In recognition of the 100th anniversary of Bowling Green State University Football, the BGSU Department of Athletics will be taking a look back at the history of the program throughout the summer. Bowling Green will officially celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first game in program history when the Falcons host rival Toledo Oct. 12.

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THE ZIGGYCAST
Todd Walker Looks Back At The 1959 National Champions

TURN BACK THE CLOCK SERIES
1919-1929
1930-1939
1940-1949

The 1950s

Overall Record: 57-29-7 (.651)

Despite struggling in the first half of the decade, the Falcons' second-half performance in the 1950s could be summed up with one word: domination. After totaling a 17-25-3 record from 1950-1954, BGSU closed with a 37-4-4 record from 1955-1959. Despite team struggles, there were some individual highlights in the first five years. Fred During, who is sixth all-time at BGSU in rushing yards, was named an All-American in 1952. The next season, captain and end James Ladd earned the same postseason honors. However, the Falcons lost 15-of-18 in 1953 and 1954, which led to the departure of long-time coach Robert Whittaker.

To fill the shoes of the program's longest-tenured head coach, BGSU turned to a familiar face: Doyt L. Perry. The former Falcon quarterback took over in 1955, leading the Falcons to a 7-1-1 record. That season, the Falcons surrendered just eight touchdowns, tied for the fewest in program history since 1947. Team captain and end Jack Hecker was named a College Division All-American in that season.

Four more Falcons earned College Division All-American status in the 1950s, including Bernie Casey. Casey, who was also an All-American hurdler for BGSU, was selected ninth overall in the 1960 NFL Draft. This is the highest a BGSU player has been drafted. Joining Casey on the 1959 College Division All-American team was Bob Zimpfer, a tackle who helped the Falcons score over 30 points per game. Fullback Jack Giroux was named All-American in 1956, with offensive lineman Tim Murnen earning All-American honors in 1957. The total of seven is tied with the 2010s for the most All-Americans in a decade.

The 1956 squad won the program's first MAC title and their first conference title since 1929. Finishing 8-0-1, the Orange and Brown scored a school-record 311 points in just nine games. This mark stood for nearly 20 years until the 1984 team totaled 327 points in 11 games. In 1957, the defense surrendered just eight touchdowns, tying the record set by the 1955 team. Two seasons later, the 1959 team claimed another MAC title. Finishing 9-0, BGSU won every game in a season for the first time in school history. To cap the historic decade, the Falcons were selected National College Division Champions, the first and only time BGSU has earned this honor.

LONGEST WIN STREAK
To conclude the 1958 season, the Falcons won home games against Ohio and Marshall to boost their record to 7-2. They carried this momentum into the 1959 season, winning all nine games on the schedule. Outscoring opponents 274-83, BGSU won the MAC title and was crowned National College Division Champions. The streak extended into the next decade when the 1960 Falcons won their first seven games. The 18-game winning streak spanned three seasons and is still the longest in school history.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCE
Fred Durig closed the 1951 season with a school-record five straight games with over 100 yards rushing. In the season finale against Bradley, Durig toted the rock 29 times for 206 yards, a single-game program record that stood for over 20 years. The Falcons won the battle 20-6 behind Durig's rushing attack, his eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season.

NOTABLE COACH
One of the most recognizable names in BGSU Athletics is Doyt L. Perry. The legendary Falcon began his career as an athlete, earning nine varsity letters in three sports (football, basketball, and baseball). As the quarterback of the football team, Perry led the Falcons to an NOIAA title and earned All-Conference and All-Ohio honors. Shortly after graduating, he began his coaching career at the high school level. In 1951, Ohio State coach Woody Hayes added Perry to his staff as an assistant coach.

In 1955, Coach Perry inherited a program that had won three games in the last two seasons. Over the next ten seasons, Perry led the program to an incredible 77-11-5 record. His .855 winning percentage ranks fifth on the all-time NCAA list and third in Division I. During this span, the Falcons won five MAC titles and a National College Division Championship. They also made an appearance in the 1961 Mercy Bowl, playing against Fresno State. Perry's teams never lost more than two games in a season, earning an overall record of 37-4-4 from 1955-1959.

Under Perry, five Falcons earned All-American status. Jack Hecker, Jack Giroux, Tim Murnen, Bernie Casey, and Bob Zimpfer were all selected College Division All-Americans. His 77 wins are the most by any BGSU football coach, as are his five conference titles. Perry's coaching career ended in 1964, but he remained at Bowling Green until 1971 as the athletics director. A two-time winner of the Ohio Collegiate Coach of the Year, Perry was inducted into the BGSU Hall of Fame in 1971.

In 1966, Doyt L. Perry Stadium was constructed to host BGSU football games. Perry was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and MAC Football Hall of Fame in 1988. From 1979 to 2008, distinguished contributors to Falcon football received the Doyt L. Perry Award. Perry passed away in 1992. At his memorial service, Bo Schembechler said, "I don't believe I can name a coach, anywhere, anytime, anyhow, who did it better than Doyt Perry." Perry and Schembechler spent time as assistants at Ohio State and Schembechler was Perry's assistant at BGSU during the 1955 season.

MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
1956 (8-0-1 record), 1959 (9-0)

NATIONAL COLLEGE DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS
1959 (9-0)

NOTABLE PLAYERS
Fred Durig (FB): The first All-American selection from BGSU, fullback Fred Durig ran for 2,564 yards in his career. Averaging 5.7 yards per carry throughout his career, Durig was a two-time All-Ohio and team MVP selection. He was selected College Division All-American in 1952 after rushing for 858 yards and nine touchdowns. His 1,444 rushing yards and 6.7 yards per carry helped him earn First Team All-MAC in 1951. Durig was drafted by San Francisco in 1953.

Jack Hecker (E): All-American Jack Hecker finished his BGSU career with 20.8 yards per reception, a number that is still the program record. A captain on the 1955 squad, he finished his career with 1,081 receiving yards. In 1954 and 1955 he was named All-Ohio and All-MAC, and he led the team in receptions and yards in both of those seasons. Hecker was selected to play in the 1955 Blue-Gray Classic, and the Browns drafted him in 1956. The three-year letter winner was inducted into the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1964.

Bill Bradshaw (QB/P): Quarterback Bill Bradshaw's duties were not limited to just throwing the ball, but he was still very efficient at that. He averaged a program-record 19 yards per completion during his career and earned Second Team All-MAC honors in 1953. Bradshaw was also the team's punter, and he averaged 42.2 yards per punt, a record that held for 35 years. Bradshaw led the Falcons in rushing yards in 1953 with 236, and his 1954 punt return average of 14.4 is second on the all-time list. The 1987 Hall of Fame inductee was named All-Ohio and BGSU MVP in 1953 and 1954. Bradshaw was also the recipient of the Glenn Sharp Award in 2003.

Year	Overall Record	Head Coach	Team Captain(s)	Season Scoring Totals
1950	3-4-2	Robert Whittaker	Doug Mooney	Bowling Green 134, Opponents 188
1951	4-4-1	Robert Whittaker	Ollie Glass, Eugene Aldridge	Bowling Green 150, Opponents 178
1952	7-2	Robert Whittaker	Darrell Clay	Bowling Green 257, Opponents 155
1953	1-8	Robert Whittaker	James Ladd	Bowling Green 119, Opponents 252
1954	2-7	Robert Whittaker	John Ladd	Bowling Green 125, Opponents 196
1955	7-1-1	Doyt L. Perry	Jack Hecker	Bowling Green 224, Opponents 53
1956	8-0-1 (MAC Champions)	Doyt L. Perry	Jack Giroux, Harold Peek	Bowling Green 311, Opponents 99
1957	6-1-2	Doyt L. Perry	Tim Murnen	Bowling Green 167, Opponents 55
1958	7-2	Doyt L. Perry	Ray Reese	Bowling Green 218, Opponents 91
1959	9-0 (MAC Champions, National College Division Champions)	Doyt L. Perry	Robert Colburn, Robert Zimpfer	Bowling Green 274, Opponents 83

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Turn Back The Clock: BGSU Football In The 1950s

The 1950s

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Turn Back The Clock: BGSU Football In The 1950s

The 1950s

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