The Michigan Tech Huskies football program, 1970–1979 represented Michigan Technological University, known prior to 1965 as the Michigan College of Mines and Technology, as a member of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC). Ted Kearly was the head coach from 1969 to 1972; Jim Kapp took over the post from 1973 to 1980.[1] Highlights included:
1970
The 1970 Michigan Tech Huskies football team represented Michigan Technological University as a member of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) during the 1970 NCAA College Division football season. In their second season under head coach Ted Kearly, the Huskies compiled an 8–1 record (5–1 in conference games) and outscored opponents by a total of 221 to 63.
Michigan Tech tallied 1,668 rushing yards (185.3 per game) and 1,064 passing yards (118.2 per game). On defense, the Huskies gave up only 805 rushing yards (89.3 per game) and 702 passing yards (78.0 per game).[2] The individual statistical leaders included:
- Junior halfback Larry Ras led the team in multiple statistical categories, including rushing (935 yards, 103.8 per game), total offense (935 yards), and scoring (66 points, 7.3 per game).[2]
- Sophomore quarterback Ben Haller led the team in passing, completing 36 of 73 passes for 596 yards.[2]
- Freshman split end Gene Timmer led the team with 15 receptions for 393 yards.[2]
- Senior defensive halfback Jerry LaJeunesse led the team in punting with 39 puntss for an average of 37.0 yards per punt.[2]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 12 | Northland | Houghton, MI | W 27–0 | |
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| September 19 | at Alma | Alma, MI | W 17–6 | |
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| September 26 | Southwest State (MN) | Houghton, MI | W 22–0 | |
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| October 3 | Ferris State | Houghton, MI | W 27–0 | |
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| October 10 | at St. Cloud State | St. Cloud, MN | W 26–22 | |
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| October 17 | Winona State | Houghton, MI | W 39–0 | |
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| October 24 | at Bemidji State | Bemidji, MN | W 35–8 | |
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| October 31 | Moorhead State | Houghton, MI | W 21–0 | |
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| November 7 | at Minnesota-Morris | Morris, MN | L 7–27 | |
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[3]
1971
The 1971 Michigan Tech Huskies football team represented Michigan Technological University as a member of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. In their third year under head coach Ted Kearly, the Huskies compiled an 8–1 record (5–1 in conference games), finished second in the NIC, and outscored opponents by a total of 382 to 97. Michigan Tech extended its home winning streak to 13 games dating back to the 1969 season.
The team's 382 points was the most in Michigan Tech history to that point. It remained the school record until the 1992 Michigan Tech Huskies football team scored 429 points.[4] The team also set a school and NIC record with 642 yards of total offense in a 73-0 victory over Winona State on October 16, 1971. The 73 points scored against Winona was also a Michigan Tech record.[5]
Senior halfback and tri-captain Larry Ras, a mechanical engineering major and a native of Hancock, Michigan, led the team with 1,403 rushing yards and 144 points scored.[6] Ras's 144 points led the nation, and his 1,403 rushing yards ranked fifth in the NCAA College Division.[7] He also set Michigan Tech's single game rushing record with 209 yards against Bemidji State,[8] as well as the modern career rushing record for all of Michigan collegiate football with 3,761 yards.[7] Michigan Tech coach Kearly proclaimed him "the best football player in Michigan Tech's history."[7]
The 1971 Michigan Tech team tallied 2,844 rushing yards and 1,138 passing yards. Junior quarterback Michael Scally tallied 916 passing yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. Split end Gene Timmer led the team in receiving with 21 catches for 539 yards and eight touchdowns.[6]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 11 | at Northland | Ashland, WI | W 54–0 | 1,500 |
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| September 18 | Alma | Houghton, MI | W 28–13 | 2,500 |
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| September 25 | at Southwest Minnesota | Marshall, MN | W 40–7 | 2,000 |
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| October 2 | at Ferris State | Big Rapids, MI | W 39–13 | 6,000 |
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| October 9 | St. Cloud State | Houghton, MI | W 40–28 | 3,000 |
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| October 16 | at Winona State | Winona, MN | W 73–0 | 2,500 |
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| October 23 | Bemidji State | Houghton, MI | W 70–20 | 3,500 | [8]
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| October 30 | at Moorhead State | Moorhead, MN | L 0–6 | 1,750 |
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| November 6 | Minnesota Morris | | W 39–10 | 1,550 |
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[6]
1972
The 1972 Michigan Tech Huskies football team represented Michigan Technological University as a member of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach Ted Kearly, the Huskies compiled an 8–1 record (6–0 in conference games) and outscored opponents by a total of 261 to 98.[9]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 16 | at Northwood | Midland, MI | L 6–24 | |
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| September 23 | Northland | Houghton, MI | W 24–19 | |
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| September 30 | Ferris State | Houghton, MI | W 41–20 | |
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| October 7 | at St. Cloud State | St. Cloud, MI | W 33–14 | |
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| October 14 | Winona State | Houghton, MI | W 41–6 | |
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| October 21 | at Bemidji State | Bemidji, MN | W 21–15 | |
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| October 28 | Moorhead State | Houghton, MI | W 7–0 | |
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| November 4 | at Minnesota-Morris | Morris, MN | W 17–0 | |
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| November 11 | Southwest State | Houghton, MI | W 71–0 | |
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[3]
1973
The 1973 Michigan Tech Huskies football team represented Michigan Technological University as a member of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) during the 1973 NCAA Division II football season. In their first season under head coach Jim Kapp, the Huskies compiled a 5–4–1 record (4–2 in conference games), tied for second place in the NIC, and outscored opponents by a total of 208 to 151.[10]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 8 | Northwood | Houghton, MI | W 17–7 | |
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| September 15 | Minnesota-Duluth | Houghton, MI | L 0–7 | |
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| September 22 | at Northland | Ashland, WI | L 14–16 | |
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| September 29 | at Ferris State | Big Rapids, MI | T 14–14 | |
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| October 6 | St. Cloud State | Houghton, MI | W 34–28 | |
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| October 13 | at Winona State | Winona, MN | L 21–26 | |
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| October 20 | Bemidji State | Houghton, MI | W 38–6 | |
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| October 27 | at Moorhead State | Moorhead, MN | L 10–14 | |
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| November 3 | Minnesota-Morris | Houghton, MI | W 46–20 | |
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| November 10 | Southwest State (MN) | Marshall, MN | W 14–13 | |
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[3]
1974
The 1974 Michigan Tech Huskies football team represented Michigan Technological University as a member of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) during the 1974 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics NAIA season. In their second year under head coach Jim Kapp, the Huskies compiled a perfect 9–0 record, won the NIC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 269 to 90.[11][12] It was Michigan Tech's first perfect season since the 1948 team went 7–0. It was also the program's first nine-win season,[13] and its fourth NIC championship in six years.[14]
The team played its home games on Sherman Field in Houghton, Michigan.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 7 | at Northwood* | Midland, MI | W 15–13 | 1,500 | [15]
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| September 14 | at Alma* | Alma, MI | W 21–10 | 2,500 |
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| September 21 | at St. Cloud State | St. Cloud, MN | W 3–0 | 3,000 | [16][17]
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| September 28 | Winona State | | W 32–21 | 2,500 | [18][19]
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| October 5 | at Bemidji State | Bemidji, MN | W 62–6 | 3,250 | [20]
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| October 12 | Moorhead State | - Sherman Field
- Houghton, MI
| W 19–0 | 3,800 | [21]
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| October 19 | at Minnesota Morris | Morris, MN | W 24–12 | 2,300 | [22]
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| October 26 | Southwest State (MN) | - Sherman Field
- Houghton, MN
| W 76–28 | 2,700 | [14]
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| November 2 | Ferris State* | - Sherman Field
- Houghton, MI
| W 17–0 | 2,100 | [23]
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[24][25]
Records and awards
In a 76–28 victory over Southwest State (MN), the Huskies set several NIC single-game records, including total offense (670 yards), rushing yards (511), touchdowns (11), and points (76). Van Wagner also established new individual single-game records against Southwest State with 286 rushing yards and six touchdowns.[14]
Jim Van Wagner, a 195-pound sophomore tailback from Novi, Michigan, led the team with 1,452 rushing yards,[23] breaking Michigan Tech's single-season record set by Larry Ras in 1971.[12] He led all Division II players with an average of 161.4 rushing yards per game.[12][26] Sports Illustrated wrote of Van Wagner:
As a soph in 1974 he led Division II in rushing with 1,453 yards. Archie Griffin and Anthony Davis made national headlines, but that November VanWagner had perhaps the most productive month a running back ever had. He gained 231 yards in just 16 carries against Bemidji, rushed a conference record 48 times for 217 yards in a win over Minnesota-Morris that clinched the Northern Intercollegiate Conference title and then rambled through Southwest State for 286 yards and six touchdowns in 30 carries.[27]
After the season, Jim Kapp was named "NIC Football Coach of the Year", and six Michigan Tech players received first-team honors on the 1974 All-NIC team selected by the conference coaches. The first-team players were: sophomore tailback Jim Van Wagner; senior fullback Keith Morrison; senior tight end Dave Sprik; senior offensive guard Dan Rhude; junior offensive guard Tom Van Wagner; and junior linebacker Kurt Anderson. Rhude also received the NIC's "Glen Galligan Award" as the NIC's outstanding senior student-athlete.[28]
1975
The 1975 Michigan Tech Huskies football team represented Michigan Technological University as a member of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) during the 1975 NCAA Division II football season. In their third year under head coach Jim Kapp, the Huskies compiled a 7–2 record (4–2 in conference games), finished third in the NIC, and outscored opponents by a total of 245 to 53.[29]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 6 | Northwood | Houghton, MI | W 2–0 | |
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| September 13 | Alma | Houghton, MI | W 34–7 | |
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| September 20 | St. Cloud State | Houghton, MI | L 0–3 | |
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| September 27 | at Winona State | Winona, MN | W 14–7 | |
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| October 4 | Bemidji State | Houghton, MI | W 55–8 | |
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| October 11 | at Moorhead State | Moorhead, MN | W 19–3 | |
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| October 18 | Minnesota-Morris | Houghton, MI | L 15–16 | |
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| October 25 | at Southwest State (MN) | Marshall, MN | W 85–0 | |
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| November 1 | at Ferris State | Big Rapids, MI | W 21–9 | |
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1976
The 1976 Michigan Tech Huskies football team represented Michigan Technological University as a member of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) during the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. In their fourth year under head coach Jim Kapp, the Huskies compiled a 7–3 record (5–2 in conference games), finished in a tie for second place in the NIC, and outscored opponents by a total of 276 to 134.[30]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 11 | at Northwood | Midland, MI | W 31–7 | |
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| September 18 | Grand Valley State | Houghton, MI | L 8–10 | |
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| September 25 | Winona State | Houghton, MI | W 35–0 | |
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| October 2 | at Bemidji State | Bemidji, MN | W 48–7 | |
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| October 9 | Moorhead State | Houghton, MI | W 7–3 | |
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| October 16 | at Minnesota-Morris | Morris, MN | L 14–59 | |
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| October 23 | Southwest State (MN) | Houghton, MI | W 64–7 | |
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| October 30 | Ferris State | Houghton, MI | W 39–7 | |
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| November 6 | at St. Cloud State | St. Cloud, MN | W 16–13 | |
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| November 13 | at Minnesota-Duluth | Duluth, MN | L 14–21 | |
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1977
The 1977 Michigan Tech Huskies football team represented Michigan Technological University as a member of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) during the 1977 NCAA Division II football season. In their fifth year under head coach Jim Kapp, the Huskies compiled a 3–7 record (1–6 in conference games), finished in a tie for last place in the NIC, and were outscored by a total of 205 to 149.[31]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 3 | Minnesota-Duluth | Houghton, MI | L 6–28 | |
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| September 10 | Northwood | Houghton, MI | L 6–21 | |
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| September 17 | at Grand Valley State | Allendale, MI | W 10–6 | |
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| September 24 | at Winona State | Winona, MN | W 35–0 | |
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| October 1 | Bemidji State | Houghton, MI | L 20–31 | |
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| October 8 | at Moorhead State | Moorhead, MN | L 0–24 | |
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| October 15 | Minnesota-Morris | Houghton, MI | L 7–26 | |
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| October 22 | at Southwest State (MN) | Marshall, MN | L 25–29 | |
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| October 29 | at Ferris State | Big Rapids, MI | W 23–17 | |
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| November 5 | St. Cloud State | Houghton, MI | L 17–23 | |
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1978
The 1978 Michigan Tech Huskies football team represented Michigan Technological University as a member of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) during the 1978 NCAA Division II football season. In their sixth year under head coach Jim Kapp, the Huskies compiled a 4–6 record (4–4 in conference games), finished in a tie for fifth place in the NIC, and were outscored by a total of 203 to 172.[32]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 9 | at Northwood | Midland, MI | L 10–21 | |
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| September 16 | Ferris State | Houghton, MI | L 7–28 | |
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| September 23 | at Minnesota-Duluth | Duluth, MN | L 19–24 | |
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| September 30 | Southwest State (MN) | Houghton, MI | W 33–20 | |
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| October 7 | St. Cloud State | Houghton, MI | L 13–28 | |
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| October 14 | at Bemidji State | Bemidji, MN | W 32–3 | |
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| October 21 | Winona State | Houghton, MI | W 21–12 | |
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| October 28 | at Moorhead State | Moorhead, MN | L 11–33 | |
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| November 4 | Mankato State | Houghton, MI | W 16–13 | |
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| November 11 | at Minnesota-Morris | Morris, MN | L 10–21 | |
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1979
The 1979 Michigan Tech Huskies football team represented Michigan Technological University as a member of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) during the 1979 NCAA Division II football season. In their seventh year under head coach Jim Kapp, the Huskies compiled a 4–6 record (4–4 in conference games), finished in a tie for fifth place in the NIC, and were outscored by a total of 200 to 125.[33]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 8 | Northwood | Houghton, MI | L 14–35 | |
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| September 15 | at Ferris State | Big Rapids, MI | L 6–27 | |
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| September 22 | Minnesota-Duluth | Houghton, MI | L 7–17 | |
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| September 29 | at Southwest State (MN) | Marshall, MN | W 24–0 | |
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| October 6 | at St. Cloud State | St. Cloud, MN | L 0–48 | |
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| October 13 | Bemidji State | Houghton, MI | W 26–24 | |
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| October 20 | at Winona State | Winona, MN | W 14–10 | |
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| October 27 | Moorhead State | Houghton, MI | L 3–7 | |
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| November 3 | at Mankato State | Mankato, MN | L 12–15 | |
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| November 10 | Minnesota-Morris | Houghton, MI | W 19–17 | |
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References
- ^ "Football Year-By-Year Results". Michigan Technological University. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Final 1970 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". NCAA. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Michigan Tech Yearly Results (1970-1974)". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
- ^ "Michigan Tech Yearly Totals". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
- ^ "Ras, M-Tech Set Records". The Flint Journal. October 17, 1971. p. 53 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Final 1971 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Ras Named State's Scholar-Athlete". The Hillsdale Daily News. November 29, 1971. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Mich. Tech, 70-20!". Detroit Free Press. October 24, 1971. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "NIC; Final Standings". Minneapolis Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. November 12, 1972. p. 12C. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "NIC sports review; St. Cloud, Michigan Tech tie for second place". The Pioneer. Bemidji, Minnesota. November 17, 1973. p. 6. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Michigan Tech Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ a b c Gary Larson (November 8, 1974). "Michigan Tech waiting". St. Cloud Daily Times. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Michigan Tech Yearly Totals". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ a b c "NIC Sport Review: Tech swamps Southwest to post unbeaten season". The Pioneer. Bemidji, Minnesota. November 1, 1974. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Michigan Tech clips Northwood". Battle Creek Enquirer and News. September 8, 1974. p. C2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Michigan Tech squeaks by St. Cloud". Battle Creek Enquirer and News. September 22, 1974. p. C3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "MTU tops St. Cloud 3-0". The Winona Daily News. September 22, 1974. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "MTU's James boys gun down WSC". The Winona Daily News. September 29, 1974. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tech Sets Record Defeating Winona". Green Bay Press-Gazette. September 29, 1974. p. D4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Michigan Tech rolls, 62-6". Battle Creek Enquirer and News. October 6, 1974. p. C2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tech Blanks Moorhead". Green Bay Press-Gazette. October 13, 1974. p. D8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Unbeaten Michigan Tech defeats Morris 24-12". Minneapolis Tribune. October 20, 1974. p. 9C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Tech End Perfect, 17-0". Detroit Free Press. November 3, 1974. p. 6E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Final 1974 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "1974-75 Football". Michigan Technological University. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ "McMillan Dominates Division II Listings". San Angelo Standard. Associated Press. November 8, 1974. p. 3B – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Mike Delnagro (October 11, 1976). "A Rambling Wreck for Another Tech: This One's in Michigan, Where Jim Van Wagner Is a Heckuva Runner". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ "Whelan only Beaver on NIC All-Conference team". The Pioneer. Bemidji, Minnesota. November 20, 1974. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Northern Intercollegiate Conference Standings; Final". The St. Cloud Daily Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. November 14, 1975. p. 16. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "NIC Sports; VanWagner, McKnight vie for rushing championship". The Pioneer. Bemidji, Minnesota. November 13, 1976. p. 5. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Northern Intercollegiate Conference (Final Standings)". The St. Cloud Daily Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. November 15, 1977. p. 16. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "NIC". The Minneapolis Star. Minneapolis, Minnesota. November 11, 1979. p. 2C. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Northern Intercollegiate Conference (Final Standings)". The St. Cloud Daily Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. November 13, 1979. p. 16. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
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