The 1950 Detroit Titans football team represented the University of Detroit in the 1950 college football season. Detroit outscored its opponents by a combined total of 226 to 143 and finished with a 6–3–1 record in its sixth year under head coach Chuck Baer.[1] It was the 56th season of intercollegiate football for the University of Detroit.[2]
The Titans had won the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) championship in 1949 and were co-favorites with Tulsa to win the conference championship in 1950.[3] The Titans ultimately finished in second place behind Tulsa.
Two Titans were selected as first-team players on the 1950 All-Missouri Valley Conference football team: guards Alex Smail and Ed Wood.[4]Dutch Clark, later inducted into both the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame, joined the Titans' staff as backfield coach in 1950.[5][6] Bob Ivory and Eddie Barbour were also assistant coaches for the 1950 team. Bob O'Malley and Mike Kaysserian were hired to coach the freshman team.[7]
End Tom Costello and Nick Galante were co-captains of the 1950 team.[8] After the season, fullback Mike Goggins and tackle Joe Kutz were named captains of the 1951 team.[4]
In late December 1950, Chuck Baer resigned as the Titans' head football coach, citing "personal reasons". The resignation was considered a surprise, but followed rumors of a shakeup after the university president, the Very Rev. Celestin J. Steiner, appointed a committee to investigate and make recommendations about the university's entire athletic program.[9]