Tangerines

From the 1955 Tomahawk yearbook.

 

We dedicate this book to the University’s three Little All-Americans of 1954 and to the University’s all-victorious football team. The team flew t the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Florida, and defeated Eastern Kentucky State 7-6, on New Year’s night. A princess was selected; travel plans were made, and late in December students left by car and train for the Sunshine State. Parades, water skiing, dances, and parties highlighted activities; and then came the trip home with the team visiting Washington, D.C.

 

Season Record

Omaha 27, Fort Hays (Kans.) State 19

Omaha 45, Morningside College 0

Omaha 27, Washburn University 6

Omaha 39, Bradley University 0

Omaha 38, Emporia (Kans.) State 6

Omaha 35, St. Ambrose College 14

Omaha 26, Northern Illinois State 7

Omaha 59, Wayne University (Det.) 7

Omaha 57, Doane College 2

Omaha 7, Eastern Kentucky State 6

 

First Unbeaten Season

When the Omaha gridders were honored at a special pep rally in the school auditorium after the Tangerine Bowl game, Line Coach tom Brock summed up in a few words the top factors that enabled the team to go undefeated. He said: “Every game we played was a team victory. The boys had excellent spirit and a strong desire to win. They never wanted to be second best.”

 

A look at the season record proves his point. The Indians were a spirited, machine-like squad that rolled methodically to convincing victories each time they stepped on the gridiron. They produced their third straight unbeaten home season, and extended their consecutive win streak to 14 games.

 

Omaha opened on the road against Fort Hays Teachers and downed the Kansans 27-19. OU had a three-touchdown lead until Fort Hays rallied late in the fourth period. Bill Engelhardt scored twice, and Emil Radik and Rudy Rotella once each for the Indians.

 

The following Saturday, the Omahans journeyed to Sioux City and humiliated Morningside College 45-0. Engelhardt and Radik paced the balanced offense with two touchdowns apiece. It as the first time an Omaha team defeated the Maroons on their home field.

 

In their home opener, the Indians faced archrival Washburn University of Topeka and worked hard for a 27-6 victory. Bill Steck reached pay dirt twice in the first half to start OU on its winning way.

 

In Bradley, Omaha met a major college for the first time. And the Indians rolled in high gear all afternoon as they earned a 39-0 triumph. It was the only defeat for Bradley all year.

 

On the road again, Omaha drubbed Emporia, Kansas Teachers 38-6. Engelhardt, Radik, Arnie Smith, Cimino, Cotton, and Steck all scored for the Indians.

 

The 35-14 Homecoming victory over St. Abmrose was one of the top accomplishments of the season. Omaha had never beaten the Bees before, and the win was as convincing as the score indicates. Engelhardt tallied twice and Rotella, Radik and Cotton once each.

 

The Indians completed their road games with a 26-7 victory over Northern Illinois. Playing in 20-degree weather, Omaha scored once in each quarter to rack up its seventh straight win of the year.

 

Omaha returned to the home field and thoroughly trounced Wayne University of Detroit 59-7. Steck, Engelhardt, and Dick Tannahill scored two touchdowns  each t pave the way to the Indians  most top-heavy win of the year. Rotella, Cotton, and Arnold Smith also got into the scoring act. The Indians pointed for this game most of the season and displayed their best offensive attack of the year.

 

Doane College the final regular season opponent was outclassed 57-2 in a game that cemented Omaha’s hopes of playing in the Tangerine Bowl.

 

Coaching Staff

Good coaching produces good teams, but it takes great coaching to produce great teams. And, such was the case with the Omaha football team this year. The veteran coaching staff of Head Coach Lloyd Cardwell, Line Coach Tom Brock and End Coach Ernie Gorr worked long and hard with the squad, and their labor resulted din the University’s first all-victorious season. And, of course, the frosting on the cake was the 7-6 Tangerine Bowl triumph over Eastern Kentucky State on New Year’s Night in Orlando, Florida.

 

Lloyd Cardwell, in his ninth season as head coach of the Indians, had by far his best year at the helm. It was not only his first unbeaten team, but he was also named as Little All-American Coach of the Year by the Rockne Club of Kansas City, Missouri. Such recognition is nothing new to Cardy; he was twice named to the All Professional football team when he played with the Detroit Lions back in the late 1930’s.

 

Tom Brock, the expressive line coach of the Indians, was a tower of help in producing this year’s outstanding eleven. He always knew that to say and to do at the right time, and he is credited with forming the rock-ribbed forward wall that limited Omaha’s ten victims to just 67 points. Brock was a top lineman in his college days. He was a regular center for three ee years at Notre Dame. Besides his line coaching duties during the football season, he is the Director of Physical Education.

 

Ernie Gorr capably tutored the ends on the squad. During the rest of the year, he is head track coach and i an instructor in physical education. Four years ago he introduced indoor track to the University. He attended Nebraska Wesleyan ad the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

 

A Perfect Afternoon

A record crowed of 5,200 fans, largest ever to witness an athletic event in Omaha U history, came out to see the Indians battle Wayne University of Detroit in the Dad’s Day game on Nov. 6. The OU gridders delighted the crowd with a powerful display of offensive football as they trampled the Tartars 59-7. Omaha scored three touchdowns in the opening ten minutes, and after that, the score mounted steadily throughout the remainder of the afternoon. The victory over Wayne was the highlight of the regular season.

 

Football Awards Banquet

Rudy Rotella and Ed Baker received special honors at the Football Victory Banquet on February 15. Rotella as selected as the most valuable player on the team during the 1954 season, and Baker was picked by his teammates to captain the squad in 1955. Main course of the dinner was Nebraska beef steaks and Kentucky baked hams. Student Council President Jim Erixon presented awards to the six seniors on the all-victorious team.

 

The annual football banquet was held at the Fontenelle Hotel in Omaha on December 2. Letter winners were announced and the entire squad was congratulated for the undefeated year on the gridiron. Coach Lloyd Cardwell presented Rudy Rotella with a belly for his fine job as team captain. Carl Snavely, former head football coach at North Carolina University and present head coach t Washington University of St. Louis, was the principal speaker.

 

Off the Field

An athletic team cannot operate successfully without an able team physician and team trainer. These men are responsible for keeping the athletes in top shape and for treating their numerous injuries. Dr. G.M. McArdle is the team physician at OU and Dick McCord is the trainer.

 

Their work begins when the football candidates reported for physical examination early in September. And they never have a minute to themselves until the season is over. Football, above all other sports, affords more injuries to the athletes. Game action and practice scrimmages leave players with bruises, sprains, pulled muscles, and the usual aches and pains. Dr. McArdle and McCord are credited with keeping this year’s team in excellent condition.

 

Mike Wolenski and his locker room assistant contribute considerably to the Indians’ athletic successes the year around. They hustle continuously to keep the athletes outfitted with the best gear possible. Mike’s helpers hit year were Mel Decker and Bill McVicker.

 

As equipment manager, Mike is responsible for all playing an practice gear. He is a always on hand during game for workouts, in case any part of a player's equipment is broken or torn.

 

Mike keeps the locker room spotless, and still has tim to become involved in humorous arguments with every athlete tat pokes hi head in the equipment rom.

 

Cheer Leaders

The seven faithful cheerleaders who led yells at the games and pre-game pep rallies were captained this year by Jean Harrington. They conducted all the sideline support for Omaha U’s football and basketball squads. Other members besides Harrington were Gayle Martin, Judy Samuelson, Betti Coleman, Kay Carter, Dick Vernon and Bob Holsten.

 

In addition to the game and pre-game yells the cheerleader did an especially good job in boosting school and team moral e during the anxious days before the Tangerine Bowl game. They cheered the team when it left or Orlando and continued as resounding rally in the train station in Atlanta, Georgia. Most students an follower on the train believe it was the best rally o the year.