# 1953 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

The 1953 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1953 Big Ten Conference football season. In their 12th year under head coach Ray Eliot, the Illini compiled a 7–1–1 record, finished in a tie for first place in the Big Ten Conference, and were ranked #7 in the final AP Poll. The sole defeat was a 34–7 loss to Wisconsin.
Tackle Don Ernst was selected as the team's most valuable player. Sophomore halfback J. C. Caroline led the team with 1,256 rushing yards on 194 attempts (6.5 yards per carry) and was selected as a consensus first-team player on the 1953 College Football All-America Team. Guard John Bauer was selected by the Newspaper Enterprise Association as a third-team All-American.

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 26 | Nebraska* | | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL | T 21–21 | 40,011 |
| October 3 | Stanford* | | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL | W 33–21 | 32,737 |
| October 10 | at No. 3 Ohio State | | Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH (Illibuck Trophy) | W 41–20 | 81,745 |
| October 17 | Minnesota | No. 9 | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL | W 27–7 | 55,641 |
| October 24 | Syracuse* | No. 7 | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL | W 20–13 | 30,076 |
| October 31 | Purdue | No. 4 | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL (rivalry) | W 21–0 | 57,210 |
| November 7 | No. 17 Michigan | No. 4 | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL (series) | W 19–3 | 69,507 |
| November 14 | at Wisconsin | No. 3 | Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI | L 7–34 | 52,887 |
| November 21 | at Northwestern | No. 7 | Dyche StadiumEvanston, IL (rivalry) | W 3–0 | 51,039 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game ||||||

## Roster

| Player | Position |
| Peter Palmer | |
| Robert Bishop | |
| John Ryan | End, Defensive Back |
| Robert Lenzini (captain) | Guard |
| Roger Wolf | |
| Jan Smid | Guard |
| Stephen Nosek | Quarterback |
| John Bauer | Guard, Tackle |
| Michael Gaus | |
| Jack Chamblin | |
| David Bauer | Defensive Back |
| Paul Furimsky | |
| Dean Wilmann | |
| Dale Foster | |
| Paul Luhrsen | |
| Baird Stewart | |
| James Pollitt | |
| Richard Kohlhagen | |
| Kenneth Swienton | |
| Floyd McAfee | |
| James Calder | |
| Ronald Yochem | |
| Robert Wiman | |
| Don Ernst | |
| Randall Rayborn | |
| Francis Hoffman | |
| Joseph Yusko | |
| Walter Vernasco | End |
| Donald Bostrom | |
| James Bronson | |
| Em Lindbeck | |
| Hugh Woodson | |
| Patrick Phillips | |
| Jerry Markbreit | |
| George Walsh | |
| Clarence DeMoss | Halfback |
| Herbert Badal | |
| James Minor | |
| Terry Matthews | |
| Kenneth Miller | Fullback |
| Stan Wallace | Defensive Back |
| Donald Tate | |
| James Dunne | |
| Jack Sopkin | |
| Robert Alexander | |
| Gus Mackris | |
| Roger Meuller | |
| Richard Piggott | |
| Charles Schiesser | |
| Richard Rosenberg | |
| Robert Desenfants | |
| Rudolf Siegert | |
| Donald Grothe | |
| Thomas Miller | Placekicker |
| J. C. Caroline | Halfback, Defensive Back |
| Robert Graeff | |
| Richard Ohls | |
| Melvin Bates | Fullback |
| Dean Renn | |
| Clifford Waldbeser | |
| Elry Falkenstein | Quarterback |
| Herbert Borman | |
* Head coach: Ray Eliot (12th year at Illinois)