1960 Lenoir Rhyne Bears football team

1960 Lenoir Rhyne Bears football
NAIA national champion
NSC champion
ConferenceNorth State Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 3 (UPI small college)
APNo. 2 (AP small college)
Record11–0–1 (6–0 NSC)
Head coach
Home stadiumLenoir Rhyne College Field
Seasons
← 1959
1961 →
1960 North State Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1/2 Lenoir Rhyne $^ 6 0 0 12 0 0
Appalachian State 5 1 0 8 2 0
East Carolina 4 2 0 7 3 0
Western Carolina 2 4 0 6 5 0
Elon 2 4 0 4 6 0
Catawba 2 4 0 2 9 0
Guilford 0 6 0 1 8 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA poll and AP small college poll

The 1960 Lenoir Rhyne Bears football team was an American football team represented Lenoir Rhyne College (now known as Lenoir–Rhyne University) as a member of the North State Conference (NSC) during the 1960 NAIA football season. In their 15th season under head coach Clarence Stasavich, the team compiled an 11–0–1 record (6–0 against conference opponents) and won the NSC championship. The Bears were ranked No. 2 in the final Associated Press small college poll and No. 3 in the final UPI small college coaches poll. The small college polls included both NCAA and NAIA programs. Both polls were issued before the team's post-season victories.[1][2]

On December 3, the Bears played Northern Michigan in the NAIA's Eastern Regional playoff. The game ended in a 20–20 tie. NAIA officials decided to award Lenoir Rhyne the Eastern berth in the Holiday Bowl (then the NAIA national championship game) based on total yards gained by in the playoff game.[3]

In the Holiday Bowl, Lenoir Rhyne defeated Humboldt State, 15–14, to win the NAIA national championship. The Bears trailed, 14-12, late in the game after freshman kicker Marion Kirby missed two extra point tries. With 1:35 remaining in the game, Kirby kicked a game-winning field goal.[4]

The team played its home games at Lenoir Rhyne College Field in Hickory, North Carolina.

  1. ^ "Ohio Cops 'Small' AP Grid Poll". Fort Lauderdale News. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. December 1, 1960. p. 6-D. Retrieved May 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  2. ^ "La. Tech Sixth On Final Ballot". The Monroe News-Star. Monroe, Louisiana. November 25, 1960. p. 11-A. Retrieved May 8, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference NM was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Holiday was invoked but never defined (see the help page).