As a part of our month-long series honoring black athletes who played on the Hilltop, today we are highlighting the legendary story of the '51 Dons.
Under the guidance of head coach Joe Kuharich, the 1951 Dons posted a 9-0-0 regular season record, becoming the only football team in school history to go undefeated. The squad featured eight NFL players, including Pro Football Hall of Fame members in Matson, Gino Marchetti and Bob St. Clair. Five of the eight players earned Pro Bowl selections at some point in their careers.
The Dons' defense held opponents to a net rushing average of 51.