1975 Northern Michigan Wildcats football team

The 1975 Northern Michigan Wildcats football team represented Northern Michigan University during the 1975 NCAA Division II football season. Led by second-year head coach Gil Krueger, the Wildcats compiled a 13–1 record, with victories over Central Michigan (17–16), Nebraska–Omaha (41–14), Youngstown State (15–0), Eastern Michigan (20–7), and Boise State (24–21) in Idaho in the quarterfinals of the Division II playoffs.[1][2]

1975 Northern Michigan Wildcats football
1975 NCAA Division II champion
ConferenceIndependent
1975 record13–1
Head coach
1975 NCAA Division II independents football records
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 2 Northern Michigan ^   –    13 –1 –0
Lehigh ^   –    9 –3 –0
Delaware   –    8 –3 –0
Portland State   –    8 –3 –0
Akron   –    7 –4 –0
UNLV   –    7 –4 –0
Santa Clara   –    6 –5 –0
Tennessee State   –    5 –4 –0
Chattanooga   –    5 –5 –1
Bucknell   –    5 –5 –0
Indiana State   –    5 –5 –0
Lafayette   –    5 –5 –0
Central State (OH)   –    4 –6 –0
Eastern Michigan   –    4 –6 –0
Northeastern   –    3 –6 –0
Nevada   –    3 –8 –0
Nebraska–Omaha   –    2 –9 –0
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The Wildcats defeated the Western Kentucky in the championship game, 16–14, to win their first Division II national title.[3][4][5][6][7] The championship game was held at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California. Of all current members of Division II, as of 2013, Northern Michigan was the first to win the playoff national championship.

The 1975 team was led by sophomore quarterback Steve Mariucci,[1] later a head coach in the NFL for nine seasons. The previous season in 1974, the Wildcats were winless at 0–10.[3]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 6UW-Whitewater
  • Wd
  • Warhawks Stadium, Whitewater, WI
W 34–0
September 13Eastern Illinois
  • Memorial Field
  • Marquette, MI
W 38–22
September 20at Central Michigan
W 17–1619,600[8]
September 27Nebraska-Omaha
  • Memorial Field
  • Marquette, MI
W 41–14
October 4Youngstown State
  • Memorial Field
  • Marquette, MI
W 15–0  7,626
October 11Akron
  • Memorial Field
  • Marquette, MI
L 13–30  6,013[9]
October 18at Eastern Michigan
W 20–7
October 25Saginaw Valley
  • Memorial Field
  • Marquette, MI
W 20–15
November 1Grand Valley
  • Memorial Field
  • Marquette, MI
W 21–17
November 8at St. Norbert
W 42–14
November 15at Western Illinois
W 27–23
November 29at Boise State
W 24–2117,347[1]
December 6vs. Livingston
W 28–2610,400[10]
December 13vs. Western Kentucky
W 16–1412,017[11]

References
  1. "Fumbles cost Boise 24-21". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 30, 1975. p. 3B.
  2. "2005 Football Guide" (PDF). Northern Michigan University. 2005. p. 44.
  3. "Winless in '74, then a title in '75". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 14, 1975. p. 10B.
  4. "Northern Michigan Football Record Book, Year-By-Year Win-Loss Records" (PDF). Northern Michigan University. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  5. "1975 NCAA Division II National Football Championship Bracket" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. p. 13. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  6. Joe Falls (December 14, 1975). "NMU Rally Wins Camellia Bowl, 16-14". Detroit Free Press. p. 1E.
  7. "800 Icy Fans Greet Champ Wildcats". Detroit Free Press. December 15, 1975. p. 4D.
  8. "Chippewas Upset 17-16". Detroit Free Press. September 21, 1975. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Bruised Zips batter 6th-rated N. Mich". Akron Beacon-Journal. October 12, 1975. pp. C1, C8 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Wildcats lucky, happy". Lansing State Journal. December 7, 1975. pp. C1, C4 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Glass slipper fits 'Cinderella' Wildcats". Escanaba Daily Press. December 15, 1975. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
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