Wittenberg Tigers football
Encyclopedia
The Wittenberg Tigers football team represents Wittenberg University
in collegiate level
football
. The Wittenberg football team was formed in 1892, competes in NCAA Division III and is affiliated with the North Coast Athletic Conference
(NCAC). The Tigers play their home games at Edwards–Maurer Field in Springfield, Ohio
.
championships (1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1988) and ten NCAC championships (1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2009 and 2010.)
, who led the team in 1916 and from 1919 to 1928. Godfrey played college football for Ohio State
from 1912 to 1914. Godfrey compiled a record of 63–24–8 at Wittenberg and were undefeated in both 1919 and 1920. Godfrey later joined the Ohio State coaching staff where he remained from 1929 to 1961. Godfrey was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1975.
(1941–1942) and other college teams, Edwards returned to Wittenberg as head football coach from 1955 to 1968. In 14 years at Wittenberg, Edwards compiled a record of 98–20–4 and two national championships. Sports Illustrated
referred to Edwards as "a combination of Santa Claus and Genghis Khan
." In 1986, Edwards became the second Wittenberg football coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The brightest star of the Edwards era at Wittenberg was quarterback Charlie Green. With Green leading the team, Wittenberg compiled a 25–0–1 record and won two national championships from 1962 to 1964. Green totaled 5,575 passing yards and 61 passing touchdowns at Wittenberg and later played for the Oakland Raiders
. In 2002, Green joined Ernie Godfrey and Bill Edwards in the College Football Hall of Fame.
took over as head coach in 1969. Maurer had been an assistant coach under Edwards since 1955. Between 1969 and 1983, Maurer compiled a record of 129–23–3 for a winning percentage of .842. His teams won 11 division and league championships, two Division III national championships (1973 and 1975) and were runners-up in 1978 and 1979. In 1991, Edwards became the third Wittenberg football coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
took over in 1996. In 15 years at Wittenberg, he has compiled a record of 134–30, and his teams have won seven NCAC championships and appeared seven times in the NCAA Division III football championship. At the end of the 2009 season, Fincham's winning percentage ranked in the top five among active NCAA football coaches.
Wittenberg University
Wittenberg University is a private four-year liberal arts college in Springfield, Ohio serving 2,000 full-time students representing 37 states and approximately 30 foreign countries...
in collegiate level
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
. The Wittenberg football team was formed in 1892, competes in NCAA Division III and is affiliated with the North Coast Athletic Conference
North Coast Athletic Conference
The North Coast Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division III athletic conference composed of schools located in the Midwestern United States. When founded in 1984, the NCAC was a pioneer in gender equality, offering competition in a then-unprecedented ten women's sports...
(NCAC). The Tigers play their home games at Edwards–Maurer Field in Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northeast of Dayton. Springfield is home to Wittenberg...
.
Overview
With an overall record is 697 wins, 345 losses and 31 ties, Wittenberg has the most wins of any NCAA Division III football program in history. Since 1955, Wittenberg has had only one losing record and has won five national championships (1962, 1964, 1969, 1973 and 1975), 15 Ohio Athletic ConferenceOhio Athletic Conference
The Ohio Athletic Conference was formed in 1902 and is the third oldest athletic conference in the United States. It competes in the NCAA's Division III. Through the years, 31 schools have been members of the OAC. The enrollments of the current ten member institutions range from 1,100 to 4,500...
championships (1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1988) and ten NCAC championships (1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2009 and 2010.)
Godfrey era
Wittenberg's success in college football began under head coach Ernie GodfreyErnie Godfrey
-External links:...
, who led the team in 1916 and from 1919 to 1928. Godfrey played college football for Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
from 1912 to 1914. Godfrey compiled a record of 63–24–8 at Wittenberg and were undefeated in both 1919 and 1920. Godfrey later joined the Ohio State coaching staff where he remained from 1929 to 1961. Godfrey was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1975.
Edwards era
Wittenberg football began a period of unprecedented success in 1955 with the hiring of Bill Edwards as head coach. Edwards had been an All-American while playing for Wittenberg in 1929. After coaching the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
(1941–1942) and other college teams, Edwards returned to Wittenberg as head football coach from 1955 to 1968. In 14 years at Wittenberg, Edwards compiled a record of 98–20–4 and two national championships. Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
referred to Edwards as "a combination of Santa Claus and Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
." In 1986, Edwards became the second Wittenberg football coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The brightest star of the Edwards era at Wittenberg was quarterback Charlie Green. With Green leading the team, Wittenberg compiled a 25–0–1 record and won two national championships from 1962 to 1964. Green totaled 5,575 passing yards and 61 passing touchdowns at Wittenberg and later played for the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In 2002, Green joined Ernie Godfrey and Bill Edwards in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Maurer era
After Edwards retired, Dave MaurerDave Maurer (American football)
-External links:...
took over as head coach in 1969. Maurer had been an assistant coach under Edwards since 1955. Between 1969 and 1983, Maurer compiled a record of 129–23–3 for a winning percentage of .842. His teams won 11 division and league championships, two Division III national championships (1973 and 1975) and were runners-up in 1978 and 1979. In 1991, Edwards became the third Wittenberg football coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Fincham era
Current head coach Joe FinchamJoe Fincham
-External links:*...
took over in 1996. In 15 years at Wittenberg, he has compiled a record of 134–30, and his teams have won seven NCAC championships and appeared seven times in the NCAA Division III football championship. At the end of the 2009 season, Fincham's winning percentage ranked in the top five among active NCAA football coaches.
Coaching records
- Ernie GodfreyErnie Godfrey-External links:...
(1916, 1919–1928): 95–63–24 (.705) - T. W. Stobbs (1929–1941): 54–54–2 (.500)
- Carl "Ducky" Schroeder (1942): 1–5–1 (.214)
- Richard Ainslie (1945): 3–4 (.429)
- Howard "Red" Maurer (1946–1948): 8–17 (.320)
- Harold Shields (1949): 2–7 (.222)
- R. E. "Tom" Ness (1950–1954): 20–25–1 (.446)
- Bill Edwards (1955–1968): 98–20–4
- Dave MaurerDave Maurer (American football)-External links:...
(1969–1983): 129–23–3 - Ron Murphy (1984–1988): 34–17
- Doug Neibuhr (1989–1995): 50–18–1
- Joe FinchamJoe Fincham-External links:*...
(1996–2010) 134–30