Heidelberg Athletics Hall of Fame
A perfect 9-0 season earned a spot in the Hall of Fame for the 1955 Heidelberg football team. The Fighting Student Princes recorded three shutout victories and held opponents to an average of just over 10 points per game. The nine wins were a part of a 17-game win streak. Under the guidance of College Football Hall of Fame Coach Paul Hoernemann, the Berg took on schools three times their size.
Wittenberg, Baldwin-Wallace and Mount Union all came to Tiffin in 1955 and all went home scoreless. The Student Princes overcame a halftime deficit at Ohio Wesleyan to defeat the Battling Bishops 35-26. In the final game of the season, the Tricolor knocked off the University of Akron 21-7, handing the Zips (6-2) just their second loss of the season.
Seniors Roy King and Jerry Zimmerman were chosen as captains for the season. Senior guard Fred McGarvey won the team's Most Valuable Player Award. In nine games, the Berg rushing attack netted over 1,000 more yards than their opponents. The offense finished 15th in the nation in total yards. The ground game was led by junior Walt Livingston, who finished sixth in the nation with 931 yards rushing. King, Livingston and Zimmerman each earned All-Ohio honors. Zimmerman earned the rare distinction of becoming a four-year letterman, while King won the Sayger Award. Junior quarterback Bryan Powers threw for 596 yards and eight touchdowns. Sophomore Bill Groman led the team with 198 receiving yards.
All three coaches and nine different players from the '55 team have been inducted into the 'H' Association Athletic Hall of Fame as individuals.
Heidelberg 40 Bluffton 12
Heidelberg 28 Hope 6
Heidelberg 35 Ohio Wesleyan 26
Heidelberg 20 Wittenberg 0
Heidelberg 34 Capital 32
Heidelberg 34 Baldwin-Wallace 0
Heidelberg 27 Mount Union 0
Heidelberg 14 Saint Joseph 13
Heidelberg 21 Akron 7
(This profile appeared in the Hall of Fame Banquet program.)
