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JMU Set to Honor Undefeated 1975 Football Team
10/21/2015 4:41:00 PM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. - As part of this weekend's Homecoming festivities, JMU will recognize the 40th anniversary of the only football team to ever finish a season undefeated.
The 1975 JMU team finished with a 9-0-1 record and set a JMU record by allowing only 75 points, and the Dukes were remarkably efficient in their efforts in close games. Members of the team will be in attendance at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, when this year's fourth-ranked version of the Dukes take on in-state rival Richmond, and will be recognized with a video presentation early in the third quarter.
That year, JMU won nine straight games after a season-opening scoreless tie at Glenville State and won the Virginia College Athletic Association title. It was a season of thrilling finishes, with no game decided by more than 11 points, and it was done by a program in only its fourth season. JMU started football in 1972 (the Dukes were shutout in five games that season) and didn't play a full varsity schedule until 1974. In the very next campaign, the Dukes didn't lose, and there were many highlights.
There was freshman John Tuell's end zone interception with just more than a minute left to preserve the tie at Glenville State and the JMU defense stopping Bridgewater twice on first-and-goal situations from the one-yard line during the final eight minutes of a 10-7 win.
There was linebacker Dewey Windham blocking a fourth-quarter field goal attempt to preserve a 3-0 win over Hampden-Sydney and safety Brent Good intercepting a pass at JMU's five-yard line with 0:32 left in a 13-7 win over Shepherd. JMU stopped a two-point conversion try during the final seconds of a 21-20 win at Frostburg State and the Dukes thwarted last-minute scoring threats in 12-7 and 7-0 wins over Randolph-Macon and Emory & Henry, respectively.
JMU ran its record to 8-0-1 with a 24-15 win over Salisbury State and closed the unbeaten season by winning 14-3 at Shippensburg. The Dukes trailed 3-0 in their final contest, but Dale Eaton's blocked punt gave them possession at the Raiders' three-yard line and Shane Hast's touchdown run with 11:58 left put them in front to stay.
The undefeated campaign also saw head coach Challace McMillin, JMU's coach from the program's beginning until 1984, and several of his players honored.
McMillin captured NCAA district coach of the year honors and took home similar awards from the VCAA and Richmond Touchdown Club. Defensive lineman Woody Bergeria and Windham were named honorable mention All-American and tailback Ron Stith was state college division offensive player of the year.
Stith provided much of the team's offense after fellow tailback Bernard Slayton was hurt early in the year. Both players eventually ran for more than 2,000 career yards and remain among the program's all-time rushing leaders.
Bergeria, Stith and Windham were all first-team All-VCAA, along with offensive guard Jeff Adams. Center Brian Grainer, offensive tackle Tim Phillips, Slayton, Eaton and Good were second-team All-VCAA, while quarterback Les Banich, defensive end Rich Jackson and linebacker Pat Cavanaugh were honorable mention All-VCAA.
Adams and Branich were fourth-year Dukes and the only remaining players from JMU's inaugural team in 1972.
JMU extended its winning streak to 12 games early during the 1976 season, eventually sharing the No. 1 ranking in the first NCAA Division III football poll.
Heading into this Saturday's contest, the 2015 edition of the Dukes stand as the only team since 1975 to not suffer a loss through their first seven games. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. as JMU seeks to honor and build on that squad's unblemished legacy.
1975 Team Photo (full size)
First Row (left to right): Challace McMillin (head coach), 84 Phil Culkin, 55 Brian Grainer, 73 Tim Phillips, 76 Terry Daley, 65 Jeff Adams, 10 Les Branich, 31 Henry Pike, 63 Brian Young, 67 Craig Hoepfl, 43 Mike Atalla, 25 Brent Good, 89 Winston Bersch, Jim Prince (assistant coach).
Second Row: Harry Van Arsdale (assistant coach), 69 Dave Payne, 20 Shane Hast, 81 Rich Jackson, 51, Dale Eaton, 28 Bernard Slayton, 21 Chip Deringer, 22 Ron Stith, 56 Bob Ward, 64, Jon Brentlinger, 49 Chris Pineda, 26 Tom Parisi, George Nipe (assistant coach).
Third Row: Ellis Wisler (assistant coach), 14 Joe Carico, 11 Terry Hansrote, 42 John Gatewood, 36 Glenn Knox, 86 Mike Marston, 32 Dave Sensabaugh, 34 Don Sears, 18 Keith Pope, 62 Eric Douglas, 19 Tom Mitchell, 82 Ron Borders, Mike Clem (assistant coach).
Fourth Row: Brad Babcock (assistant coach), 23 Jim Hardesty, 71 Robbie Nicholson, 70 Chip West, 27 John Tuell, 29 Bob Logan, 79 Bob Dunn, 59 Jim McHugh, 74 Woody Bergeria, 66 Mark Baird, 50 Rich Burkhart, 80 Joe Taylor, Bob Snyder (manager).
Fifth Row: Buster Blincoe (manager), 61 Fred Garst, 72 Warren Coleman, 13 Stan Jones, 44 Dewey Windham, 30 Ed Huff, 88 Jeff Krauss, 68 Greg Sears, 48 Pat Cavanaugh, 77 Larry Smith, 46 Floyd Young, 16 John Bowers, 12 O.C. Hailey.
1975 Results
The 1975 JMU team finished with a 9-0-1 record and set a JMU record by allowing only 75 points, and the Dukes were remarkably efficient in their efforts in close games. Members of the team will be in attendance at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, when this year's fourth-ranked version of the Dukes take on in-state rival Richmond, and will be recognized with a video presentation early in the third quarter.
That year, JMU won nine straight games after a season-opening scoreless tie at Glenville State and won the Virginia College Athletic Association title. It was a season of thrilling finishes, with no game decided by more than 11 points, and it was done by a program in only its fourth season. JMU started football in 1972 (the Dukes were shutout in five games that season) and didn't play a full varsity schedule until 1974. In the very next campaign, the Dukes didn't lose, and there were many highlights.
There was freshman John Tuell's end zone interception with just more than a minute left to preserve the tie at Glenville State and the JMU defense stopping Bridgewater twice on first-and-goal situations from the one-yard line during the final eight minutes of a 10-7 win.
There was linebacker Dewey Windham blocking a fourth-quarter field goal attempt to preserve a 3-0 win over Hampden-Sydney and safety Brent Good intercepting a pass at JMU's five-yard line with 0:32 left in a 13-7 win over Shepherd. JMU stopped a two-point conversion try during the final seconds of a 21-20 win at Frostburg State and the Dukes thwarted last-minute scoring threats in 12-7 and 7-0 wins over Randolph-Macon and Emory & Henry, respectively.
JMU ran its record to 8-0-1 with a 24-15 win over Salisbury State and closed the unbeaten season by winning 14-3 at Shippensburg. The Dukes trailed 3-0 in their final contest, but Dale Eaton's blocked punt gave them possession at the Raiders' three-yard line and Shane Hast's touchdown run with 11:58 left put them in front to stay.
The undefeated campaign also saw head coach Challace McMillin, JMU's coach from the program's beginning until 1984, and several of his players honored.
McMillin captured NCAA district coach of the year honors and took home similar awards from the VCAA and Richmond Touchdown Club. Defensive lineman Woody Bergeria and Windham were named honorable mention All-American and tailback Ron Stith was state college division offensive player of the year.
Stith provided much of the team's offense after fellow tailback Bernard Slayton was hurt early in the year. Both players eventually ran for more than 2,000 career yards and remain among the program's all-time rushing leaders.
Bergeria, Stith and Windham were all first-team All-VCAA, along with offensive guard Jeff Adams. Center Brian Grainer, offensive tackle Tim Phillips, Slayton, Eaton and Good were second-team All-VCAA, while quarterback Les Banich, defensive end Rich Jackson and linebacker Pat Cavanaugh were honorable mention All-VCAA.
Adams and Branich were fourth-year Dukes and the only remaining players from JMU's inaugural team in 1972.
JMU extended its winning streak to 12 games early during the 1976 season, eventually sharing the No. 1 ranking in the first NCAA Division III football poll.
Heading into this Saturday's contest, the 2015 edition of the Dukes stand as the only team since 1975 to not suffer a loss through their first seven games. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. as JMU seeks to honor and build on that squad's unblemished legacy.
1975 Team Photo (full size)
First Row (left to right): Challace McMillin (head coach), 84 Phil Culkin, 55 Brian Grainer, 73 Tim Phillips, 76 Terry Daley, 65 Jeff Adams, 10 Les Branich, 31 Henry Pike, 63 Brian Young, 67 Craig Hoepfl, 43 Mike Atalla, 25 Brent Good, 89 Winston Bersch, Jim Prince (assistant coach).
Second Row: Harry Van Arsdale (assistant coach), 69 Dave Payne, 20 Shane Hast, 81 Rich Jackson, 51, Dale Eaton, 28 Bernard Slayton, 21 Chip Deringer, 22 Ron Stith, 56 Bob Ward, 64, Jon Brentlinger, 49 Chris Pineda, 26 Tom Parisi, George Nipe (assistant coach).
Third Row: Ellis Wisler (assistant coach), 14 Joe Carico, 11 Terry Hansrote, 42 John Gatewood, 36 Glenn Knox, 86 Mike Marston, 32 Dave Sensabaugh, 34 Don Sears, 18 Keith Pope, 62 Eric Douglas, 19 Tom Mitchell, 82 Ron Borders, Mike Clem (assistant coach).
Fourth Row: Brad Babcock (assistant coach), 23 Jim Hardesty, 71 Robbie Nicholson, 70 Chip West, 27 John Tuell, 29 Bob Logan, 79 Bob Dunn, 59 Jim McHugh, 74 Woody Bergeria, 66 Mark Baird, 50 Rich Burkhart, 80 Joe Taylor, Bob Snyder (manager).
Fifth Row: Buster Blincoe (manager), 61 Fred Garst, 72 Warren Coleman, 13 Stan Jones, 44 Dewey Windham, 30 Ed Huff, 88 Jeff Krauss, 68 Greg Sears, 48 Pat Cavanaugh, 77 Larry Smith, 46 Floyd Young, 16 John Bowers, 12 O.C. Hailey.
1975 Results
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