The University of Akron Athletics
Team of Distinction: 1968 Football
In 1968, The University of Akron football team was in its third season of playing as an independent after 44 years of playing in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The Zips, with 24 lettermen returning, were coming off a 4-4-1 record in ’67, and the schedule was stronger than ever. So who would have guessed back in September 1968 that UA’s football team would be playing a post-season bowl game?
Under the guidance of eighth-year head coach Gordon Larson and team captains Don Zwisler and Nate Hagins, the 1968 football team compiled a 7-3-1 record. The Zips won four consecutive games and closed the regular-season with a 48-13 win at Youngstown State. Their 24 points in the first quarter in the win over Baldwin-Wallace still ranks second for most points scored in the first quarter.The 44-year old Larson admitted that many times during the season his team went on the field outclassed physically and numerically, but came off winners.
“This team could rise above physical strength, and they accomplished what they did without the help of a conference title to shoot for or many natural rivals to get excited about beating. Mostly it was because they were sold on winning for personal pride and getting a bowl bid, and the 1968 Zips achieved both,” Larson said.
The Zips’ defense set rushing records, holding opponents to 81.5 yards per game and 1.8 yards per carry, both of which still rank No. 1 in the school record books. UA set the school record for points scored in consecutive games with 105 (46-0 vs. Illinois State and 59-19 vs. Baldwin-Wallace). The 45 touchdowns scored on the season stands second on the all-time charts. The Zips’ 27-13 win at Bradley was the 250th collegiate win in school history. OT Ken Delaney, DB Tony Pallija, SE Dan Ruff, and QB Zwisler earned Honorable Mention All-America honors.
“Considering the schedule these men had to play,” said Larson, “there is no doubt in my mind this is the best team the University has ever had!”
To cement his argument Larson pointed to two things.
“The team’s comeback from a lackluster 2-2 start and then it went on to finish with a 7-2-1 regular season record and then there were the 44 team and individual records that were shattered along the way.”
That record against a strong schedule earned Akron its very first NCAA bowl bid, the Grantland Rice Bowl, to face Louisiana Tech in the NCAA Mideast Regional Championship in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Bulldogs, led by two-time All-American and 1970 No. 1 draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers Terry Bradshaw, jumped out to a quick 21 lead in the first quarter. The Zips made a valiant comeback effort with a one-yard run by fullback John Vargo in the second quarter and halfback Jack Beidleman’s 13-yard TD run in the third quarter to close the gap to 21-13. Despite defensive pressure from Wayne Harrison, Ken Krummel, Henry Maione, and Keith Penman, Tech won the game, 33-13.
“We like to think sometimes that if we would have beaten Eastern Michigan instead of losing late in the fourth quarter on that painful 100-yard interception TD return, we would have finished 8-1-1,” said Larson. “But, would we have? I’m not so sure, because I think that loss more than any other factor was a source of our success the last six games. There were two reactions this team could have had: they could have quit or become more determined to win. They chose the latter. From that game on, they didn’t let up once. This is the mark of an outstanding team.”1968 Akron Football Team
7-3-1 overall
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown | High School
67 Jim Altland G 5-10 195 So. Navarre, Ohio | Fairless
20 Isavelt Amison HB 5-9 160 So. Sandusky, Ohio | Sandusky
21 Jack Beidleman HB 5-8 155 So. Elyria, Ohio | Elyria
30 Bob Butler HB 5-8 160 Jr. Akron, Ohio | Central
Doug Cox G 5-11 185 Fr. Springfield, Ohio | Springfield
65 Paul Darst LB 6-0 210 Sr. Suffield, Ohio | Field
34 Fred DeHart LB 5-11 195 So. Orville, Ohio | Orville
73 Ken Delaney T 6-6 240 Sr. Akron, Ohio | Manchester
88 Tom Flaherty TE 6-1 205 Sr. Sharon, Pa. | Sharon
85 Joe Fondrk DE 5-10 180 So. Leechburg, Pa. | Leechburg
22 Wayne Fox SE 6-0 190 Jr. Toronto, Canada
57 Geoff Gilway MG 6-0 200 So. Northfield Twp., Ohio | Nordonia
25 Bill Glenn HB 5-9 170 So. Akron, Ohio | Buchtel
61 Nate Hagins LB 6-1 220 Sr. Elyria, Ohio | Elyria
76 John Harrison T 6-1 210 So. Mogadore, Ohio | Field
81 Wayne Harrison DE 5-10 180 So. Wellington, Ohio | Wellington
72 Dave Holian T 6-0 215 Jr. Berea, Ohio | Midpark
83 John Hoover TE 6-2 195 Jr. Copley Twp., Ohio | Copley
32 Gary Hummel HB 5-11 180 So. Copley Twp., Ohio | Copley
80 Dennis Jones DE 6-1 185 So. Lorain, Ohio | Admiral King
66 Bill Kelly MG 5-10 210 So. Akron, Ohio | St. Vincent’s
75 Steve Kosky T 6-3 215 Jr. Stockport, Ohio | Stockport
33 Ken Krummel DE 6-0 185 So. Akron, Ohio | St. Vincent’s
51 Mike Kura C 5-10 210 Sr. Akron, Ohio | Garfield
82 Dave Leininger DE 5-10 195 So. Oberlin, Ohio | Oberlin
44 Rod Lemon HB 5-11 190 So. Waynedale, Ohio | Waynedale
49 Lynn Livelsberger HB 6-0 185 Sr. Elyria, Ohio | Catholic
77 Henry Maione T 6-2 220 Sr. Akron, Ohio | Garfield
71 Rich Maynard T 6-3 215 o. Medina, Ohio | Highland
46 Jamie McGarry HB 5-11 185 So. New Philadelphia, Ohio | New Phila.
37 Ron Muhlbach HB 5-8 165 So. Massillon, Ohio | Massillon
40 Tony Pallija HB 5-11 175 So. Barberton, Ohio | Barberton
62 Dave Parker G 5-10 200 So. Warren, Ohio | Harding
68 Rich Parker G 6-2 205 Jr. Sharon, Pa. | Sharon
52 Keith Penman MG 5-9 190 So. Erie, Pa. | McDowell
58 Harold Peterson LB 6-0 200 Sr. Akron, Ohio | Kenmore
Tom Pritchard HB 6-0 180 Fr. Newbury, Ohio | Newbury
74 Jim Reis T 6-4 250 So. Sandusky, Ohio | Sandusky
29 Dan Ruff SE 5-11 180 So. Windham, Ohio | Windham
79 Barry Schaad T 6-3 215 Jr. Burbank, Ohio | Norwayne
11 Chuck Shuman QB 5-9 160 So. Akron, Ohio | East
42 Ron Skowronek HB 6-1 185 Sr. Wickliffe, Ohio | Wickliffe
53 John Struckel LB 5-9 180 So. Akron, Ohio | St. Vincent’s
50 John Travis C 6-2 215 Jr. Akron, Ohio | Garfield
36 John Vargo HB 5-11 195 Jr. Barberton, Ohio | Barberton
41 Dave Vincent HB 6-0 195 So. Barberton, Ohio | Norton
10 Dan White QB 6-1 170 So. Akron, Ohio | Ellet
56 Bernie Wolak LB 6-0 215 Fr. Lorain, Ohio | Lorain
19 Don Zwisler QB 5-11 175 Sr. Akron, Ohio | Hoban
26 Joe Zwisler HB 5-9 170 So. Akron, Ohio | St. Vincent’s
Head Coach: Gordon Larson
Assistant Coaches: Jim Dennison (Offensive Line), John Lahoski (Defensive
Line), Jim Herbstreit (Defensive Backfield), Ray Dorr (Offensive Backfield),
James”Sid” Laria (Junior Varsity), Paul Paxton (Graduate Assistant),
Jim Welling (Student Coach)
Trainer: Bob Jeffers Equipment Manager: Porfere “Porky” Dudich
Captains: Don Zwisler, Nate Hagins
as printed in the 1968 media guide
