1950 yearbook
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Title
1950 yearbook
Description
1949 FOOTBALL SEASON
Bees Emerge Undefeated
Memories of the golden pre-war era
came crowding back to St. Ambrose football
followers as they watched a high-powered
1949 Bee gridiron juggernaut crush eight opponents and roll up the most impressive St.
Ambrose record since that established by
Moon Mullins' outstanding 1940 team.
Whether last year's team was the greatest
St. Ambrose has ever produced is good debating ground for the older and newer generations
of Ambrosian sports lovers. But it remains incontestable that the '49 eleven pushed more
important records by the boards than any other
team of recent years. It met more teams from
more states — eight from eight different states.
And more of its members received national
honors.
Generally, last year's team was a vindication of its post-war predecessors; for three years
loyal students and fans watched Ambrose
teams with high potential come through with
only average seasons.
Before last September even the most steadfast of all were asking themselves if the good
old days of plenty would ever come back. There
was no doubt that St. Ambrose for three years
had had an undue amount of injuries to key
personnel. There was the migratory problem
of good material switching to other schools or
just dropping out. And then there was the
inconsistency on the field, possibly due to
coaching changes, possibly rule changes, possibly the revolution which seems to have come
over the game altogther.
Coach Mullins had taken two years to
solve these problems, and when he sent his
team onto the field last September, it was suspected very early that he had succeeded. His
team in the opener knocked off Quincy 55-0.
By November, seven games later, and after the
defeat of Valley City Teachers of North Dakota
58-6, both the critics of St. Ambrose athletics
and the never-say-die fans had a lump as big
as a football in their throats, for they had just
seen a champion come back.
The team rewrote the record log on all of
the really important statistics. It ran up a total
of 301 points for an average of 38 points per
game. In the very vital department of yards
gained the Bee runners were way out front
with 2273 yards by rushing and 3238 for total
offense.
In meeting eight teams from as many states
the Bees made things very hot and embarrassing for three teams who had come out as
champs in their own state collegiate conferences. St. Thomas was the winner of the Minnesota Intercollegiate conference, Valley City
Teachers champs of the North Dakota Conference, and Quincy college top team of the Pioneer Illinois Conference. As far as its own
loop, the Midlands Conference, was concerned,
the Bees took the title with a clean sweep over
fellow members Loras, St. Norbert and St.
Joseph.
When the time for national honors came
around the Bees offered three of their own for
honors. Joe Lucas was placed on the second
Little All-American team and Don Doody, the
unforgettable little linebuster, and Dick Forbes,
end, ranked on the select honorable mention
list.
Bees Emerge Undefeated
Memories of the golden pre-war era
came crowding back to St. Ambrose football
followers as they watched a high-powered
1949 Bee gridiron juggernaut crush eight opponents and roll up the most impressive St.
Ambrose record since that established by
Moon Mullins' outstanding 1940 team.
Whether last year's team was the greatest
St. Ambrose has ever produced is good debating ground for the older and newer generations
of Ambrosian sports lovers. But it remains incontestable that the '49 eleven pushed more
important records by the boards than any other
team of recent years. It met more teams from
more states — eight from eight different states.
And more of its members received national
honors.
Generally, last year's team was a vindication of its post-war predecessors; for three years
loyal students and fans watched Ambrose
teams with high potential come through with
only average seasons.
Before last September even the most steadfast of all were asking themselves if the good
old days of plenty would ever come back. There
was no doubt that St. Ambrose for three years
had had an undue amount of injuries to key
personnel. There was the migratory problem
of good material switching to other schools or
just dropping out. And then there was the
inconsistency on the field, possibly due to
coaching changes, possibly rule changes, possibly the revolution which seems to have come
over the game altogther.
Coach Mullins had taken two years to
solve these problems, and when he sent his
team onto the field last September, it was suspected very early that he had succeeded. His
team in the opener knocked off Quincy 55-0.
By November, seven games later, and after the
defeat of Valley City Teachers of North Dakota
58-6, both the critics of St. Ambrose athletics
and the never-say-die fans had a lump as big
as a football in their throats, for they had just
seen a champion come back.
The team rewrote the record log on all of
the really important statistics. It ran up a total
of 301 points for an average of 38 points per
game. In the very vital department of yards
gained the Bee runners were way out front
with 2273 yards by rushing and 3238 for total
offense.
In meeting eight teams from as many states
the Bees made things very hot and embarrassing for three teams who had come out as
champs in their own state collegiate conferences. St. Thomas was the winner of the Minnesota Intercollegiate conference, Valley City
Teachers champs of the North Dakota Conference, and Quincy college top team of the Pioneer Illinois Conference. As far as its own
loop, the Midlands Conference, was concerned,
the Bees took the title with a clean sweep over
fellow members Loras, St. Norbert and St.
Joseph.
When the time for national honors came
around the Bees offered three of their own for
honors. Joe Lucas was placed on the second
Little All-American team and Don Doody, the
unforgettable little linebuster, and Dick Forbes,
end, ranked on the select honorable mention
list.
Publisher
Campus Service 1402 N. Paulina St. Chicago 22, ILL
Date
1950
Identifier
http://cdm16810.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16810coll2/id/6113