Don Hansen's Football Gazette NAIA Blog

This is my tribute to Westminster College (PA). Westminster ended a charter membership with the NAIA in 1998, but it claims one of the top small college athletic departments in the nation.

The “Titan” football program posted an unprecedented six NAIA Division II National Championshps from 1970-94, while basketball holds the title of the All-Time Winningest Program in NAIA history with over 1,300 wins. The men's and women's swimming programs have combined to produce four national champions.

Also there are five members of the College Football Hall of Fame that either played or coached at Westminster College. (See below)

Westminster College historical football facts:

1915-DeOrmand "Tuss" McLaughry named physical director and coach at the College. He went on to coach Westminster football for four seasons, then later coached at Amherst, Brown and Dartmouth while helping found the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). The AFCA annually gives the Tuss McLaughry Award to members for the highest distinction of service to others.

1953-The Titan football team posts the first undefeated season in school history, as Coach Harold Burry led the squad to a perfect 8-0 record. It was the first of 11 undefeated seasons for the Titan gridders from 1953-92.

1971-In Harold Burry's final year as head coach, the Titan football squad advances to the NAIA National Championship game, falling to California Lutheran College. During his 20-year span as head football coach Burry posted a record of 127-31-1. Burry is replaced by former Titan standout lineman Joe Fusco, who had served as offensive line coach under Burry since 1968.

1990-At the conclusion of the season, Joe Fusco steps down as head football coach with a career record of 154-34-3 from 1972-90. Gene Nicholson, who has served as defensive coordinator under both Burry and Fusco over the past 22 seasons, is named head coach.

1996-Dr. Harold Burry, who passed away in 1992, is inducted posthumously into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind. The Memorial Field football complex is renamed "Harold Burry Stadium" during the 1997 season.

1998-Former Westminster football All-American lineman Larry Pugh becomes the second Titan to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

2000-Gene Nicholson retires as head football coach at Westminster. A member of the Titan coaching staff since 1969, Nicholson served as defensive coordinator for 22 years (1969-90) before posting a 64-25-1 record as head coach from 1991-98.

2001-Joe Fusco is inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

2004-Harold Davis becomes the fourth Titan in nine years inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Davis, a quarterback for the Titans from 1953-56, is the only Titan gridder to be selected as a first-team All-American for three seasons.

College Football Hall of Fame Members

Harold Burry Coach 1952-1971 Inducted 1996
Joe Fusco Coach 1972-1990 Inducted 2001
Larry Pugh Guard/Tackle 1961-1964 Inducted 1998
Harold Davis Quarterback 1953-1956 Inducted 2004
Tuss McLaughry Coach 1916-1921* Inducted 1962
*At Westminster

Quick Facts

• Six-time national champions (1970, '76, '77, '88, '89, 94)
• 11 undefeated regular seasons
• Nine national championship game appearances
• 17 national playoff appearances
• 50 non-losing seasons in past 55 years
• 74% winning percentage since 1952 (387-138-10)

The college moved on to the NCAA Division II in 1998, joining the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. After two seasons in the GLIAC, Westminster dropped down to non-scholarship NCAA Division III by joining the President’s Athletic Conference in 2000.

While the football program has not been as successful during the past few years, no one can dismiss the achievements over the past 55 years.

From an old Westminster College alumnus: Go Titans!

For Haskell Indian Nations University football team, it’s a matter of pride

By ERIC ADLER
The Kansas City Star

Morning breaks on game day, and the young Indian faces the rising sun — his chest tattooed with the jagged warrior symbol of the Eastern Band Cherokee.

Maybe today, Micah Swimmer hopes. Maybe today his team will win....

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/333859.html

Any NAIA fans on this board? Predictions?

Saturday, 8/25: Azusa Pacific v. #17 Mid-America Nazarene.

Let's see a trip report from the game.

Don,

Your latest poll NAIA has Friends University at 7-2.
They are actually 8-1. Should have moved up, not down.

Thanks,
Falcon 1

Posted on Mon, Oct. 30, 2006

Former St. Mary coach sentenced in child *beep* case
Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The former football coach at the University of St. Mary was sentenced Monday to 13 years in federal prison for trafficking in child pornography.

Scott Frear, 43, of Leavenworth, was sentenced during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Kathryn H. Vratil. He pleaded guilty in June, admitting he sent sexual images of himself and others to someone he thought to be a 14-year-old New Hampshire boy. The teen was actually a New Hampshire detective who was investigating computer sex crimes.

Frear, who sent the images in July 2005, was indicted by a federal grand jury in January.

Frear began coaching at St. Mary in 2002 and was the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference coach of the year that season. He previously was offensive coordinator at Avila University in Kansas City, Mo.

He resigned Aug. 16 from St. Mary, hours after university officials learned that he was being investigated.

here's the link

http://www.lindenwood.edu/athletics/football/dorsey_colts.asp