1965 Saint John's Johnnies football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1965 Saint John's Johnnies football Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference MIAC 11–0 7–0 John Gagliardi 13th Saint John's Stadium NAIA national championMIAC champion Champion Bowl W 33–0 vs. 1965 Linfield Wildcats Linfield The 1965 Saint John's Johnnies football team was an American football team that represented Saint John's University as a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) during the 1965 NAIA football season. In their 13th season under head coach John Gagliardi, the Johnnies compiled an 11–0 record (7–0 against conference opponents) and won the MIAC championship. The team advanced to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics playoff and won the NAIA national championship with a 33–0 victory over 1965 Linfield Wildcats Linfield Wildcats in the Champion Bowl. It was the second of four national championships for the Saint John's Johnnies football program under head coach John Gagliardi. On defense, the team opened the season with four consecutive shutouts and held seven of eleven opponents scoreless. In all 11 games, the defense gave up only 27 points, an average of 2.5 points per game.2021 J-Club Hall of Honor Class: 1965 SJU Football Team Saint John's University November 7, 2021 https://gojohnnies.com/news/2020/11/18/2021-j-club-hall-of-honor-class-1965-sju-football-team.aspx They gave up an average of only 112.1 yards of total offense per game.MN Chapter of the National Football Foundation Announces Minnesota Football Award Winners National Football Foundation https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/0071/2444/Murray_Warmath_Legendary_Team_Award_PR-_St_John_s_1965_Team.pdf On offense, the Johnnies averaged 233 rushing yards per game, led by halfback Jim Shiely's 823 rushing yards. Gagliardi was named NAIA Coach of the Year, and junior defensive back Pat Whalin was named to the first team on the Little All-America team. Eight Saint John's player were named to the 1965 All-MIAC team. Schedule y y September 11 1965 River Falls State Falcons River Falls<ncg> Saint John's Stadium Collegeville, MN W 16–0 St. John's Blanks River Falls 16–0 Minneapolis Tribune September 12, 1965 7S https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88533589/st-johns-blanks-river-falls-16-0/ Newspapers.comDefense Paces Johnnies to 16–0 Victory Over River Falls St. Cloud Times Bob Hall September 13, 1965 21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88553710/defense-paces-johnnies-to-16-0-victory/ Newspapers.com September 18 1965 Bemidji State Beavers Bemidji State<ncg> St. John's Stadium Collegeville, MN W 7–0 St. John's Blanks Bemidji State 7–0 Minneapolis Tribune September 19, 1965 6S https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88533359/st-johns-blanks-bemidji/ Newspapers.com September 25 at 1965 Macalester Scots Macalester Macalester Stadium St. Paul, MN W 48–0 Stingy Johnnies May Force Revision of Dictionary St. Cloud Times Bob Hall September 27, 1965 18 October 1 at 1965 St. Thomas Tommies St. Thomas (MN) O'Shaughnessy Field St. Paul, MN W 10–0 Jays Extend Shutout String to 5 Games: Blank Tommies 10–0 St. Cloud Times Bob Hall October 2, 1965 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88553641/jays-extend-shutout-string-to-5-games/ Newspapers.com(fifth consecutive shutout) October 9 1965 Hamline Pipers Hamline<hc> St. John's Stadium Collegeville, MN W 34–6 Johnnies Rip Pipers 34–6 Minneapolis Tribune October 10, 1965 13S https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88533085/johnnies-rip-pipers-34-6/ Newspapers.com(Gagliardi's 100th coaching victory) October 16 at 1965 Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs Minnesota–Duluth Duluth, MN W 17–8 Clutch Performance Carries Jays to Win St. Cloud Times Bob Hall October 18, 1965 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88553606/clutch-performance-carries-jays-to-win/ Newspapers.com October 23 1965 Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties Gustavus Adolphus Saint John's Stadium Collegeville, MN W 34–0 St. John's Rolls Over Gusties for 7th Win Minneapolis Tribune October 24, 1965 9S https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88530975/st-johns-rolls-over-gusties-for-7th/ Newspapers.com October 30 at 1965 Augsburg Auggies Augsburg Minneapolis, MN W 28–6 St. John's Powerful Defense, 'Dusty' Offense Rips Augs Minneapolis Tribune Bob Fowler October 31, 1965 10S https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88530711/st-johns-powerful-defense-dusty/ Newspapers.com November 6 1965 Concordia Cobbers Concordia (MN) Saint John's Stadium Collegeville, MN W 10–0 8,000 Johnnies Boot Concordia 10–0 Minneapolis Tribune November 7, 1965 1S, 12S https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88530424/johnnies-boot-concordia-10-0/ Newspapers.com November 27 vs 1965 Fairmont State Falcons Fairmont State<ncg> Metropolitan Stadium Bloomington, MN (NAIA semifinal) W 28–7 4,325 Johnnies Rip Fairmont 28–7 Minneapolis Tribune Bob Fowler November 28, 1965 Sports 1, 3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88529957/johnnies-rip-fairmont-28-7/ Newspapers.com December 11 vs 1965 Linfield Wildcats Linfield<ncg> Richmond Stadium Augusta, GA (Champion Bowl) W 33–0 4,843 Dec. 11, 1965: The Champion Bowl football game came to Augusta Bill Kirby Augusta Chronicle December 11, 2020 https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2020/12/11/time-machine-small-college-football-champs-came-town-bowl/3849116001/Linfield Thrashed In Bowl: Johnnies Rip 'Cats 33 to 0 The Statesman Journal Al Lightner December 12, 1965 15, 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88554738/linfield-thrashed-in-bowl-johnnies-rip/ Newspapers.comJohnnies Rip Linfield 33–0 Minneapolis Tribune Bob Fowler December 12, 1965 Sports 1, 4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88554774/johnnies-rip-linfield-33-0/ Newspapers.com Post-season The Johnnies advanced to the NAIA playoffs and defeated 1965 Fairmont State Falcons Fairmont State in the semifinals by a 28–7 score at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota. The game was played on a frozen field with a temperature of 15 degrees and a 23 mile-per-hour wind. Fullback Stan Suchta rushed for 124 yards and was named the game's most valuable player. On December 11, Saint John's faced the 1965 Linfield Wildcats Linfield Wildcats from Oregon in the NAIA national championship game which was then known as the Champion Bowl. Saint John's dominated the game, intercepting four Linfield passes and holding Linfield to 43 yards of total offense (28 rushing, 15 passing). The final score was 33–0. Suchta rushed for 91 yards and three touchdowns and was selected as the game's most valuable player. The victory gave Saint John's its second NAIA Football National Championship in three years.65th Annual NAIA Football National Championship Media Guide NAIA 2021 53, 56–57 https://d2o2figo6ddd0g.cloudfront.net/z/1/hmekbq05exka1t/2020_FB_Media_Guide.pdf(Saint John's NAIA national championshipa in 1963 and 1965) Awards and honors Coach Gagliardi was named MIAC Coach of the Year and NAIA Coach of the Year. He led Saint John's to its second NAIA championship in three years and compiled an 82–26–2 record in his first 13 years at the school.Gagliardi Is Coach of Year The Winona Daily News November 22, 1965 19 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88553969/gagliardi/ Newspapers.comGagliardi NAIA Coach of Year The Minneapolis Star January 6, 1966 6D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88553951/gagliardi-naia-coach-of-year/ Newspapers.com Gagliardi later became the winningest coach in college football history and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. 0362-4331 Associated Press John Gagliardi, Winningest College Football Coach, Dies at 91 The New York Times 2018-10-08 2018-10-08 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/07/obituaries/john-gagliardi-dies-at-91.html Tackle Mike Collins received the "Golden Helmet" award presented by Coca Cola Co. and the Twin Cities Sportcasters Association as the top football player and scholar among Minnesota's college football teams.Sunde, Collins Get 'Helmet' Grid Award Minneapolis Tribune January 12, 1966 20 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88554020/sunde-collins-get-helmet-grid-award/ Newspapers.com Three Saint John's players were included on the Associated Press' Little All-America team. Junior defensive back Pat Whalin was named to the first team, and offensive tackle Fred Cremer was named to the second team. Mike Collins received honorable mention.Whalin Named Little All-America St. Cloud Times November 30, 1965 20 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88553898/little-all-america/ Newspapers.com Eight Saint John's players were named to the All-MIAC team selected by the conference coaches: halfback Jim Shiely; offensive end Dave Griffen; offensive tackle Mike Collins (the only unanimous pick); center Dennis Sharkey; defensive tackle Fred Cremer; defensive end Joe Mucha; linebacker John Ford; and defensive halfback Pat Whalin.St. John's, Cobbers Lead Team Minneapolis Tribune Bob Fowler November 21, 1965 8S https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88553814/st-johns-cobbers-lead-team/ Newspapers.com References Saint John's Category:Saint John's Johnnies football seasons Category:NAIA football national champions Category:Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football champion seasons Saint John's Johnnies football Category:College football undefeated seasons