The 1955 Drexel Dragons football team was an American football team that represented the Drexel Institute of Technology (renamed Drexel University in 1970) as an independent during the 1955 college football season. In their sixth year under head coach Eddie Allen, the Dragons compiled an 8–0 record and outscored opponents by a total of 198 to 72. They were the first Drexel football team to compile a perfect season since the 1898 team compiled a 7–0 record. With four victories at the end of the 1954 season, the Dragons extended their winning streak to 12 games. The team played its four home games at Drexel Field in Philadelphia.
Key players included a pair of two-way players: quarterback Bill Zador and left guard Vince Vidas. Zador set a new Drexel record with nine touchdown passes, was an excellent defensive back, and also handled punt returns, kickoffs, and field goals for Drexel. Against , Zador ran for a touchdown (set up by his own 39-yard interception return), passed for two, and set up a fourth with a 41-yard punt return. Vidas received first-team honors from the Associated Press on its 1955 Little All-America college football team. At the end of the 1955 season, coach Allen said of Vidas: "Vidas is the most amazing football player I have ever seen. There hasn't been a flaw in his work on both offense and defense. He could play any position if necessary."
On November 20, a group of 100 Drexel students walked to the University of Pennsylvania campus to challenge the Penn team to a football game. The two schools had met only once, in 1924, resulting in a 52–0 victory for Penn. As the Drexel and Penn students skirmished, Philadelphia police responded and ordered the crowd to disburse.
Zador led the team in passing. He completed 43 of 96 passing attempts for 687 yards withs 9 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Halfback Frank Russo was Drexel's leading rushing with 430 yards on 82 carries, followed by fullback George Piper with 376 yards on 72 attempts. The team's leading receivers were left end Ron Kleppinger with 18 receptions for 360 yards and right end Iles Wauhop with 8 catches for 129 yards. Russo also led the team in scoring with 43 points from seven touchdowns and one point after touchdown (PAT).
The 1955 Drexel team was inducted as a group in 1980 into Drexel's athletic hall of fame. It was the first and only Drexel football team to receive the honor. Vince Vidas was also inducted as an individual in 1973.
Schedule
Roster
References