1954 Navy Midshipmen football team

The 1954 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy (USNA) during the 1954 college football season and competed as an independent. The team was led by fifth-year head coach Eddie Erdelatz,[1][2] and they acquired the nickname "Team Named Desire" during the press conference following the 25–0 road shutout of Stanford, when Erdelatz said, "Every man on this team is full of desire."[3]

1954 Navy Midshipmen football
Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy
Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 21–0 vs. Ole Miss
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 5
APNo. 5
1954 record8–2
Head coach
Assistant coachBen Martin
Home stadiumThompson Stadium
1954 Southern college football independents records
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 9 Miami (FL)   –    8 –1 –0
Delaware   –    8 –2 –0
No. 5 Navy   –    8 –2 –0
Tampa   –    8 –2 –0
Florida State   –    8 –4 –0
Abilene Christian   –    6 –3 –1
Chattanooga   –    6 –4 –0
Mississippi Southern   –    6 –4 –0
Western Maryland   –    4 –4 –0
Louisville   –    3 –6 –0
Sewanee   –    0 –8 –0
Rankings from AP Poll

After defeating #5 Army in Philadelphia,[4] the Midshipmen were ranked fifth in both final polls, released in late November, and played in their first bowl game in 31 years. Navy shut out #6 Ole Miss 21–0 in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year's Day.[5][6]

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 25William & Mary
W 27–0
October 2at Dartmouth
W 42–7
October 9at No. 17 StanfordNo. 19
W 25–055,000
October 16at PittsburghNo. 9
L 19–2130,151
October 23at Penn
W 52–6
October 30No. 6 Notre DameNo. 15
L 0–660,000
November 6vs. DukeNo. 19
W 40–7
November 13ColumbiaNo. 10
  • Thompson Stadium
  • Annapolis, MD
W 51–6
November 27vs. No. 5 ArmyNo. 6
W 27–20102,000  
January 1, 1955vs. No. 6 Ole MissNo. 5
W 21–080,190
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Personnel
1954 Navy Midshipmen football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
OL 61 Alex Aronis
E 80 Ron Beagle Jr
OL 69 Frank Bendrick
OL 64 Leonard Benzi
HB 49 Chet Burchett
HB 44 Bob Craig
OL 51 Robert Davis
QB 15 Dick Echard
HB 27 Jack Garrow Sr
FB 36 Joe Gattuso Sr
FB 30 Dick Guest
OL 74 Pat McCool
HB 33 Phil Monahan (C)
E 83 Jim Owen
OL 71 Jim Royer
OL 68 George Testor
HB 16 John Weaver
OL 65 Hugh Webster
QB 11 George Welsh Jr
OL 58 Wilson Whitmire
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
PK 49 Chet Burchett
P 30 Dick Guest
PK 68 George Testor
PK 16 John Weaver
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt
Source:[7]

Game summaries

Sugar Bowl vs Ole Miss
Main article: 1955 Sugar Bowl
  • Welsh 8/14 passing
  • Gattuso (MVP) 111 rush yds, 2 TD
  • Weaver 106 rush yds, TD, 3 PAT
Source:[3][5]

References
  1. "Football History" (PDF). United States Naval Academy. p. 192. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  2. "Navy Yearly Results (1950-1954)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  3. Wagner, Bill (October 29, 2015). "Navy inspired to honor 1954 'Team Named Desire'". Capital Gazette. (Annapolis, Maryland). Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  4. "Middies' desire deflates Cadets". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 28, 1954. p. 1, sports.
  5. "Navy swamps Mississippi, 21-0 before 82,500 fans in Sugar Bowl". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. January 2, 1955. p. 1, section 3.
  6. Claassen, Harold (January 2, 1955). "Daring Midshipmen scuttle Mississippi 21-0 in Sugar". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. 1, sports.
  7. "Navy, Mississippi numbers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 1, 1955. p. 10.
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