The 1959 Iowa State Cyclones football team represented

Iowa State University Iowa State University of Science and Technology (Iowa State University, Iowa State, or ISU) is a public land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa. Founded in 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, Iowa State became one of the ...

in the Big Seven Conference during the 1959 NCAA University Division football season. In their second year under head coach

Clay Stapleton George Clayton Stapleton (June 24, 1921October 30, 2014) was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. Stapleton grew up in Fleming-Neon, Kentucky, where he played basketball and football for the Fleming High Schoo ...

, the Cyclones compiled a 7–3 record (3–3 against conference opponents), tied for third place in the conference, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 248 to 80. They played their home games at

Clyde Williams Field Clyde Williams Field was an outdoor stadium on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. It was the home of the Iowa State Cyclones football and track and field teams. It was originally built in 1914–15, just south of the recently ...

in Ames, Iowa. The team became known in the school's history as the "Dirty Thirty", named after the number of players left from the original fifty-five but otherwise celebrated for its perseverance and hard-nosed play. The team's regular starting lineup on offense consisted of left end Bob Anderson, left tackle Jerry Schoenfelder, left guard Tom Ferrebee, center Arden Esslinger, right guard Dan Celoni, right tackle Larry Van Der Heyden, right end Don Webb, quarterback Cliff Rick, left halfback

Dwight Nichols Dwight Edward Nichols (October 21, 1934 – February 2, 2009) was an American football player. Nichols attended Iowa State University and played college football at the halfback position for the Iowa State Cyclones football team from 1957 to 195 ...

, right halfback Mike Fitzgerald, and fullback Tom Watkins. Dwight Nichols was the team captain. The team's statistical leaders included Tom Watkins with 843 rushing yards,

with 609 passing yards, Don Webb with 309 receiving yards, and Dwight Nichols and Tom Watkins with 54 points scored (nine touchdowns) each. Three Iowa State players were selected as first-team all-conference players: Dwight Nichols, Tom Watkins, and Don Webb.2017 Fact Book, p. 75.

Schedule

References

{{Iowa State Cyclones football navbox Iowa State Iowa State Cyclones football seasons

Iowa State Cyclones football The Iowa State Cyclones football program is the intercollegiate football team at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. The team is coached by Matt Campbell. The Cyclones compete in the Big 12 Conference, and are a Division I Football Bowl Subd ...