1972 Monmouth Fighting Scots football team

The 1972 Monmouth Fighting Scots football team was an American football team that represented Monmouth College of Monmouth, Illinois, as a member of the Midwest Conference (MWC) during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. In their seventh season under head coach Bill Reichow, the Fighting Scots compiled a perfect 9–0 record (8–0 against MWC opponents), won the MWC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 328 to 105.[1] It was Monmouth's first perfect season since 1906. At the end of the season, and despite their record, the Scots were not invited to play in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.[2][3]

1972 Monmouth Fighting Scots football
MWC champion
ConferenceMidwest Conference
Record9–0 (8–0 MWC)
Head coach
Home stadiumChuck Goehl, Steve Rueckert, Dave Brinker
Seasons
← 1971
1973 →
1972 Midwest Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Monmouth (IL) $ 8 0 0 9 0 0
Cornell (IA) 6 2 0 6 3 0
Knox 5 3 0 6 3 0
St. Olaf 5 3 0 6 3 0
Ripon 5 3 0 5 3 0
Coe 5 3 0 5 4 0
Carleton 3 5 0 3 5 0
Lawrence 1 6 1 1 6 1
Grinnell 1 7 0 2 7 0
Beloit 0 7 1 0 8 1
  • $ – Conference champion

The team gained 532 rushing yards (679 total yards) against Carleton on October 7, 1972. On defense, they gave up only 12 rushing yards (46 total yards) by Carleton. Monmouth's leading rusher in the game was tailback Dennis Plummer with 202 rushing yards. Chuck Goehl caught seven passes for 110 yards in the game.[4]

Plummer was selected as the team's most valuable player.[5] Quarterback Tim Burk led the team with 1,200 yards of total offense and 19 touchdown passes.[2] Seven Monmouth players received first-team honors on the 1973 All-MWC football team: Plummer at running back; Dave Brinker at guard; Steve Ruecker at defensive halfback; Tom Kratochvil at tackle; Grant Minor at center; Steve Pinkus at tackle; and Jim Smith at linebacker.[6]

The team had three captains: Chuck Goehl, Steve Rueckert, and Dave Brinker.[7]

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16at Olivet*Olivet, MIW 47–18[8]
September 23GrinnellMonmouth, ILW 63–7[9]
September 30at LawrenceAppleton, WIW 48–6[10][11]
October 7CarletonMonmouth, ILW 47–04,000[4]
October 14at CoeCedar Rapids, IAW 16–12[12][13]
October 211:30 p.m.at Knox
W 21–12[14][15]
October 28Cornell (IA)Monmouth, ILW 19–13[16]
November 4at RiponRipon, WIW 40–30[17][18]
November 11St. OlafMonmouth, ILW 27–7[19][20]

References

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  1. ^ Barry McNamara (June 16, 2022). "Golden Scots: Monmouth had lots of new faces onboard heading into '72 season". The Register-Mail.
  2. ^ a b Murray Hancks (November 21, 1972). "Scots short-changed". The Rock Island Argus. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Barry McNamara (August 1, 2022). "Golden Scots: Monmouth College football program denied small-school bowl bid". The Register-Mail.
  4. ^ a b "Scots Crush Carleton 47-0". Galesburg Register-Mail. October 9, 1972. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Barry McNamara (July 18, 2022). "Golden Scots: 'Plan B' leads to one of the greatest individual performances in Monmouth history". The Register-Mail.
  6. ^ "Monmouth, Siwash All-Midwest Team". Galesburg Register-Mail. November 22, 1972. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Fighting Scots Top Midwest Contender". Galesburg Register-Mail. September 14, 1972. p. T6 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Scots Open Season With 1-Sided Win Over Olivet". Galesburg Register-Mail. September 18, 1972. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Scots Smear Grinnell By 63-7 Count". Galesburg Register-Mail. September 26, 1972. p. 14.
  10. ^ John L. Paustian (October 1, 1972). "Vikes fumble, Scots ramble". Sunday Post-Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. pp. D1, D6 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Monmouth Routs Lawrence". Galesburg Register-Mail. October 2, 1972. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Monmouth Scores 16-12 League Win". Galesburg Register-Mail. October 16, 1972. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Kohawks Shy in Upset Bid". The Cedar Rapids Gazette. October 15, 1972. p. 3D – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Bronze Gobbler at stake in Monmouth grid battle". The Rock Island Argus. October 20, 1972. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Monmouth Tops Knox 21-12". Galesburg Register-Mail. October 23, 1972. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Scots Clinch Share of Title". Galesburg Register-Mail. October 30, 1972. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Scots Clinch Clear-cut Conference Crown". Galesburg Register-Mail. November 6, 1972. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Don O'Brien (November 6, 1972). "Scots Wrap Up Title by Defeating Ripon". Fond du Lac Reporter. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Scots End Perfect Season". Galesburg Register-Mail. November 13, 1972. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Joe Morrisseydate=November 13, 1972. "Scots Turn Back Old Nemesis For Perfect Season". Galesburg Register-Mail. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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