For What They Gave on Saturday Afternoon

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Nomination of 1953 West Point Football Team for the Army Sports Hall of Fame

Col. Blaik after the Navy Game

He ordered the door secured and as he turned to speak his eyes were misty. “I have never coached a team that gave me more than you did. I never have coached a team that has given me as much satisfaction. Considering all the conditions since 1951, you have done more for football at West Point than any other team in the history of the Academy.”

Many Graduates in a number of Classes believe they did more for the Academy than any other Team in any Sport.

An article in the Nov ’53 Pointer published the day before the Navy Game concluded with —

“Tomorrow afternoon, radio sets will be tuned on Philadelphia all the way from Berlin to Panmunjom. Graduates will be listening for news of an Army victory. But they’ll be listening for something more – something none of them talk about. They’ll be listening for evidence that the Corps is on its way back. They want to know that the values which they stand for are still alive in the Corps.”

Prior to the Duke Game the Cheerleaders imposed a “Silence” upon the Corps of Cadets after the traditional pregame sendoff of the team. The Cheerleaders put a cork in the bottle of more than two years of pent up frustration. When the Corps completed its subdued, strangely silent, pregame march-on at the Polo Grounds, and the last man double-timed onto the first step of the stands, the Corps of Cadets exploded out. They shook that old stadium almost non-stop in the sunshine and shadows of that Indian summer afternoon. The Chanting – – Go! Go! Go! – – is remembered to this day by the players. ‘It was continuous, just deafening”.

Bob Mischak, ’54 as a player and a coach, participated in 3 Super Bowls, 8 AFC Championships and numerous playoff games. As the starting Offensive Tackle on the 1958 Giant Team he participated in “The Greatest Game Ever Played”. Bob had this to say of the 1953 Duke Game (perhaps Army’s Greatest Game) – “As many reports have stated, the 1953 team “Returned to Glory” with the defeat of the nationally ranked Duke Blue Devils at the Polo Grounds in New York City. From a player’s stand point, that was the epitome of any game, team, and student body support that I’ve been associated with – bar none.”

The ’53 Team’s success was marked with the most unusual Lambert Trophy presentation in the award’s 17 year history. For the first time, on a Sunday evening, 20 December 1953, in Washington Hall, the Lambert Trophy, emblematic of Eastern Football Supremacy, was presented outside of New York City to West Point’s Football Team and the Corps of Cadets.

Col. Blaik – –

“By the time the season got down to the Penn and Navy games, the starting eleven and about four substitutes carried the full load”.

The commitment to Team, to the Academy, to returning Army Football to respectability is illustrated in the fact that Bob Farris ’56, played the 2d half of the Navy Game blind in one eye. He was never to play another down of Football. Bob did not tell the Coaches or Team Doctor of his condition.

Years later Col. Blaik was to write – –

“For two years these boys had seen the roughest action. They had lived with the coaching lash, dirt, blood, and defeat”.

There is more to some teams than statistics can provide.

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Col. Blaik (Football Coach of the Year) leaving the field late afternoon Nov. 28th 1953 after the Army Team beat Navy 20 to 7

“I have never coached a team that give me more than you did. I never have coached a team that has given me as much satisfaction. Considering all the conditions since 1951, you have done more for football at West Point than any other team in the history of the Academy.”

Every Athlete, no Every Cadet should know what this Team did for the Academy, for our Motto

Jerry Lodge wore 67 and 32 is missing as is Norm Stephen 51- Army Center. 2d man 2d row next to Tommy Bell – is Zaborowski. Wynn #31 is in the 2d row not 3d.

Col Blaik “When I come to describe the team of 1953, what they meant to me and, far more important, what they meant to West Point, I cannot praise them enough.”

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Grantland Rice wrote “They came up the hard way and there probably has never been a squad with a finer spirit.”

To understand the magnitude of the accomplishments of this team, recall that General McArthur gave his opinion in 1951 that it would take “at least 10 years” for Army to recover. In 1950, Army was 8-1 with a victory over Stanford, which finished the season ranked number seven in the nation; was tops in the nation in scoring defense, fourth in total defense, ninth in passing defense, and 10th in rushing offense; featured an All-American at end who finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting, and two tackles who received votes for first team All-American; and would have been undefeated except for the stunning upset by Navy.

In 1951, Army went 2-7, defeating only Columbia and The Citadel and was trounced by Navy. Only one player received any national recognition, a name eventually to be etched in the hearts of all Army fans for decades to come: Mischak ’54 was number five in total kickoff return yards and first in average yards returned. The 1952 season was better, Army going 4-4, but again losing to Navy.

True, the Corps of Cadets did look for better things than in 1951 and “52”. Any prognostication that Army would win the Lambert Trophy, emblematic of the Eastern Championship, and be rated No. 14 nationally would have been tabbed fantastic. With Coach Blaik’s words as background, the team’s history echoes his witness.

They were one of the smallest Army football teams in years, at season’s end thirty-eight men, a team of heroes with no stars and with a different hero each Saturday, all playing for honor and love of the game. They were led by quiet, solid leaders from the class of 1954; augmented by a small number of players from the smallest Academy class in years, 1955, and a bevy of talented yearlings in the class of 1956 who set the gridiron on fire that fall. The NCAA changed the rules for the 1953 season to what is now called “one platoon” football, really “iron man” football.

Though the phrase wasn’t originated by Coach Earl Blaik, it was the incomparable football teacher, the thoroughly emotionally-controlled Blaik who, with tears in his eyes, handed the Army-Duke game ball to Bob Mischak, Army’s left end who made the incredible game-saving tackle. Blaik’s words to Bob were simple but powerful, and echo down through the years, “Don’t ever give up.”

The cheating incident had never-publicized, lingering effects on Army football players in the three following seasons, effects witnessed and painfully felt by the young, inexperienced B and C teams – the men who accomplished the “football miracle” of ’53.

Adding to the effects the players faced was the revelation that the much-admired Army varsity had been deeply involved in what became a national scandal.

In a number of cases the players left to pick up the pieces became subjects of totally unwarranted suspicions and stinging criticisms simply because they were Army football players. The season of 1953 changed all that — the team and the Corps of Cadets washed the effects away with stunning, inspirational teamwork and marvelous achievements.

As Blaik wrote years later in baring his bitterness and frustration over the cheating incident,

“For two years these boys had seen the roughest action. They had lived with the coaching lash, dirt, blood, and defeat.”

Following the 1952 season, changes in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules greatly restricted substitution and for several years virtually ended the offensive-defensive unit two-platoon system. The result was to lengthen playing time for varsity players, decrease the number of varsity letters awarded, increase injury potential, and cause a return to what in years past had been called “iron man football”. To compete under the more complicated substitution rules, Coach Blaik chose to return to the type of two-platoon system he inaugurated at Army during the World War II years, two or three units that went both ways, on offense and defense.

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While the rule changes impacted all collegiate teams, no team Army was to face in 1953 had suffered the total loss of its varsity lettermen and team leaders two years earlier.
The losses had forced virtually complete rebuilding from the ground up. Other colleges and universities would have been able to accelerate efforts to make up such losses with much larger student bodies and massive numbers of alumni on the lookout for talent, aggressive well-funded recruiting, junior college transfers, and the growing lure of expanding professional football immediately after graduation. Not so at Army.

The NCAA rule changes had other impacts not normally visible to cadets and Army sports fans — but were quite clear to team members vying for varsity status and the coveted Major A. The remaining 1953 team members, who, at the end of the 1952 season believed they had almost secured starting offensive or defensive platoon positions, suddenly found themselves being retested and moved from one position to another to determine who could play both offense and defense and had the conditioning, strength and stamina to play both ways.

Their extraordinary individual responses were inspirational, highlighting individual willingness to sacrifice for the team —

Bob Farris played the second half of the Navy game blind in one eye. Although he was captain of the ’54 team, he was never to play another down of football.

Vann to Holleder Lombardi’s uncompromising demands on Vann, resulted in Peter becoming a superb drop back passer; with great ball-handling ability whose faking repeatedly confused defensive linemen. He was to set numerous Academy Records while the success Lumbardi achieved as an Assistant under Col Blaik propelled him into in the Pros.

Hagan’s handoff to Attaya initial scoring drive against Duke. Uebel #34 and probably #55 – Farris. NY Times Number #10’s faking holds the defensive line in place allowing dominance by the offensive lineman for the wide open end run by Pat.

It’s important to note, that Peter Vann was a sterling offensive team leader his last two years at Army, became a classic drop-back passer and deft ball-handling and faking wizard who repeatedly confused defensive linemen, and was far more than Blaik’s description of him on defense as “dependable in a crisis”. Playing at defensive right halfback on the last play of the season’s crucial, turnaround game, he too made a game-saving play, batting away a pass thrown from Duke’s quarterback to their alternate quarterback — in the Army end zone – then went on to be ninth in Heisman Trophy voting and a second team All-American quarterback in 1954.

In the spring of 1952 Col Blaik said of Leroy Lunn – “as an offensive guard has excellent ability — and his presence sets a visual example of what constitues good preformance.

Because of the requirement to play both ways Lunn did not start in ’53. Years later Col Blaik was to say – – “I think it epitomized the character of this team and Lunn’s inspirational leadership that he was able to handle a difficult situation in a manner that increased his stature. It was not an easy thing to walk out there every Saturday for the toss of the coin and then to have to return to the bench and not be in for the kick-off.”

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Roy never let this bother his playing when he did get in. He improved so much that he clearly earned the right to start with his team against Navy. Then he went out and played the best game of his career.”

At quarterback, Peter Vann shared the job to some extent with Jerry Hagan early in the season, but improved gradually to indispensable level.

Vann, Pat Uebel, and Tommy Bell at halfbacks and Gerry Lodge at fullback played 60 minutes against Penn and almost all the way in the Navy game.

Right halfback Tommy Bell, scored one of the two touchdowns against Duke, became a first team All-American in 1954 and that same year one of the few four-year lettermen in Army football history. Yearling left halfback Pat Uebel, who scored one of the two touchdowns in the stunning upset of No. 7-ranked Duke and all three of Army’s touchdowns in the win over Navy — one of a small number of Army players to score three touchdowns against Navy, and to that time the only player to score all three touchdowns in a win over Navy – was another hero in the 1953 Army backfield. Of Army’s two lead halfbacks Coach Blaik would write, “In ’53 and ’54 both Uebel and Bell were among the top echelon of all-time West Point halfbacks.”

Rounding out the backfield after the loss to injury in the Tulane game of the swift, agile, hard-driving fullback, and punter, “Freddie Attaya”, was guard-converted-to-fullback Gerry Lodge, who stepped into Freddie’s shoes and performed magnificently at both fullback on offense and Linebacker

Tommy Bell against Duke

on defense. This backfield, 3 great ends and this Team that brought Vince Lombardi to the attention of the New York Giants at the end of the 1953 season, setting Vince on course to become a legendary professional coach.

Blaik said of the three ends on the 1953 team, “Our end play was handled by Bob Mischak, Lowell Sisson, and a yearling of unusual potential named Don Holleder. Sisson was another who kept improving and hit the top in the Navy game. After Attaya’s injury, Sisson did the punting.

Mischak developed into a fine pass receiver and on defense he delivered the play that was the pivot, in a real sense, of the entire season. Holleder was a naturally talented pass receiver with outstanding speed, hands, and competitive fire. By 1954 he became just about the most dangerous offensive end in college ranks. A first team All-American end in 1954, he voluntarily gave up the chance to become a two-time All-American, by acquiescing to Coach Blaik’s request that he switch to quarterback for the 1955 season, a position he had never played in either high school or college.

On 17 October 1967, his courage and heroism in Vietnam while attempting to rescue wounded soldiers in his unit cost him his life.

Don Holleder’s is life and service became the inspiration for the now-well-known Black Lion Award to football players at every level of football played in the nation, from youth leagues to intercollegiate Division IA.

Some of the Season ending Injuries

Zeigler # 22 – 14 Yards, Burd coming across to Block.

“Ski” Ordway

Franklin – double team tore up knee talking with 58 Zaborowski after Duke Game

Attaya Army’s Fullback

Neil Chamberlain injured summer of ’53 – prior to the Navy Game. “Saturday Army will be represented by two different uniforms – – one black and gold, the other gray. I’ve found that I fight just as hard in one as I did in the other. We’ll all beat Navy this year.”

Coach Earl Blaik: “Injuries as the season advanced cost the team solid fullback and punter, three-year letterman Fred Attaya ’54; hard-nosed right halfback and three-year letterman Mike Zeigler ’56; and spirited end and three-year letterman “Ski” Godwin Ordway ’55. By the time the season got down to the Penn and Navy games, the starting eleven and about four substitutes carried the full load.”

Army linemen on the thinly-manned 1953 team included three guards, Captain Leroy Lunn, his classmate Dick Ziegler, and yearling Ralph Chesnauskas, whose talents included extra-point conversions. Ralph calmly kicked the two extra points against Duke to win the game, and became a first team All-American in 1954.

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Center “Norman Stephen” was a steady, rock-solid team leader on offense, who on the first play from scrimmage in the second half of the second home game of the season, against Dartmouth, and in response to sting criticism from Col Blaik — lit a small but growing fire in the team and Corps of Cadets — when he broke from the huddle and ran, almost sprinting to the ball, prompting the team to follow his lead. The roar of approval and support from the Corps each time Norm broke and ran to the ball, from that point forward through the rest of the season, continued to unify a determined Corps of Cadets with their team. He was a standout linebacker who was the on-field captain who called defensive signals. Starting at tackle were two yearlings, “Ron Melnik” and Howard Glock, with first classman Joe Lapchick, Jr. doing most of the reserve playing.

Coach Blaik considered the heart of his defense to be yearling Bob Farris, a top man academically who in 1955 became the Corps’ First Captain, played tackle on offense and was a line backer on defense in 1953. “The linebacking of Farris against Navy was as fine as I have ever seen in that game,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, the abandon with which he played cost him a detached retina that ended his football. To have played him would have risked an aggravation that might have impaired his sight.”

None of the foregoing tells of the incredible will-to-win spirit and support of the 1953 team by the entire Corps of Cadets, all of it specifically intended to unify the team and Corps of Cadets in ways never before seen or heard at West Point.The Corps’ preparation for the game had been more than unusual, including a “silence” imposed by the cheerleaders at the meal following Blaik’s talk.

The “silence” which began after the traditional pregame sendoff of the team – proved potent. The cheerleaders had put a cork in the bottle of more than two years of pent up frustration. When the Corps completed its subdued, strangely silent, pregame march-on at the Polo Grounds, and the last man double-timed onto the first step of the stands, the men in gray exploded out.

1953 was a series of firsts: a helicopter flyover; the introduction of the cannon; a hugh Beat Navy Flag made by the Quartermater Corps; the weather ballon from Army Aviation at Stewart Field for the Duke Game releasing the Corps from the imposed Silence; Special Guideon Flags made by the Cadet Store posted in the Mess Hall listing every year Army Beat Navy.

The drum beat, the trumpets, the “Continuous, just Deafening” Chanting

Go! Go! Go!

After the Duke Game the sidelines were packed with Cadets and Officers at each days practice.

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Work Area below this Point

Ben Schemmer ’54 with Goat and Al Rupp ’55 borrowed Billy XII for a couple of days. Al Rupp, a cheerleader, is walking behind and to the left of Ben Schemmer. AL Rupp was one of the four cadets who went to Annapolis to steal the goat and bring it to West Point. They went in a convertible because they thought the goat’s horns would be too large for a sedan.

The Coaching Staff

The Lambert

The Team’s marvelous success was marked with the most unusual Lambert Trophy presentation in the award’s history. First offered in 1936, and sponsored by New York City’s brothers, Victor A. and Henry L. Lambert, the trophy was symbolic of Eastern football supremacy, and had been won by Army in 1944, ’45, ’46, ’48 and ’49. For the first time, on a Sunday evening, 20 December 1953, in Washington Hall, the Lambert Trophy was presented outside of New York City to a football team and its student body.

Team Captain Lunn accepting the Trophy

In 1953, Army may not have won a national championship or produced a Heisman Trophy candidate but the seven victories, including Navy and Duke; a ranking of 14 in the nation in the season’s final pool; winning the Lambert Trophy; and earning Colonel Blaik “coach of the year” honors signaled the Academy’s “return to glory”.

To place the accomplishments of the 1953 Army Football Team prominently and in full view of the United States Corps of Cadets and the Long Gray Line, we, the members of the Classes of 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957 and 1962, Nominate the 1953 West Point Football Team for induction into the Army Sports Hall of Fame.

Attachments

1. Signed Nomination letters by the Classes of 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, & 1962.

2. 1953 Army Football Highlights CD provided by Coach Hugh Wyatt, Founder of the Black Lion Award.

3. Bob Mischak’s Letter.

Nomination Letters

’54’s Nomination

’62’s Nomination

Bob Mischak’s Letter

Bob’s Pro Football Resume follows the letter

History: 1950 – 1951: Adversity strikes a heavy blow to the Army Football team. Numerous varsity players are released from West Point due to their violation of the school’s sacred honor code. The justified dismissals decimated the team. Many veteran, seasoned upper classmen, who would have provided the nucleus that could have incorporated and nurtured the green, younger players, were gone. As best they could, the former “B-squad” players of that era, attempted to rally the bewildered and inexperienced under classmen on the football team, but it seemed like a futile attempt for many reasons.

The community of grads and students empathized, and rightfully, with the administration for its action when the legendary honor code had been violated. Rumors of all sorts ran rampant on the Academy grounds and in the press. Statements were made and circulated about the demise of Army football. Predictions existed that the football program would take about 10 years to right itself, if at all.

At that time, mixed emotions permeated the Corps, faculty, grads, coaches, and the community of citizen on lookers. The shock of the event seemed too difficult to comprehend, however, optimism still kindled in the minds of those players who remained and the football loyalist who had faith in their team.

Surprisingly, within a short period of time, the untested players, seemed to coalesce, the coaching staff stabilized, and fundamental football schemes were utilized that allowed the innate ability of the individual players to develop. The trial and error period had started. A foundation for future development was established.

Each of the seasons and the spring practices provided, in a subtle way, the maturing of the 1953 team. Players were more comfortable with their skills and sensitive to each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This seemed to build a determination to overcome adversity and looking forward, optimistically, to playing and winning games.

As many reports have stated, the 1953 team “Returned to Glory” with the defeat of the nationally ranked Duke Blue Devils at the Polo Grounds in New York City. From a player’s stand point, that was the epitome of any game, team, and student body support that I’ve been associated with – bar none.

A major contribution was made by the 1953 team to resurrect the honor and glory of the United States Military Academy, its students and service personnel. Naming the 1953 Team to the Army Sports Hall of Fame, would be a reward that acknowledges that fact and could be considered as an Army “Unit Citation”.

Sincerely,

Bob Mischak
USMA 1954

BOB MISCHAK – FOOTBALL CHRONOLOGY

1951-1953 Varsity letterman on the Army football team

1953 NBC-TV All American End

1954 College All Star Game player vs Detroit Lions

1954 Drafted by Cleveland Browns (NFL)

1954-1957 Military Service (Berlin, Fulda Germany)

1958 NY Giants (NFL) starting Offensive Guard — Head Coach: Jim Lee Howell,
Assts: Vince Lombardi (HoF), Tom Landry (HoF)

— Note: Starter in the famed “Greatest Game Ever Played”
which recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary. ESPN
produced a film which aired in Dec. 2008, now out on
DVD.

1960-1962 NY Titans (AFL) which became NY Jets (NFL) — Head Coaches: Sammy Baugh (HoF),
Clyde “Bulldog” Turner (HoF), Weeb Ewbank (HoF)

– – – Note: Team Captain, All-AFL offensive guard 60-62. First All Pro in the history of the NY Jets.

1963-1965 Oakland Raiders (AFL), starting offensive guard and TE — Head Coach: Al Davis (HoF)

1966-1973 USMA, Offensive Line Coach — Head Coach: Tom Cahill (NCAA Coach of the Year 1966)
Assts: Bill Parcells, John Mackovic, Ken Hatfield

1973-1987 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (NFL)* Owner: Al Davis (HoF), Head Coaches: John Madden (HoF),
Tom Flores, Player Personnel: Ron Wolf

1994 Los Angeles Raiders, TE Coach Head Coach: Art Shell (HoF)

– – – *Note: Member of 3 Super Bowl winning teams XI, XV, XVIII, 8 AFC Championship games and numerous playoff games. During tenure with Raiders served as TE Coach and Player Personnel Director.

– – – Coached notable TE’s such as Dave Casper (HoF), Todd Christensen (HoF nominee), Raymond Chester and Ted Kwalick

1988-1989 LA Cobras (Arena Football League), Asst. Coach Head Coach: Ray Willsey

1990 Munich Falcons (International League of American Football) Head Coach

1991 Ravenna Chiefs (Italian Football League), Head Coach

1991 Atlanta Falcons (NFL), Scout GM: Ken Herock

1992 London Monarchs (WLAF), DB Coach Head Coach: Ray Willsey

1993 Maryland Commandos (Arena Football League), Asst. Coach Head Coach: Ray Willsey

1997 London Monarchs (WLAF), OL Coach Head Coach: Lionel Taylor

PROCESSING AREA

Corps March On, pre-game at the Polo Grounds, 17 October 1953. Jerry Hagan who engineered the 1st touchdown against Duke in recalling the game nearly 56 years later remembers the Chanting. “It was continuous, just deafening”.

They shook that old stadium almost non-stop in the sunshine and shadows of that Indian summer afternoon.

The Spirit of the Corps of Cadets, The Academy Staff and Faculty, and the United States Army after the Duke Game

The Navy Game – November 28, 1953

Rox Shain, did not make the trip with the Team but was yanked off the Cadet Train when it arrived early in the morning, kicked off to start the Game. Navy immediately fumbled when Norm Stephen (51)slams the Navy receiver to the ground. The photo (taken by a photographer for the Philadelphia Inquirer) incorrectly identified the Army player recovering the ball, as Howard Glock, when in fact it was Lowell Sisson (83) who is on his feet facing the camera lens as the ball squirts past his thighs. Glock (71), Bell (46), Mischak (87), Farris (55) and Uebel (34) are identifiable. (Photo courtesy of Urban Archives, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.)

Army’s Tommy Bell takes a handoff from Peter Vann. Sisson #83, and probably Uebel #34 bottom center, while it is probably Mischak #87 is on the end of the line
(Photo courtesy of Urban Archives, Temple University, Phildelphia, PA.)

Tommy Bell prepares to take a pass thrown by Peter Vann. From left to right, Lowell Sisson (83), Jerry Lodge on the ground (32), Pat Uebel (34), Howard Glock (71), Leroy Lunn (60), and Norm Stephen (51).
(Photo courtesy of Urban Archives, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.)

Uebel scores 3 Times Against Navy

Pat Uebel races for the end zone, running back a Navy punt for a
touchdown. There are some errors in identification of the Army
players. In the upper left, Odom is in fact Norm Stepen (51), Burda
is in fact Lowell Sisson (83), and the numbers of the player
identified as Sisson keeps him unidentified. (Photo courtesy of Urban Archives, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.)

<img src=”http://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafternoon.com/photos/coaches485.jpg&#8221; width=”480″

Peter takes to the Air

United States Corps of Cadets ready for Navy

Work Area below this Point

It must be pointed out that Bob was the only player on the ’53 Team to be selected as an All American. Today the Academy does not recognze his All American status because of the organization which selected him.

B Squad