1966 Waynesburg Yellow Jackets football team

American college football season

1966 Waynesburg Yellow Jackets football

NAIA national champion
WPC champion

Champion Bowl, W 42–21 vs. Wisconsin State–Whitewater

Conference| West Penn Conference
Record| 11–0 (2–0 WPC)
Head coach|

* Carl DePasqua (1st season)

Seasons

<- 1965

1967 ->

1966 West Penn Conference football standings

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| Conf |  |  | Overall

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Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 1 Waynesburg $^  | 2  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 11  | - | 0  | - | 0
Grove City | 1  | - | 0  | - | 1 |  |  | 8  | - | 0  | - | 1
Westminster (PA) | 1  | - | 1  | - | 1 |  |  | 6  | - | 2  | - | 1
Geneva | 0  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 0  | - | 8  | - | 0

* $ - Conference champion
* ^ – NAIA playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA poll

The 1966 Waynesburg Yellow Jackets football team was an American football team that represented Waynesburg College as a member of the West Penn Conference (WPC) during the 1966 NAIA football season. In their first year under head coach Carl DePasqua, the Yellow Jackets compiled a perfect 11–0 record (2–0 against conference opponents) and won the WPC championship. They advanced to the NAIA playoffs where they defeated New Mexico Highlands in the semifinals and Wisconsin State–Whitewater in the Champion Bowl to win the NAIA national championship.[1][2] During the regular season, the Yellow Jackets ranked among the best teams in small college football, averaging 149.4 yards in total defense and 40.2 yards in rushing defense.[3]

Running back Rich Dahar was named to the Associated Press 1966 All-Pennsylvania football team.[4] Dahar rushed for 233 yards, rand for three touchdowns, and passed for another in the Champion Bowl.[5] Fullback Rich Ripepi was another key player.[3] Three Waynesburg players went on to play in the NFL: end Don Herrmann (nine seasons in the NFL); end Dave Smith (four seasons); and guard Joe Righetti (two seasons).[1]

The team played its home games in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania.

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Opponent| Site| Result| Attendance| Source

|
|
|
|
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September 17| Slippery Rock*| Waynesburg, PA| W 31–0| | [6]
September 24| at Susquehanna*| Selinsgrove, PA| W 6–0| | [7]
October 1| Ohio Northern*|

* Lima Stadium
* Lima, OH

| W 30–7| | [8]
October 8| California (PA)*| Waynesburg, PA| W 20–7| |
October 15| at Frostburg State*|

* Bobcat Stadium
* Frostburg, MD

| W 58–0| | [9]
October 22| Geneva| Waynesburg, PA| W 54–7| 3,000| [10]
October 29| West Virginia Wesleyan*| Waynesburg, PA| W 13–7| |
November 5| Findlay*| Waynesburg, PA| W 7–6| |
November 12| at Westminster (PA)| New Wilmington, PA| W 14–13| | [11]
November 26| vs. New Mexico Highlands*|

* University Stadium
* Albuquerque, NM

| W 30–27| | [12][13]
December 10| vs. Whitewater State*|

* Skelly Field
* Tulsa, OK

| W 42–21| | [5][14]

* *Non-conference game

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Bill Di Fabio (December 28, 2013). "1966 Waynesburg Yellow Jackets, unbeaten national champs". Observer-Reporter.
2. ^ George Von Benko (October 3, 2016). "Waynesburg University to honor 1966 national championship football team". Herald-Standard.
3. ^ a b "Jackets Cap Big Year". The Pittsburgh Press. November 25, 1966. p. 43 - via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ "Jackets' Rich Dahar Named To All-State College Team". The Morning Herald. December 13, 1966. p. 10 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ a b "Waynesburg Tops Whitewater To Win National Grid Crown". Herald-Standard. December 12, 1966. p. 18 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "Waynesburg Rips Rockets". The Pittsburgh Press. September 18, 1966. p. IV-5 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Waynesburg vs Susquehanna". The Danville News. September 26, 1966. p. 5 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ Bill Bassitt (October 2, 1966). "ONU Drops 30-7 Tilt". The Lima News. p. B2 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Waynesburg 58-0 Victor". The Pittsburgh Press. October 16, 1966. p. IV-3 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Waynesburg Blasts Geneva". The Pittsburgh Press. October 23, 1966. p. IV-6 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ Pete Mollica (November 14, 1966). "Waynesburg nips Westminster for WPC crown". New Castle News. p. 17 - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "Waynesburg Tests Highlands Touted Offense Today". Albuquerque Journal. November 26, 1966. p. B1 - via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ "Jackets Trip Pokes in Last 14 Seconds". The New Mexican. November 27, 1966. p. B4 - via Newspapers.com.
14. ^ "Yellow Jackets Sting Hawks, 42 to 21; Control Ball in NAIA Bowl Contest". Janesville Daily Gazette. December 12, 1966. p. 14 - via Newspapers.com.

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NAIA football national champions

Single division|

* 1956: Montana State & Saint Joseph's (IN)
* 1957: Pittsburg State
* 1958: Northeastern State
* 1959: Texas A&I
* 1960: Lenoir–Rhyne
* 1961: Pittsburg State
* 1962: Central State (OK)
* 1963: Saint John's (MN)
* 1964: Concordia (MN) & Sam Houston State
* 1965: Saint John's (MN)
* 1966: Waynesburg
* 1967: Fairmont State
* 1968: Troy State
* 1969: Texas A&I

NAIA Division I|

* 1970: Texas A&I
* 1971: Livingston
* 1972: East Texas State
* 1973: Abilene Christian
* 1974: Texas A&I
* 1975: Texas A&I
* 1976: Texas A&I
* 1977: Abilene Christian
* 1978: Angelo State
* 1979: Texas A&I
* 1980: Elon
* 1981: Elon
* 1982: Central State (OK)
* 1983: Carson–Newman
* 1984: Carson–Newman & Central Arkansas
* 1985: Central Arkansas & Hillsdale
* 1986: Carson–Newman
* 1987: Cameron
* 1988: Carson–Newman
* 1989: Carson–Newman
* 1990: Central State (OH)
* 1991: Central Arkansas
* 1992: Central State (OH)
* 1993: East Central
* 1994: Northeastern State
* 1995: Central State (OH)
* 1996: Southwestern Oklahoma State

NAIA Division II|

* 1970: Westminster (PA)
* 1971: Cal Lutheran
* 1972: Missouri Southern
* 1973: Northwestern (IA)
* 1974: Texas Lutheran
* 1975: Texas Lutheran
* 1976: Westminster (PA)
* 1977: Westminster (PA)
* 1978: Concordia (MN)
* 1979: Findlay
* 1980: Pacific Lutheran
* 1981: Austin & Concordia (MN)
* 1982: Linfield
* 1983: Northwestern (IA)
* 1984: Linfield
* 1985: Wisconsin–La Crosse
* 1986: Linfield
* 1987: Pacific Lutheran & Wisconsin–Stevens Point (forfeited)
* 1988: Westminster (PA)
* 1989: Westminster (PA)
* 1990: Peru State
* 1991: Georgetown (KY)
* 1992: Findlay
* 1993: Pacific Lutheran
* 1994: Westminster (PA)
* 1995: Central Washington & Findlay
* 1996: Sioux Falls

Single division|

* 1997: Findlay
* 1998: Azusa Pacific
* 1999: Northwestern Oklahoma State
* 2000: Georgetown (KY)
* 2001: Georgetown (KY)
* 2002: Carroll (MT)
* 2003: Carroll (MT)
* 2004: Carroll (MT)
* 2005: Carroll (MT)
* 2006: Sioux Falls
* 2007: Carroll (MT)
* 2008: Sioux Falls
* 2009: Sioux Falls
* 2010: Carroll (MT)
* 2011: Saint Xavier
* 2012: Marian (IN)
* 2013: Grand View
* 2014: Southern Oregon
* 2015: Marian (IN)
* 2016: Saint Francis (IN)
* 2017: Saint Francis (IN)
* 2018: Morningside
* 2019: Morningside
* 2020: Lindsey Wilson
* 2021: Morningside
* 2022: Northwestern (IA)
* 2023: Keiser

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[No.]: Number