1966 Waynesburg Yellow Jackets football team

1966 Waynesburg Yellow Jackets football
NAIA national champion
WPC champion
ConferenceWest Penn Conference
Record11–0 (2–0 WPC)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1965
1967 →
1966 West Penn Conference football standings
Conf Overall
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.

  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. ^ Cite error: The named reference Champion was invoked but never defined (see the help page).