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1954 USC Trojans football
Rose Bowl vs. Ohio State, L 7–20
ConferencePacific Coast Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 11
APNo. 17
1954 record8–4 (6–1 PCC)
Head coachJess Hill (4th season)
Home stadiumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Seasons
← 1953
1955 →
1954 PCC football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#2 UCLA 6 0 0     9 0 0
#17 USC 6 1 0     8 4 0
Oregon 5 3 0     6 4 0
California 4 3 0     5 5 0
Washington State 3 4 0     4 6 0
Stanford 2 4 0     4 6 0
Idaho 1 2 0     4 5 0
Washington 1 6 0     2 8 0
Oregon State 1 6 0     1 8 0
† – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1954 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1954 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach Jess Hill, the Trojans compiled an 8–4 record (6–1 against conference opponents), finished in second place in the Pacific Coast Conference, lost to Ohio State in the 1955 Rose Bowl, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 258 to 159.[1]

Jim Contratto led the team in passing with 32 of 79 passes completed for 702 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. Jon Arnett led the team in rushing with 96 carries for 601 yards and seven touchdowns. Lindon Crow was the leading receiver with seven catches for 274 yards and three touchdowns.[2]

Three Trojans received first-team honors from the Associated Press on the 1954 All-Pacific Coast Conference football team: back Lindon Crow; tackle Ed Fouch; guard Jim Salsbury.

Schedule[]

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 17Washington StateNo. 17W 39–037,645
September 24Pittsburgh*No. 15
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 27–750,253
October 2at Northwestern*No. 9W 12–730,725
October 8TCU*No. 9
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
L 7–2052,705
October 16vs. OregonW 24–1422,766
October 23CaliforniaNo. 17
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 29–2766,342
October 30Oregon StateNo. 13
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 30–030,065
November 6at StanfordNo. 10W 21–728,000
November 13WashingtondaggerNo. 8
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 41–036,108
November 20No. 2 UCLANo. 7
L 0–34102,548
November 27No. 4 Notre Dame*No. 17L 17–2356,438
January 1, 1955vs. No. 1 Ohio State*No. 17L 7–2089,191
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries[]

UCLA[]

1 2 3 4 OT
UCLA 7 0 0 27 34
USC 0 0 0 0 0




Players[]

  • Jon Arnett, sophomore tailback (#26), earned second-team All-Coast honors from the UP
  • Al Barry, senior right guard
  • George Belotti, tackle
  • Bing Bordier, right end
  • Ron Brown
  • Ron Calabria, wingback
  • Leon Clarke, left end, second-team All-Coast honors from coaches
  • Frank Clayton, left halfback
  • Jim Contratto, quarterback
  • Lindon Crow, second-team All-Coast (co-captain)
  • Aramis Dandoy, tailback, won All-Coast honors from INS
  • Mario DaRe, tackle
  • Jim Decker, fullback
  • Gordon Duvall, fullback
  • Dirk Eldredge, center
  • Dick Enright, right guard
  • Orlando Ferrante, guard, first-team All-Coast honors from coaches, second-string All-Coast honors from INS
  • Ed Fouch, right tackle, first-team All-Coast (co-captain)
  • George Galli, guard
  • Marv Goux, linebacker, led the team in defensive statistics
  • Chuck Greenwood, right end
  • Chuck Griffith, right end
  • Frank Hall, back
  • Roger Hooks quarterback
  • Bob Isaacson, guard
  • Chuck Leimbach, end
  • Don McFarland, end
  • Ernie Merk, back
  • John Miller, guard
  • Frank Pavich, guard and tackle
  • Vern Sampson, center
  • Irwin Spector, guard, Brooklyn, New York
  • Joe Tisdale, fullback
  • Sam Tsagalakis, placekicker

Coaching staff and other personnel[]

  • Head coach: Jess Hill[3]
  • Assistant coaches: Mel Hein (line coach - centers and tackles), Don Clark (line coach - guards and defensive patterns), Bill Fisk (ends), George Ceithaml (backfield coach), Nick Pappas (defensive backs), Jess Mortensen (freshman coach)[4]
  • Yell kings: Don Ward, Jerry Stolp, Phil Reilly, Shep Aparicio, Bob Mandel[5]
  • Manager: Peter Couden[6]

References[]

  1. "Southern California Yearly Results (1950-1954)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/s/southern_california/1950-1954_yearly_results.php. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  2. "1954 Southern California Trojans Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1954.html. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  3. 1955 "El Rodeo" (USC yearbook), page 185.
  4. 1955 "El Rodeo", page 184.
  5. 1955 "El Rodeo", page 183.
  6. 1955 "El Rodeo", page 186.
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