Marquette Golden Avalanche football

Marquette Golden Avalanche football
First season	1892
Last season	1960
Stadium	Marquette Stadium
Seating capacity	24,000
Field surface	Grass
Location	Milwaukee, Wisconsin
All-time record	349–280–39 (.552)
Bowl record	0–1 (.000)
Claimed nat'l titles	0
Heisman winners	0
Colors	Blue and Gold[1]

For information on all Marquette University sports, see Marquette Golden Eagles

The Marquette Golden Avalanche football program was the intercollegiate American football team for Marquette University located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school's first football team was fielded in 1892. While it became generally known as the Hilltoppers, the name was changed starting in the 1954 season to the Warriors.^[2] Citing financial issues,^[3] the program was discontinued by the university in December 1960.^[4][5][6][7]

History

The 1936 Golden Avalanche had a 7–1 regular season record with a top 20 ranking. They were invited to the first Cotton Bowl Classic in January 1937. The opponent was Texas Christian University, and the Horned Frogs were led by quarterback Sammy Baugh; TCU won by ten points, 16–6.^[8] It was the only bowl appearance for Marquette.

After a winless season in 1956, most of the home games (7 of 9) in 1957 and 1958 were moved from Marquette Stadium to the larger County Stadium,^[9] and attendance fell.^[10][11][12] The 1957 game against Penn State at County Stadium drew less than 4,800 to the final home game on November 9, as the losing streak reached 18 games.^[12][13]

Notable former players

• George Andrie – defensive end, Dallas Cowboys (1962–1972)
• Ray Apolskis – lineman, Chicago Cardinals (1941–1942, 1945–1950)
• LaVern Dilweg – end, Green Bay Packers (1927–1934), also Milwaukee Badgers (1926); attorney and U.S. Congressman (1943–1945)
• Ron Drzewiecki - halfback, Chicago Bears (1955, 1957)
• Thomas A. Manning – attorney and Wisconsin State Assemblyman (1912–1914)
• Gene Ronzani – back, Chicago Bears, (1933–1938, 1944–1945); second head coach of Green Bay Packers (1950–1953)

Bowl game appearances

Season	Date	Bowl	W/L	Opponent	PF	PA	Coach	Notes
1936	January 1, 1937	Cotton Bowl	L	TCU	6	16	Frank Murray	notes
Total		1 bowl game	0–1		6	16

References

1. "Marquette Athletics Identity Standards" (PDF). Marquette University. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
2. "Marquette Historical Data". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
3. Hylton, J. Gordon (November 23, 2012). "More on Marquette football". Marquette University Law School. faculty blog. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
4. "Save football, alumni aim". Milwaukee Journal. December 10, 1960. p. 14.
5. "Marquette drops football, track". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. December 10, 1960. p. 10.
6. Bolchat, Rel (December 10, 1960). "MU drops football, basketball survives". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 3, part 2.
7. Riordon, Robert J (December 10, 1960). "'We want football!' MUers yell". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 1.
8. Walfroot, Cleon (January 2, 1937). "TCU passes give Hilltop 16–6 beating". Milwaukee Journal. p. 8.
9. "MU '11' will use stadium". Milwaukee Sentinel. April 25, 1957. p. 9, part 3.
10. Tharinger, Dick (January 21, 1962). "Moon Mullins, leaving Marquette, recounts failures and successes". Milwaukee Journal. p. 3.
11. Wolfley, Bob (December 8, 2010). "Marquette whistled football dead 50 years ago". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
12. Bochat, Rel (March 25, 1959). "MU returns to own stadium". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 6, part 2.
13. "Marquette undecided on games at stadium". Milwaukee Journal. March 25, 1959. p. 14, part 2.

External links

• College Football Data Warehouse – Marquette
• MU Scoop – Marquette football
• Football and the Big East