1954 Navy Midshipmen football team

1954 Navy Midshipmen football
Eastern champion
Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 21–0 vs. Ole Miss
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 5
APNo. 5
Record8–2
Head coach
CaptainPhil Monahan
Home stadiumThompson Stadium
Seasons
← 1953
1955 →
1954 Southern college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 9 Miami (FL)   –   8 – 1 – 0
Delaware   –   8 – 2 – 0
No. 5 Navy   –   8 – 2 – 0
Tampa   –   8 – 2 – 0
Florida State   –   8 – 4 – 0
Abilene Christian   –   6 – 3 – 1
Chattanooga   –   6 – 4 – 0
Mississippi Southern   –   6 – 4 – 0
Memphis State   –   3 – 4 – 3
Louisville   –   3 – 6 – 0
Arkansas State   –   1 – 8 – 0
Sewanee   –   0 – 8 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1954 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy (USNA) as an independent during the 1954 college football season. The team was led by fifth-year head coach Eddie Erdelatz,[1][2] and they acquired the nickname "Team Named Desire" during the press conference following the 25–0 road shutout of Stanford, when Erdelatz said, "Every man on this team is full of desire."[3]

After defeating #5 Army in Philadelphia,[4] the Midshipmen were ranked fifth in both final polls, released in late November, and played in their first bowl game in 31 years. Navy shut out #6 Ole Miss 21–0 in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year's Day.[5][6]

  1. ^ "Football History" (PDF). United States Naval Academy. p. 192. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  2. ^ "Navy Yearly Results (1950-1954)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  3. ^ Wagner, Bill (October 29, 2015). "Navy inspired to honor 1954 'Team Named Desire'". Capital Gazette. (Annapolis, Maryland). Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  4. ^ "Middies' desire deflates Cadets". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 28, 1954. p. 1, sports.
  5. ^ "Navy swamps Mississippi, 21-0 before 82,500 fans in Sugar Bowl". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. January 2, 1955. p. 1, section 3.
  6. ^ Claassen, Harold (January 2, 1955). "Daring Midshipmen scuttle Mississippi 21-0 in Sugar". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. 1, sports.