What Is 1955 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1955 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa during the 1955 college football season, finishing with a 7–3 record under head coach Bobby Dobbs and playing in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Key Facts

The 1955 Tulsa Golden Hurricane finished the season with a 7–3 overall record
Head coach Bobby Dobbs led the team in his third season at Tulsa
Tulsa played in the Missouri Valley Conference, finishing 3–1 in conference play
The team outscored opponents 219–137 over the 10-game season
Home games were played at Skelly Field, a historic on-campus stadium

Overview

The 1955 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa during the 1955 NCAA college football season. Competing as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), the team was led by head coach Bobby Dobbs in his third year at the helm.

With a balanced mix of offensive firepower and defensive resilience, the Golden Hurricane posted a winning record and remained competitive in conference play. The season reflected a period of moderate success for Tulsa football during the mid-1950s.

Record: The team finished with a 7–3 overall record, including a 3–1 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference, showcasing strong conference performance.
Head Coach:Bobby Dobbs, in his third season, guided the team with a focus on disciplined play and strategic offensive execution throughout the 10-game schedule.
Scoring: Tulsa outscored its opponents 219 to 137 for the season, averaging 21.9 points per game while allowing 13.7 per game.
Home Field: The Golden Hurricane played home games at Skelly Field, a 30,000-seat stadium located on the University of Tulsa campus, known for its electric atmosphere.
Notable Game: A 34–13 victory over Utah State stood out as one of the team’s most dominant performances, highlighting the strength of their offensive line and quarterback play.

Season Performance

The 1955 campaign featured a challenging non-conference slate followed by pivotal Missouri Valley matchups. Tulsa demonstrated consistency, winning five of their first six games before facing a late-season dip in form.

Early Success: The Golden Hurricane began the season 5–1, including victories over Central Michigan, New Mexico, and Oklahoma State, establishing early momentum.
Conference Play: In MVC action, Tulsa won three of four games, with their only loss coming against Houston, 13–7, in a tightly contested matchup.
Offensive Leaders: Quarterback Bill Anderson led the passing attack, throwing for over 650 yards and five touchdowns, while maintaining a solid completion percentage.
Defensive Strength: The defense allowed fewer than 14 points per game, with standout performances in shutout wins and goal-line stands against MVC rivals.
Season Finale: The team closed the year with a 20–14 loss to Bradley, ending a promising season on a disappointing note despite earlier successes.
Bowl Game: Unlike later Tulsa teams, the 1955 squad did not participate in a bowl game, a common outcome for MVC teams that didn’t win the conference title.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1955 season compares to other notable years in Tulsa football history:

Season	Record	Conference	Head Coach	Bowl Result
1955	7–3	Missouri Valley	Bobby Dobbs	No bowl
1944	5–5	Independent	Bud Wilkins	No bowl
1950	6–5	Missouri Valley	Bud Wilkins	Lost in Sun Bowl
1959	4–6	Missouri Valley	Don Laws	No bowl
1964	9–2	Missouri Valley	Glenn Dobbs	Won in Bluebonnet Bowl

The 1955 season sits in the middle tier of Tulsa’s mid-century output—better than losing seasons but not reaching the heights of 1964. It reflects a program building toward greater success under Dobbs’ leadership, though it fell short of postseason play.

Why It Matters

The 1955 season is a snapshot of Tulsa football during a transitional era in college athletics, offering insight into the program’s development before its later bowl successes.

Program Growth: The season contributed to the long-term rebuilding of Tulsa football under Bobby Dobbs, who later led the team to greater achievements.
Historical Context: Played during the early years of televised college football, the 1955 season helped expand Tulsa’s regional visibility beyond Oklahoma.
Player Development: Several players from this team became key contributors in subsequent seasons, laying the foundation for future MVC competitiveness.
Stadium Legacy: Games at Skelly Field continued to build the tradition of on-campus football that remains central to Tulsa’s identity.
Coaching Legacy: Bobby Dobbs’ tenure, including 1955, influenced later coaches and helped shape the strategic culture of the program.
Statistical Benchmark: The 219 points scored in 1955 served as a benchmark for offensive performance in an era of lower-scoring games.

While not a championship year, the 1955 season remains a meaningful chapter in the history of Tulsa Golden Hurricane football, reflecting perseverance and steady progress.