1975 Northern Michigan Wildcats football team
American college football season
The 1975 Northern Michigan Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented Northern Michigan University as an independent during the 1975 NCAA Division II football season . In their second year under head coach Gil Krueger , the Wildcats compiled a 13–1 record and won the NCAA Division II national championship, defeating Western Kentucky in the Division II championship game .[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] The previous season, the 1974 Wildcats were winless at 0–10.[3]
The 1975 team was led by sophomore quarterback Steve Mariucci ,[1] later a head coach in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. Mariucci completed 89 of 169 passes for 1,624 yards and also rushed for 141 yards. The team's other statistical leaders included Stu Betts with 907 rushing yards and 48 points scored and Zachary Fowler with 33 receptions for 675 yards.[8]
Schedule
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 6 Wisconsin–Whitewater W 34–04,912 [9]
September 13 Eastern Illinois Memorial Field Marquette, MI W 38–225,325
September 20 at Central Michigan W 17–1619,600 [10]
September 27 Nebraska–Omaha No. 11 Memorial Field Marquette, MI W 41–145,801
October 4 Youngstown State No. 8 Memorial Field Marquette, MI W 15–07,926 [11]
October 11 Akron No. 6 Memorial Field Marquette, MI L 13–306,013 [12]
October 18 at Eastern Michigan No. 14 W 20–77,220
October 25 Saginaw Valley No. 9 Memorial Field Marquette, MI W 20–154,667
November 1 Grand Valley State No. 11 Memorial Field Marquette, MI W 21–174,002
November 8 at St. Norbert No. 11 W 42–143,750
November 15 at Western Illinois No. 6 W 27–236,423
November 29 at No. 6 Boise State No. 5 W 24–2117,347 [1]
December 6 vs. Livingston No. 5 W 28–2610,400 [13]
December 13 vs. No. 4 Western Kentucky No. 5 W 16–1412,017 [14]
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[8]
References
^ a b c "Fumbles cost Boise 24-21" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). Associated Press. November 30, 1975. p. 3B.
^ "2005 Football Guide" (PDF) . Northern Michigan University. 2005. p. 44. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2017.
^ a b "Winless in '74, then a title in '75" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press. December 14, 1975. p. 10B.
^ "Northern Michigan Football Record Book, Year-By-Year Win–loss records" (PDF) . Northern Michigan University. Retrieved September 20, 2016 .
^ "1975 NCAA Division II National Football Championship Bracket" (PDF) . NCAA . NCAA.org. p. 13. Retrieved January 2, 2014 .
^ Joe Falls (December 14, 1975). "NMU Rally Wins Camellia Bowl, 16-14" . Detroit Free Press . p. 1E.
^ "800 Icy Fans Greet Champ Wildcats" . Detroit Free Press . December 15, 1975. p. 4D.
^ a b "Final 1975 Cumulative Football Statistics Report" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved December 7, 2022 .
^ "Wildcats Bowl Over Whitewater" . Green Bay Press-Gazette . September 7, 1975 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Chippewas Upset 17-16" . Detroit Free Press . September 21, 1975. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Northern Michigan tops Penguins, 15-0" . Youngstown Vindicator . (Ohio). October 5, 1975. p. D1.
^ "Bruised Zips batter 6th-rated N. Mich" . Akron Beacon-Journal . October 12, 1975. pp. C1, C8 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Wildcats lucky, happy" . Lansing State Journal . December 7, 1975. pp. C1, C4 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Glass slipper fits 'Cinderella' Wildcats" . Escanaba Daily Press . December 15, 1975. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com .
Venues People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
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