baltimore Colts
.
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in the 1951 college football season
1951 college football season
The 1951 college football season finished with seven unbeaten major college teams, of which five were unbeaten and untied. Ultimately, the Tennessee Volunteers were voted the best team by the Associated Press, followed by the Michigan State Spartans, with the Vols having a plurality of first place...
. Stanford was led by first-year head coach Chuck Taylor. The team was a member of the Pacific Coast Conference
Pacific Coast Conference
The Pacific Coast Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States which existed from 1915 to 1959. Though the Pacific-12 Conference claims the PCC's history as part of its own, the older league had a completely different charter and was disbanded in 1959 due to a major crisis...
and played their home games at Stanford Stadium
Stanford Stadium
Stanford Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium on the Stanford University campus, the home of Stanford Cardinal college football team. It originally opened in 1921 as a football and track stadium, an earthen horseshoe with wooden bleacher seating and flooring upon a steel frame...
in Stanford, California
Stanford, California
Stanford is a census-designated place in Santa Clara County, California, United States and is the home of Stanford University. The population was 13,809 at the 2010 census....
.
Coaching change
The 1950 season1950 Stanford Indians football team
The 1950 Stanford Indians football team represented Stanford University in the 1950 college football season. Stanford was led by sixth-year head coach Marchmont Schwartz...
had ended in disappointing fashion after high expectations and a fast start. Head coach Marchmont Schwartz
Marchmont Schwartz
-External links:...
had resigned following the season, and to replace him, Stanford hired Chuck Taylor, a former Stanford All-American guard and member of Stanford's undefeated 1940 team
1940 Stanford Indians football team
The 1940 Stanford Indians football team, nicknamed the "Wow Boys", represented Stanford University in National Collegiate Athletic Association intercollegiate competition during the 1940 season. First-year head coach Clark Shaughnessy inherited a team that finished with a 1–7–1 record the previous...
which defeated Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
in the 1941 Rose Bowl
1941 Rose Bowl
The 1941 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1941, was an American football bowl game. It was the 27th Rose Bowl Game with the #7 ranked Cornhuskers taking on the #2 ranked Stanford Indians. At the end of the 2009 college football season, this game stands as the only meeting between these two...
.
Season summary
Led by the passing attack of senior quarterback Gary KerkorianGary Kerkorian
Gary Ray Kerkorian was an Armenian-American football quarterback who played four seasons in the National Football League.-College career:...
and senior end Bill McColl
Bill McColl
William Frazier "Bill" McColl is a former NFL defensive end and tight end from 1952 to 1959 for the Chicago Bears. He played college football at Stanford, where he was a two-time consensus All-American and third runner up in the 1951 Heisman Trophy voting. In 1951, he was the first person to...
, Stanford ran out to a 9–0 start and took a #3 ranking into the Big Game
Big Game (football)
The Big Game is an American college football rivalry game played by the California Golden Bears football team of the University of California, Berkeley and the Stanford Cardinal football team of Stanford University. It is typically played in late November or early December...
, where they were 13-point favorites over rival California. Cal upset the Indians 20–7, but as PCC champions, Stanford was invited to the 1952 Rose Bowl
1952 Rose Bowl
The 1952 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1952 at the end of the 1951 college football season. It was the 38th Rose Bowl Game. It holds the distinction of being the first nationally televised college football game...
against Big 10 champion and 4th-ranked Illinois. The Indians led at halftime 7–6 and trailed only 13–7 to start the fourth quarter, but a 27-point scoring outburst gave the Fighting Illini a convincing 40–7 victory.
Schedule
Aftermath
Taylor, at 31 the youngest major college football coach, was named AFCA Coach of the YearAFCA Coach of the Year
The AFCA Coach of the Year award is given annually to a college football coach by the American Football Coaches Association . The award has had several different sponors over the years, including Eastman Kodak Corporation, and thus also been named the Kodak Coach of the Year Award.-Football Bowl...
, the only time a Stanford coach has received the award. In addition to numerous awards, McColl was a Consensus All-American
1951 College Football All-America Team
The 1951 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1951 college football season. The organizations that chose the teams included: the United...
, finished fourth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, and would go on to a seven-year professional career with the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Kerkorian was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and backed up Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas
John Constantine Unitas , known as Johnny Unitas or "Johnny U", and nicknamed "The Golden Arm", was a professional American football player in the 1950s through the 1970s, spending the majority of his career with the Baltimore Colts. He was a record-setting quarterback, and the National Football...
with the Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.