1957 Boston College Eagles football team

The 1957 Boston College Eagles football team represented Boston College as an independent during the 1957 NCAA University Division football season. In its seventh season under head coach Mike Holovak, the team compiled a 7–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 158 to 129.[1][2]

1957 Boston College Eagles football
ConferenceIndependent
Record7–2
Head coach
CaptainTom Sullivan
Home stadiumAlumni Stadium
Seasons
← 1956
1958 →
1957 NCAA University Division independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 5 Navy  911
No. 10 Notre Dame  730
No. 18 Army  720
Drake  720
Penn State  630
Detroit  630
Dayton  631
Oklahoma State  631
Boston University  530
Holy Cross  531
Syracuse  531
Pacific (CA)  532
Rutgers  540
Miami (FL)  541
Xavier  550
Florida State  460
Pittsburgh  460
Air Force  361
Colgate  360
Villanova  360
San Jose State  370
Texas Tech  280
Marquette  0100
Rankings from AP Poll

Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, was built prior to the 1957 season and was dedicated with the season opener on September 27. John F. Kennedy, then a U.S. Senator, arranged for the opening match-up against Navy.[3] The Eagles' first victory in their new stadium came the following week against Florida State.[1]

After losing the season opener, the team won seven consecutive games before losing the final game to rival Holy Cross. The Eagles tied a school record by losing eight fumbles in the loss to Holy Cross.[4]

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Don Allard with 910 passing yards, fullback Alan Miller with 484 rushing yards, and end Jim Colclough with 254 receiving yards and 42 points scored.[5] Allard, Miller, and Colclough all went on to play in the American Football League or the National Football League. Guard Tom Meehan received the Thomas F. Scanlan Memorial Trophy as the senior player outstanding in scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability.[6]

On October 19, the team set a single-game school record in limiting Villanova to 76 yards of total offense. That total remains tied for the fourth best single-game performance in school history.[7]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 21 No. 12 NavyL 6–4628,000[8]
September 28Florida State
  • Alumni Stadium
  • Chestnut Hill, MA
W 20–710,000[9]
October 5Quantico Marines
  • Alumni Stadium
  • Chestnut Hill, MA
W 13–711,000[10]
October 12Dayton
  • Alumni Stadium
  • Chestnut Hill, MA
W 41–1412,000[11]
October 19Villanova
  • Alumni Stadium
  • Chestnut Hill, MA
W 12–912,000[12]
October 26at DetroitW 20–168,563[13]
November 9at Boston University W 27–225,500[14]
November 16Marquette
  • Alumni Stadium
  • Chestnut Hill, MA
W 19–1413,000[15]
November 30at Holy Cross L 0–1424,000[16]
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[1]

References