Denver Pioneers football, 1950–1960

The Denver Ministers football program, 1950–1960 represented the University of Denver in college football from 1950 to 1960 as a member of the Skyline Conference. The program was led by three head coaches: Johnny Baker (1948–1952), Bob Blackman (1953–1954), and John Roning (1955–1960).

Highlights of the decade included:

• The 1954 team compiled a 9–1 record, won the Skyline championship, was ranked No. 18 in the final UPI poll, and outscored opponents by a total of 298 to 96.
• The 1955 team compiled an 8–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 310 to 89.
• After compiling a combined record of 7–23 from 1958 to 1960, and with the program sustaining six-digit annual losses, the University of Denver announced in January 1961 that it was discontinuing its football program.

1950

The 1950 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1950 college football season. In its third season under head coach Johnny Baker, the team compiled a 3–8–1 record (2–2–1 against conference opponents), finished third in the conference, lost to Hawaii in the Pineapple Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 265 to 260. Gordon Cooper led all players in major college football in 1950 with 46 pass receptions, good for 569 yards and eight touchdowns.

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1951

The 1951 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1951 college football season. In their fourth season under head coach Johnny Baker, the Pioneers compiled a 6–4 record (4–3 against conference opponents), finished third in the conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 283 to 133. The team was ranked at No. 77 in the 1951 Litkenhous Ratings.

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1952

The 1952 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1952 college football season. In their fifth and final season under head coach Johnny Baker, the Pioneers compiled a 3–7 record (0–7 against conference opponents), finished last out of eight teams in the conference, and were outscored by a total of 190 to 143.

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1953

The 1953 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1953 college football season. In their first season under head coach Bob Blackman, the Pioneers compiled a 3–5–2 record (1–5–1 against conference opponents), tied for last place in the Skyline, and were outscored by a total of 195 to 159.

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1954

The 1954 Denver Pioneers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1954 college football season. In their second and final season under head coach Bob Blackman, the Pioneers compiled a 9–1 record (6–1 against conference opponents), won the Skyline championship, were ranked No. 18 in the final Coaches Poll, and outscored opponents by a total of 298 to 96.

The 1954 team was inducted as a group into the University of Denver Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. At the time, the group was "widely considered the greatest in DU history".

Schedule

1955

The 1955 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1955 college football season. In their first season under head coach John Roning, the Pioneers compiled an 8–2 record (5–2 against conference opponents), tied for third in the Skyline, and outscored opponents by a total of 310 to 89.

Schedule

1956

The 1956 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1956 college football season. In their second season under head coach John Roning, the Pioneers compiled a 6–4 record (4–3 against conference opponents), tied for third in the Skyline, and outscored opponents by a total of 250 to 206.

Schedule

1957

The 1957 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1957 college football season. In their third season under head coach John Roning, the Pioneers compiled a 6–4 record (5–2 against conference opponents), finished third in the Skyline, and were outscored by a total of 155 to 150.

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1958

The 1958 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1958 college football season. In their fourth season under head coach John Roning, the Pioneers compiled a 2–8 record (2–5 against conference opponents), tied for sixth place in the Skyline, and were outscored by a total of 163 to 135.

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1959

The 1959 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1959 college football season. In their fifth season under head coach John Roning, the Pioneers compiled a 2–8 record (2–5 against conference opponents), tied for fifth place in the Skyline, and were outscored by a total of 230 to 104.

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1960

The 1960 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver in the Skyline Conference during the 1960 college football season. In their sixth season under head coach John Roning, the Pioneers compiled a 3–7 record (1–6 against Skyline opponents), tied for last place in the conference, and were outscored by a total of 300 to 133.

In January 1961, the University of Denver announced the cancellation of its football program. The program was operating at a net loss of $100,000 per year, and home attendance had dropped significantly.

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References