1952 Bradley Football Press Guide

[capecod]

For the few interested in such old BU stuff

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I pulled out my copy of the '52 Bradley football guide to see if a Fogelberg (Dan's father) was the director of the Braves Marching Band. He was.

I've spent some more time reading that Guide. Here are a few things that I noticed (not sure there are many interested in old BU football but):


The first thing that jumped out was this quote from the Guide:

"....Bradley's 'Big Four' rivals, Drake,Wichita, Toledo and Bowling Green "

that's news to me

Other stuff:

The list of the press who cover the Braves included the Peoria Journal and the Peoria Star(before they merged) and the Sports Director of WEEK was Chick Hearn-later, the longtime voice of the LA Lakers

Head Coach was 'Bus' Mertes, only 31 & a former player and coach at Iowa for Eddie Anderson. Anderson himself had been a star player for Knute Rockne at Notre Dame in the 20s.....The BU football coach- part of the lineage/'coaching tree' of Knute Rockne

The first BU game of the '52 season was against Kansas St at Manhattan....seemed like a reach for the Braves to go against such a big time opponent-guess KSU wasn't as good back then as they are now-they beat the Braves 21-7 for their only win of the season(finishing 1-9)

The Guide was written by Bradley 'Athletic Publicity Director' David Meister and reads like BU should have a powerhouse squad in 1952.

(examples):

Joe Barera HB: A transfer student from Niagara U, Barbera has a reputation throughout the East as a brilliant breakaway runner....

Gordon Busse HB: The blood comet should be ready for one of his greatest years. The junior halfback who can do the 100 yard dash in 9.8.....

Dale Decker E One of the finest freshman ends in Bradley history last season, Decker has 3 more seasons and should become one of the all-time Hilltop greats.....

Jim Elmes FB: Elmes led the Bradley ball carriers last year with 494 yards on 90 carries for a 5.5 average. The husky junior fullback will be one of the most important men in Mertes' offense....

Dick Goins End One of the finest trackmen Bradley has ever had...

Walt Ingram FB/HB Ingram, one of the finest runners in Bradley history, was injured last season after a brilliant sophomore year....

Jim Philbee HB One of the greatest halfbacks ever to don the Bradley uniform....

Bill 'Corky' Robertson C Son of Bradley's late AD AJ Robertson...(in his 3rd season as a starter)

Tom Unzicker T A transfer student from Notre Dame, where he won a freshman award in 1950....

Ken Weeks T The massive Weeks is the holder of the Bradley shot put record. A 225 pounder who is a mainstay in the middle of the line, he should have his greatest year in 1952....

Vern Woosley QB Rated one of the finest high school backs in the State of Illinois last fall....(from Peoria Manual)

etc

Bradley finished 4-5 in 1952

[capecod]

Roger Staubach vs Bradley

the last Bradley football guide that I have was from 1968

On Nov. 2, 1968 the Braves traveled to Pensacola, Fla to take on the Pensacola Navy squad. The QB for that Pensacola Navy team was former Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach.

Staubach was a little rusty, having just returned from a 2 year tour in Viet Nam

Roger spent his final season in the Navy playing football- and tuning up against teams like the Braves for his future HOF career with the Dallas Cowboys

[Chico]

the last Bradley football guide that I have was from 1968

On Nov. 2, 1968 the Braves traveled to Pensacola, Fla to take on the Pensacola Navy squad. The QB for that Pensacola Navy team was former Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach.

Staubach was a little rusty, having just returned from a 2 year tour in Viet Nam

Roger spent his final season in the Navy playing football- and tuning up against teams like the Braves for his future HOF career with the Dallas Cowboys

If my old memory is right, Bradley won that game.

[Da Coach]

If my old memory is right, Bradley won that game.

Chico, unless your memory is better than mine, I seem to recall that Bradley was blown out by the Pensacola team with Staubach throwing for a bunch of touchdowns.

[capecod]

Bradley football 1968

Chico, unless your memory is better than mine, I seem to recall that Bradley was blown out by the Pensacola team with Staubach throwing for a bunch of touchdowns.

researching the rest of the final scores for BU season(see post below)

I do know that Bradley finished 4-6 for the season in '68

[capecod]

Bradley lost to Pensacola in 1968

I still have not found the final score of the Pensacola Navy game but BU lost

I do have all of the other scores of BU football games in 1968:

Bradley vs


Central Michigan Lost 6-41
Evansville Lost 19-27
Western Illinois Won 14-3
SE Missouri Won 22-19
Akron Lost 13-27
Eastern Illinois Won 37-28
Wheaton Won 16-7
Pensacola Navy Lost EDIT 0-35
Wis-Milwaukee Lost 21-22
Illinois St Lost 26-42

Braves finished 4-6 in 1968....knowing that BU finished 4-6 and I have accounted for all 4 of the Braves wins(and 5 losses), it is obvious that BU lost the Pensacola game

[Da Coach]

I checked the 1968-69 Bradley Anaga student yearbook.
I am afraid I was right about the BU-Pensacola game. BU lost 35-0.
Page 63 of the Anaga Yearbook states that the Bradley record was 4-6, but then it lists the games and scores on page 67, and it shows there are only 3 wins, and 7 losses-

Here are the scores for 1968-
Bradley 6 Central Michigan 41 LOSS
Bradley 19 Evansville 27 LOSS
Bradley 14 Western Illinois 33 LOSS
Bradley 22 Southeast Missouri 19 WIN
Bradley 13 Akron 27 LOSS
Bradley 37 Eastern Illinois 28 WIN
Bradley 16 Wheaton 7 WIN
Bradley 0 Pensacola 35 LOSS
Bradley 21 Wisconsin-Milwaukee 22 LOSS
Bradley 26 Illinois State 42 LOSS

The Western Illinois score must be a misprint in the yearbook. Where did you get those scored capecod?

[capecod]

Street & Smith College Yearbook 1969

I checked the 1968-69 Bradley Anaga student yearbook.
I am afraid I was right about the BU-Pensacola game. BU lost 35-0.
Page 63 of the Anaga Yearbook states that the Bradley record was 4-6, but then it lists the games and scores on page 67, and it shows there are only 3 wins, and 7 losses-

Here are the scores for 1968-
Bradley 6 Central Michigan 41 LOSS
Bradley 19 Evansville 27 LOSS
Bradley 14 Western Illinois 33 LOSS
Bradley 22 Southeast Missouri 19 WIN
Bradley 13 Akron 27 LOSS
Bradley 37 Eastern Illinois 28 WIN
Bradley 16 Wheaton 7 WIN
Bradley 0 Pensacola 35 LOSS
Bradley 21 Wisconsin-Milwaukee 22 LOSS
Bradley 26 Illinois State 42 LOSS

The Western Illinois score must be a misprint in the yearbook. Where did you get those scored capecod?

I did not check the Western Illinois Media Guide-I took the scores from the 1969 Street & Smith College Yearbook magazine

[Da Coach]

The Western Illinois score must be a misprint in the yearbook.

I checked the Western Illinois football yearbook which lists all-time results.
Indeed, the Bradley Anaga score is incorrect, and capecod's score is correct. Bradley beat WIU 14-3.

[Chico]

Sorry, I had the wrong military team. They lost to Pensacola 35-0, but in 1965 they beat the Quantico Marines.

[capecod]

Sorry, I had the wrong military team. They lost to Pensacola 35-0, but in 1965 they beat the Quantico Marines.

Yes, Bradley defeated the Quantico Marines Devil Dogs 14-7 behind Braves QB Bob Caress(also an BU Basketball players) in 1965

the link below is to an article on the game...if the link doesn't open directly to the game summary, scroll to page 4

http://jarheadjocks.com/doc/Football%201964-72-2013.pdf