Celebrating 150 Years of College Football
10/16/2019 9:15:00 AM | Football
Celebrating 150 Years of College Football
In honor of College Football celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2019, TulsaHurricane.com will recognize some of the most memorable moments and exciting plays in the history of The University of Tulsa football each week throughout the season.
Tulsa is in its 120th season of fielding a football team. The Tulsa gridiron tradition started as Henry Kendall College in 1895 with the first team posting a 1-0-0 record lead by coach Norman Leard. There were a few seasons in the early years that Kendall College did not field a team, but later becoming The University of Tulsa, the Golden Hurricane football teams have amassed 600+ wins in school history.
This 150th College Football Anniversary moment we take a HISTORICAL LOOK this week at the rushing exploits of Howard Waugh in the 1952 campaign.
Howard Waugh, Tulsa Lead Nation in Rushing
The Heisman Trophy winner in 1952 was Oklahoma running back Billy Vessels, but the nation's leading rusher was Tulsa's Howard Waugh. Waugh rushed for 1,372 yards, 17 TDs and an 8.4 average per carry in leading Tulsa to an 8-2-1 record and an appearance in the Gator Bowl against #15 Florida in 1952. Waugh bettered his yardage total by 254 yards from a season earlier when he was the nation's 3rd leading rusher. As a team in 1952, the Hurricane led the nation in rushing and total offense with averages of 321.5 yards on the ground and 466.6 total yards.
Waugh had 6 100+ rushing games in 1952, including three contests over 180 yards. He had a career-high 250 yards on 19 carries for a 13.2 average per carry against Arkansas that year. He also had 197 yards against Detroit and 181 against Texas Tech.
For those wondering … Waugh rushed for 300 yards and 1.71 yards per carry more than the Heisman Trophy winning Vessels in the same amount of games that season.
Tuesday, May 19
Tuesday, May 19
Tuesday, May 19
Monday, May 04