Illinois State Normal University - Index Yearbook (Normal, IL)

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e of an Eastern defender. Blockers Ed Kiesewetter (62) Darrell Spang stumbles after being jolted by the desperation and Jerry Goodrich (40) watch helplessly. wide. Eastern fumbled on the first play after the kick-off and ISNU moved to the nine yard fine where Jerry Goodrich kicked a field goal. Three plays later Jerry Goodrich scored over tackle; then Bob Riggen- bach converted for Normal and the score read 16-0. In the second half, Eastern came back via the air lanes and scored two touchdowns and one extra point. The final score read 16-13. A well-balanced and powerful team from Michigan Normal came to McCormick Field and handed the ISNU Redbirds their first conference loss. Riddled with injuries from the first fray and throughout the Stan Hoselton (58) charges up to make the block that gives Bob Riggenbach (50) an extra five yards against a fired-up Salukis team. entire season, the Redbirds began to show effects of their injuries in losing to the Hurons, 25-6. Normal ' s lone touchdown came on a 14 yard pass from quarter- back Marv Lucas to end Lee Handley. Central Michigan ' s Chippewas spoiled the ISNU Homecoming by dumping the Redbirds 35-7. Early in the first quarter, Bob Riggenbach twisted and tugged his way tlirough the Chips ' secondary for 74 yards and a TD. After a time out, Bob regained his breath, stepped back, and kicked the point after touchdown. This was the extent of Normal ' s scoring for the afternoon. 1 '

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Head Coach Ed Struck assumes a characteristic pose as he outlines strategy to his co-captains. Bill Booker (32) and Bob Riggenbach (50). Bill went on to win Most Valuable Plaver honors. Varsity (f didders Coach Ed Shuck ' s 1955 edition of gridiron gladi- ators opened the season against Bradley University. For Normal partisans the highlight of the game came in the first period when Darrell Spang exploded through the line for 55 yards and the only Normal touchdown. The point after touchdown, scored by Lee Handley, put the Redbirds out in front by one point. Bradley then surged ahead to the final score of 18-7. ISNU opened their conference play against North- ern. For the first three quarters, Normal depended on their defense, able as a result to hold Northern to a touchdown and an extra point. In the fourth period, the defense forced the Huskies to punt, and Darrell Spang stepped off a classy 42 yard punt return. With five minutes left to play, Jerry Goodrich converted after Spang had crashed the last two yards for the TD. Normal gained possession of the ball with less than two minutes to play, and Lee Handley ' s at- tempted field goal was wide of the goal posts. North- ern ran out the time and settled for a 7-7 tie. In the third game of the season, Normal broke into the win column by a slim three points over Eastern. Early in the first quarter, Bob Riggenbach broke for the side lines and did a tight rope act that was good for a touchdown. The point-after-touchdown was First Row: Guy Neibuhr, Don Magee, Blair Sanders, Dick Beecham, Ray Adams, Co-captains Bob Riggenbach and Bill Booker, Harold Henson, Stan Hoselton. Second Row: Marvin Lucas, Jerry Davidson, Paul Brush, Bob Denny, Ron Slack, Kent Durbin, Don Wachter, John Thomas, Jerrv Dusek. Third Row: Coach Ed Struck, Wally Keller, Bob Zanello, Bill Penelton, Don Watson, Vernon Lock, Chuck O Dell, Martin Rademacher, Ass ' t Coach Harold Frve. Fourth Row: Ass ' t Coach Carl Heldt, Jack Mitchell, Bob Jones, Andy Matoesian, Ed Kiesewetter, Dick Helmenchs, Lee Spears, Mgr. Gene Snell. Fifth Row: Ed Powell, Ollie Schultz, Darrell Spang, Adolph Jerdee, John Ortwerth, Harold Anderson, Rick Miller. ia 5 431 fe ff 32 S f 5 x n-( r- T HI

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Ray Adams (53), John Ortwerth (61), Ed Powell (46), Guy Neibuhr (26), Don Wachter (38), and Boh Rig- genbach (50) lead the Redbirds on to the field for the annual Homecoming game against Central Michigan ' s Chippewas. Darrell Spang and Bob Riggenbach dug out their swamp-tromping shoes and slopped Normal to a 20-20 tie against Lewis College. The rain that transformed The step of the Men ' s Marching Band symbolizes the confidence of the school in Normal ' s football squad op- posing Southern. McCormick Field into a gigantic mud bath continued throughout the day but was not enough to stop the flashy Normal backs from exhibiting their wares on the treacherous turf. Just prior to half time, Riggen- bach slid around left end to the 22 yard line. Using the same maneuver, Spang went around right end for the T.D. Goodrich converted for a 7-0 score. Early in the third quarter, Riggenbach floundered 88 yards for a touchdown. Jerry Goodrich ' s place kick was wide. With less than 5 minutes to play Spang broke through the left side of the line and went 9 yards for the final touchdown. Riggenbach coolly booted the ball through the uprights for the tying point. The Birdies won their next outing 1-0 by virtue of a forfeiture by Western ' s Leathernecks. During the actual game, which Normal lost 32-13, the Redbirds were sparked by Darrell Spang ' s 50 yard touchdown jaunt and Bob Jones consistent ground gaining. The final IIAC game was played against Southern ' s Salukis at McCormick Field. In the second half. Nor- mal pushed the ball half the length of the field to the 5 yard line; then Spang carried it into the end zone for the TD. Riggenbach again put his educated toe to work and made the score 14-7. Following two more touchdowns and conversions by Southern, Thomas wound up his throwing arm and engineered a 67 yard touchdown march. The march culminated in a 7 yard touchdown pass from Thomas to Bob Denny. Riggenbach kicked the last extra point of the confer- ence season for a final score of 28-14, Southern over Normal.