1953 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

The 1953 West Virginia Mountaineers football team was an American football team that represented West Virginia University in the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1953 college football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Art Lewis, the Mountaineers compiled an overall record of 8–2 with a mark of 4–0 in conference play, winning the SoCon title. West Virginia was invited to the Sugar Bowl, where the Mountaineers lost to Georgia Tech, 42–19.

1953 West Virginia Mountaineers football
SoCon champion
Sugar Bowl, L 19–42 vs. Georgia Tech
Conference	Southern Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 13
AP	No. 10
Record	8–2 (4–0 SoCon)
Head coach	Art Lewis (4th season)
Home stadium	Mountaineer Field

1953 Southern Conference football standings

	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 10 West Virginia $	4	–	0	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Furman	2	–	0	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
George Washington	4	–	2	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
William & Mary	3	–	2	–	0			5	–	4	–	1
Richmond	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	3	–	1
VPI	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
VMI	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Washington and Lee	2	–	4	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
The Citadel	1	–	3	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Davidson	0	–	5	–	0			0	–	9	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 26	at No. 17 Pittsburgh*	No. 16	Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)		W 17–7	43,446
October 3	Waynesburg*	No. 13	Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV		W 47–19	18,000
October 10	Washington and Lee	No. 12	Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV		W 40–14	14,000
October 16	at George Washington	No. 10	Griffith Stadium Washington, DC		W 27–6	10,633
October 24	VMI	No. 8	Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV		W 52–20	23,000
October 31	at Penn State*	No. 5	New Beaver Field University Park, PA (rivalry)		W 20–19	24,670
November 7	vs. VPI	No. 7	Mitchell Stadium Bluefield, WV (rivalry)		W 12–7	12,300
November 14	South Carolina*	No. 8	Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV		L 14–20	31,000
November 21	at NC State*	No. 19	Riddick Stadium Raleigh, NC		W 61–0	5,800
January 1	vs. No. 8 Georgia Tech*	No. 10	Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)	ABC	L 19–42	71,666
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1954 West Virginia Mountaineers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 11 Fred Wyant Jr End 89 Billy Hillen Sr End 86 Gary Bunn Jr End 84 Joe Kopnisky So End 55 John Kernic Sr End 81 Max Ludwig Sr OL-LT 77 Bruce Bosley Jr OL-LG 72 Gene Lamone Jr OL-RG 75 Sam Huff So Guard 64 Gene Lathey So Guard 88 Bill Underdonk Jr Guard 65 Jerry Urda So Center 36 Charles Donaldson Sr RB 42 Dick Nicholson Sr HB 25 Bob Moss Jr HB 15 Harry Sweeney Sr HB 22 Victor "Jack" Rabbits So HB 47 Eddie Dugan Jr HB 32 Ray Surbaugh Jr HB 21 Paul Shepherd So FB 34 Joe Marconi Jr FB 24 Carl Norman Sr FB 35 Danny Williams Sr FB 23 Ray Borst So QB 10 Alex Szuch So E 12 Walter Beene So C 31 Don Wilson Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DE 89 Billy Hillen Sr DE 55 John Kernic Sr DE 84 Joe Kopnisky So DE 81 Max Ludwig Sr DE 86 Gary Bunn Jr DE 12 Walter Beene So DT 77 Bruce Bosley Jr DT 75 Sam Huff So NG 72 Gene Lamone Jr DG 88 Bill Underdonk Jr DG 64 Gene Lathey So DG 65 Jerry Urda So LB 36 Charles Donaldson Sr LB 34 Joe Marconi Jr LB 24 Carl Norman Sr LB 35 Danny Williams Sr LB 23 Ray Borst So LB 31 Don Wilson Sr DB 42 Dick Nicholson Sr DB 25 Bob Moss Jr DB 15 Harry Sweeney Sr DB 22 Victor "Jack" Rabbits So DB 47 Eddie Dugan Jr DB 32 Ray Surbaugh Jr DB 21 Paul Shepherd So S 11 Fred Wyant Jr S 10 Alex Szuch So	Special teams Pos. # Name Class P 11 Fred Wyant Jr K 24 Carl Norman Sr KR 25 Bob Moss Jr KR 42 Dick Nicholson Sr PR 15 Harry Sweeney Sr PR 22 Victor "Jack" Rabbits So	Head coach Art "Pappy" Lewis Coordinators/assistant coaches Gene Corum (Ends) Russ Crane (Defensive Line) Harold Sawyers (Backfield) Ed Shockey (Backfield) Quentin Barnette (Freshman Coach) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt