Denver Pioneers football, 1950–1960

The Denver Ministers football program, 1950–1960 represented the University of Denver in college football from 1950 to 1960 as a member of the Skyline Conference. The program was led by three head coaches: Johnny Baker (1948–1952), Bob Blackman (1953–1954), and John Roning (1955–1960).

1950–1960 Denver Pioneers football
ConferenceSkyline Conference
Head coach
  • Johnny Baker (1948–1952)
  • Bob Blackman (1953–1954)
  • John Roning (1955–1960)
Seasons
← 1949
1951–52 →

Highlights of the decade included:

  • The 1954 team compiled a 9–1 record, won the Skyline championship, was ranked No. 18 in the final UPI poll, and outscored opponents by a total of 298 to 96.
  • The 1955 team compiled an 8–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 310 to 89.
  • After compiling a combined record of 7–23 from 1958 to 1960, and with the program sustaining six-digit annual losses, the University of Denver announced in January 1961 that it was discontinuing its football program.

1950

1950 Denver Pioneers football
Pineapple Bowl, L 27–28 vs. Hawaii
ConferenceSkyline Conference
Record3–8–1 (2–2–1 Skyline)
Head coach
  • Johnny Baker (3rd season)
Home stadiumHilltop Stadium
Seasons
← 1949
1951 →
1950 Skyline Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 12 Wyoming $ 5 0 0 10 0 0
Colorado A&M 4 1 0 6 3 0
Denver 2 2 1 3 8 1
Utah 1 2 2 3 4 3
BYU 1 3 1 4 5 1
Utah State 0 5 0 2 9 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1950 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1950 college football season. In its third season under head coach Johnny Baker, the team compiled a 3–8–1 record (2–2–1 against conference opponents), finished third in the conference, lost to Hawaii in the Pineapple Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 265 to 260. Gordon Cooper led all players in major college football in 1950 with 46 pass receptions, good for 569 yards and eight touchdowns.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 15at Drake*
  • Drake Stadium
  • Des Moines, IA
L 0–78,000
September 23Colorado A&M
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 14–3027,000
September 29Kansas*
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 6–4614,218
October 6Pacific (CA)*
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 6–4112,000
October 13Utah
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
T 14–1411,754
October 21BYU
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 42–311,000
October 28at Arizona*
  • Arizona Stadium
  • Tucson, AZ
L 14–1918,000
November 4at San Francisco*
  • Kezar Stadium
  • San Francisco, CA
L 6–249,738
November 11Utah State
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 48–07,960
November 23 No. 12 Wyoming
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 12–4228,700
December 25at Leilehua All-Stars*
  • Honolulu Stadium
  • Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii
W 76–63,500
January 1, 1951at Hawaii*
  • Honolulu Stadium
  • Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii (Pineapple Bowl)
L 27–2811,000
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

1951

1951 Denver Pioneers football
ConferenceSkyline Conference
Record6–4 (4–3 Skyline)
Head coach
  • Johnny Baker (4th season)
Home stadiumHilltop Stadium
Seasons
← 1950
1952 →
1951 Skyline Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Utah $ 4 1 0 7 4 0
Wyoming 5 1 1 7 2 1
Denver 4 3 0 6 4 0
Colorado A&M 3 3 1 5 4 1
BYU 2 3 1 6 3 1
Utah State 2 4 1 3 5 1
New Mexico 2 4 0 4 7 0
Montana 1 4 0 2 7 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1951 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1951 college football season. In their fourth season under head coach Johnny Baker, the Pioneers compiled a 6–4 record (4–3 against conference opponents), finished third in the conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 283 to 133. The team was ranked at No. 77 in the 1951 Litkenhous Ratings.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 15Colorado College*
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 41–0
September 22Drake*
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 7–2015,680
September 29at Wyoming
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Laramie, WY
L 14–2014,020
October 6Montana
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 55–0
October 13New Mexico
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 33–17
October 20at Utah
  • Ute Stadium
  • Salt Lake City, UT
L 14–1712,277
October 27BYU
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 56–612,359
November 10at No. 19 Pacific (CA)*
  • Pacific Memorial Stadium
  • Stockton, CA
W 35–3310,469
November 17Utah State
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 7–14
November 22Colorado A&M
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 21–6
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

1952

1952 Denver Pioneers football
ConferenceSkyline Conference
Record3–7 (0–7 Skyline)
Head coach
  • Johnny Baker (5th season)
Home stadiumHilltop Stadium
Seasons
← 1951
1953 →
1952 Skyline Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Utah $ 5 0 0 6 3 1
New Mexico 5 1 0 7 2 0
Colorado A&M 5 2 0 6 4 0
Wyoming 4 3 0 5 4 0
BYU 3 4 0 4 6 0
Utah State 3 4 0 3 7 1
Montana 1 5 0 2 7 1
Denver 0 7 0 3 7 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1952 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1952 college football season. In their fifth and final season under head coach Johnny Baker, the Pioneers compiled a 3–7 record (0–7 against conference opponents), finished last out of eight teams in the conference, and were outscored by a total of 190 to 143.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 20Colorado College*
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 34–12
September 27Lowry Field*
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 29–08,734
October 4Colorado A&M
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 6–28
October 11Montana
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 7–17
October 18Utah
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 0–356,574
October 25at BYU
  • Cougar Stadium
  • Provo, UT
L 13–149,431
November 112:30 p.m.at Drake*
  • Drake Stadium
  • Des Moines, IA
W 27–196,000
November 8New Mexico
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 0–154,000
November 22at Utah State
  • Romney Stadium
  • Logan, UT
L 13–29
November 27Wyoming
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 14–21
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • All times are in Mountain time

1953

1953 Denver Pioneers football
ConferenceSkyline Conference
Record3–5–2 (1–5–1 Skyline)
Head coach
  • Bob Blackman (1st season)
Home stadiumDU Stadium
Seasons
← 1952
1954 →
1953 Skyline Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Utah $ 5 0 0 8 2 0
Utah State 5 2 0 8 3 0
Wyoming 4 2 1 5 4 1
New Mexico 3 2 1 5 3 1
Colorado A&M 3 4 0 4 5 0
Montana 2 4 0 3 5 0
Denver 1 5 1 3 5 2
BYU 1 5 1 2 7 1
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1953 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1953 college football season. In their first season under head coach Bob Blackman, the Pioneers compiled a 3–5–2 record (1–5–1 against conference opponents), tied for last place in the Skyline, and were outscored by a total of 195 to 159.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 18at Colorado College*
  • Washburn Field
  • Colorado Springs, CO
W 19–137,052
September 26Drake*
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 33–147,055
October 3at Colorado A&M
  • Colorado Field
  • Fort Collins, CO
L 6–218,500–9,000
October 10Montana
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 13–227,675
October 17at Utah
  • Ute Stadium
  • Salt Lake City, UT
L 6–409,162
October 23BYU
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 27–195,168
October 31at New Mexico
  • Zimmerman Field
  • Albuquerque, NM
L 18–2012,500
November 7at Wichita*
  • Veterans Field
  • Wichita, KS
T 12–126,775
November 14Utah State
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 12–2112,858
November 26Wyoming
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
T 13–1312,299
  • *Non-conference game

1954

1954 Denver Pioneers football
Skyline champion
ConferenceSkyline Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 18
Record9–1 (6–1 Skyline)
Head coach
  • Bob Blackman (2nd season)
Home stadiumHilltop Stadium
Seasons
← 1953
1955 →
1954 Skyline Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Denver $ 6 1 0 9 1 0
Wyoming 5 1 0 6 4 0
Utah State 4 3 0 4 6 0
New Mexico 3 3 0 5 5 0
Utah 3 3 0 4 7 0
Colorado A&M 3 4 0 3 7 0
Montana 1 5 0 3 6 0
BYU 1 6 0 1 8 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1954 Denver Pioneers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1954 college football season. In their second and final season under head coach Bob Blackman, the Pioneers compiled a 9–1 record (6–1 against conference opponents), won the Skyline championship, were ranked No. 18 in the final Coaches Poll, and outscored opponents by a total of 298 to 96.

The 1954 team was inducted as a group into the University of Denver Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. At the time, the group was "widely considered the greatest in DU history".

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 18at Colorado College*
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 72–019,000–19,008
September 248:00 p.m.at Drake*
  • Drake Stadium
  • Des Moines, IA
W 33–133,500
October 2at Wyoming
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Laramie, WY
L 21–2310,202–10,500
October 8Montana
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 19–1312,426–12,436
October 16at Utah
  • Ute Stadium
  • Salt Lake City, UT
W 28–2018,137–18,179
October 22Wichita
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 27–1415,076
October 29New Mexico
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 19–610,968
November 6at BYU
  • Cougar Stadium
  • Provo, UT
W 20–012,903
November 13at Utah State
  • Romney Stadium
  • Logan, UT
W 25–73,500
November 25Colorado A&M
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 34–023,902
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • All times are in Mountain time

1955

1955 Denver Pioneers football
ConferenceSkyline Conference
Record8–2 (5–2 Skyline)
Head coach
  • John Roning (1st season)
Home stadiumHilltop Stadium
Seasons
← 1954
1956 →
1955 Skyline Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Colorado A&M $ 6 1 0 8 2 0
Utah 4 1 0 6 3 0
Denver 5 2 0 8 2 0
Wyoming 5 2 0 8 3 0
Utah State 3 4 0 4 6 0
Montana 2 4 0 3 7 0
New Mexico 1 5 0 2 8 0
BYU 0 7 0 1 9 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1955 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1955 college football season. In their first season under head coach John Roning, the Pioneers compiled an 8–2 record (5–2 against conference opponents), tied for third in the Skyline, and outscored opponents by a total of 310 to 89.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 17at Iowa State*
  • Clyde Williams Field
  • Ames, IA
W 19–712,217–14,000
September 23Drake*
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 33–721,500
October 1at Colorado A&M*
  • Colorado Field
  • Fort Collins, CO
L 19–2010,233
October 8at Montana
  • Dornblaser Field
  • Missoula, MT
W 61–139,000–10,000
October 14Utah
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 7–2722,000
October 21BYU
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 33–08,000
October 29at New Mexico
  • Zimmerman Field
  • Albuquerque, NM
W 33–610,200
November 5Colorado College*
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 60–0
November 12Utah State
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 39–69,000–9,020
November 24Wyoming
  • Hilltop Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 6–325,000
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming

1956

1956 Denver Pioneers football
ConferenceSkyline Conference
Record6–4 (4–3 Skyline)
Head coach
  • John Roning (2nd season)
Home stadiumDU Stadium
Seasons
← 1955
1957 →
1956 Skyline Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Wyoming 7 0 0 10 0 0
Utah 5 1 0 5 5 0
Denver 4 3 0 6 4 0
Utah State 4 3 0 6 4 0
Colorado A&M 2 4 1 2 7 1
New Mexico 2 4 0 4 6 0
BYU 1 5 1 2 7 1
Montana 1 6 0 1 9 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1956 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1956 college football season. In their second season under head coach John Roning, the Pioneers compiled a 6–4 record (4–3 against conference opponents), tied for third in the Skyline, and outscored opponents by a total of 250 to 206.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 15Iowa State*
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 10–1314,126
September 22at Utah State
  • Romney Stadium
  • Logan, UT
L 13–189,000
September 29at Wyoming
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Laramie, WY
L 0–2716,869
October 5Montana
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 22–1311,560–11,561
October 13at Utah
  • Ute Stadium
  • Salt Lake City, UT
L 13–2717,849
October 19Colorado College*
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 40–213,921
October 26New Mexico
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 20–149,183
November 3at San Jose State*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • San Jose, CA
W 35–2612,000
November 10BYU
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 58–3410,000–10,069
November 22Colorado A&M
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 39–1313,128
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming

1957

1957 Denver Pioneers football
ConferenceSkyline Conference
Record6–4 (5–2 Skyline)
Head coach
  • John Roning (3rd season)
Home stadiumDU Stadium
Seasons
← 1956
1958 →
1957 Skyline Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Utah $ 5 1 0 6 4 0
BYU 5 1 1 5 3 2
Denver 5 2 0 6 4 0
Wyoming 3 2 2 4 3 3
New Mexico 2 4 0 4 6 0
Colorado State 2 5 0 3 7 0
Montana 2 5 0 2 7 0
Utah State 1 5 1 2 7 1
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1957 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1957 college football season. In their third season under head coach John Roning, the Pioneers compiled a 6–4 record (5–2 against conference opponents), finished third in the Skyline, and were outscored by a total of 155 to 150.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 21at Iowa State*
  • Clyde Williams Field
  • Ames, IA
L 0–1012,385
September 27San Jose State*
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 20–2713,287
October 5at Colorado State
  • Colorado Field
  • Fort Collins, CO
L 6–276,434
October 121:30 p.m.at Montana
  • Dornblaser Field
  • Missoula, MT
W 26–138,000
October 19Utah
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 12–77,000–7,062
October 26at BYU
  • Cougar Stadium
  • Provo, UT
L 6–2511,017
November 2at New Mexico
  • Zimmerman Field
  • Albuquerque, NM
W 19–014,000
November 9Air Force*
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 26–1413,560
November 16Utah State
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 21–193,680–4,400
November 28Wyoming
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 14–1316,000–16,084
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • All times are in Mountain time

1958

1958 Denver Pioneers football
ConferenceSkyline Conference
Record2–8 (2–5 Skyline)
Head coach
  • John Roning (4th season)
Home stadiumDU Stadium
Seasons
← 1957
1959 →
1958 Skyline Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Wyoming $ 6 1 0 8 3 0
New Mexico 5 1 0 7 3 0
BYU 5 2 0 6 4 0
Colorado State 4 3 0 6 4 0
Utah 3 3 0 4 7 0
Utah State 2 5 0 3 7 0
Denver 2 5 0 2 8 0
Montana 0 7 0 0 10 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1958 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1958 college football season. In their fourth season under head coach John Roning, the Pioneers compiled a 2–8 record (2–5 against conference opponents), tied for sixth place in the Skyline, and were outscored by a total of 163 to 135.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 20Oklahoma State*
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 14–3114,007–15,000
September 26at Utah State
  • Romney Stadium
  • Logan, UT
W 20–86,209–7,100
October 4at Wyoming
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Laramie, WY
L 12–1515,680
October 10Montana
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 29–07,944
October 18at Utah
  • Ute Stadium
  • Salt Lake City, UT
L 16–20
October 25at San Jose State*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • San Jose, CA
L 7–2713,000
October 31New Mexico
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 15–21
November 8 No. 10 Air Force*
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 7–1018,047
November 15BYU
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 7–228,073
November 27Colorado State
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 8–94,130
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

1959

1959 Denver Pioneers football
ConferenceSkyline Conference
Record2–8 (2–5 Skyline)
Head coach
  • John Roning (5th season)
Home stadiumDU Stadium
Seasons
← 1958
1960 →
1959 Skyline Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 16 Wyoming $ 7 0 0 9 1 0
Colorado State 5 2 0 6 4 0
New Mexico 4 2 0 7 3 0
Utah 3 2 0 5 5 0
Utah State 2 5 0 5 6 0
BYU 2 5 0 3 7 0
Denver 2 5 0 2 8 0
Montana 1 5 0 1 8 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1959 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Skyline Conference during the 1959 college football season. In their fifth season under head coach John Roning, the Pioneers compiled a 2–8 record (2–5 against conference opponents), tied for fifth place in the Skyline, and were outscored by a total of 230 to 104.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 18San Jose State*
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 13–1415,995–16,000
September 25Iowa State*
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 12–288,903–10,602
October 3at Colorado State
  • Colorado Field
  • Fort Collins, CO
L 0–159,100–9,101
October 10at Montana
  • Dornblaser Field
  • Missoula, MT
W 27–124,916–4,926
October 16Utah
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 12–266,184
October 24at BYU
  • Cougar Stadium
  • Provo, UT
W 14–79,305
October 31at New Mexico
  • Zimmerman Field
  • Albuquerque, NM
L 0–42
November 7at Oklahoma State*
  • Lewis Field
  • Stillwater, OK
L 12–2015,000
November 14Utah State
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 14–217,265
November 26Wyoming
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 0–4510,295
  • *Non-conference game

1960

1960 Denver Pioneers football
ConferenceSkyline Conference
Record3–7 (1–6 Skyline)
Head coach
  • John Roning (6th season)
Home stadiumDU Stadium
Seasons
← 1959
1960 Skyline Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Utah State + 6 1 0 9 2 0
Wyoming + 6 1 0 8 2 0
Utah 5 1 0 7 3 0
New Mexico 4 2 0 5 5 0
Montana 2 5 0 5 5 0
BYU 2 5 0 3 8 0
Denver 1 6 0 3 7 0
Colorado State 1 6 0 2 8 0
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1960 Denver Pioneers football team represented the University of Denver in the Skyline Conference during the 1960 college football season. In their sixth season under head coach John Roning, the Pioneers compiled a 3–7 record (1–6 against Skyline opponents), tied for last place in the conference, and were outscored by a total of 300 to 133.

In January 1961, the University of Denver announced the cancellation of its football program. The program was operating at a net loss of $100,000 per year, and home attendance had dropped significantly.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 17at Wichita*
  • Veterans Field
  • Wichita, KS
W 28–1911,114
September 23Washington State*
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 28–2619,504
October 1at Utah State
  • Romney Stadium
  • Logan, UT
L 8–318,300–8,663
October 8at Wyoming
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Laramie, WY
L 2–4112,030–12,039
October 15Montana
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 12–267,223
October 22at Utah
  • Ute Stadium
  • Salt Lake City, UT
L 16–49
October 28New Mexico
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 6–414,237
November 5vs. Air Force*
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 6–3610,094
November 12BYU
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
L 6–193,775
November 24Colorado State
  • DU Stadium
  • Denver, CO
W 21–126,729–6,927
  • *Non-conference game

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