The 1978 UW-Eau Claire football team will celebrate its 45th anniversary this weekend. Former Sports Information Director Tim Petermann looks back at a record-setting squad for the Blugolds.

With 27 returning lettermen including nine starters on offense, the 1978 Blugolds figured to be a contender in the always-tough Wisconsin State University Conference.

And veteran coach Link Walker's charges did not disappoint!

The Blugolds finished 8-2 overall, setting what was then a school record for victories in a season and establishing a post-World War II record for shutouts in a season with five.  The previous Blugold record for season wins was seven, accomplished by the 1963 and 1964 championship teams that went 7-0 and 7-2 in back-to-back seasons.

When they ripped off wins in their first seven games, including four by shutout, the Blugolds achieved a No. 3 ranking in the NAIA, which at that time included mostly scholarship schools, most of whom are now Division II programs.

But the two conference teams that had the Blugolds' number throughout the early years of Coach Walker's tenure proved to be the stumbling blocks to a conference title and a post-season playoff berth again in 1978.

Whitewater, which had beaten the Blugolds in six of the seven previous meetings, was the first to trip up the Blugolds, notching a 38-22 triumph before some 5,000 fans under the sunny skies of Carson Park on Oct. 28.  The Warhawks were smarting a week after being upset by previously winless Stevens Point.  The Warhawks had already handed La Crosse its only loss of the season.

Coach Link Walker told the Leader-Telegram's Ron Buckli after game, "I haven't seen a game where so many things went wrong in a long time," as he summed up the afternoon's frustration.  The Blugolds lost two fumbles and had three passes picked.  Three of those turnovers set up three of Whitewater's four first-half scores.  In addition, the Blugolds lost All-Conference safety Scott Dahl to an injury in the first quarter after starting the game with four defensive regulars on the sidelines.

Ordinarily, 22 first downs, 382 yards of offense and 22 points would be enough to win a game, especially when the opponent garners just 15 first downs and 274 yards of offense.  But not on this day when the Blugolds mishandled the snap on a punt and fumbled away the ball on a punt return.

So after the game, the Blugolds were in a three-way tie for first in the league with Whitewater and La Crosse with two games remaining.  Whitewater was left with River Falls and Oshkosh while the Blugolds had a showdown with La Crosse plus Stevens Point.  La Crosse was to face River Falls after the Blugolds.

Not only did the Blugolds have to travel to La Crosse but the Blugolds had lost to the Indians (now the Eagles) in seven consecutive seasons.

The Blugolds took a 13-0 lead midway through the second quarter and led 13-7 at intermission, but La Crosse took advantage of Blugold turnovers to claim a 21-13 triumph.  Just like they had against Whitewater, the Blugolds held the advantage in first downs (19-18) and total yards (289-261) but turned the ball over four times on fumbles and interceptions.  One fumble set La Crosse up for a short 21-yard scoring drive and one interception was returned for a touchdown.

While the Blugolds rebounded in their season finale with a 28-0 battering of Stevens Point, Whitewater and La Crosse shared the WSUC championship with 7-1 marks while the Blugolds were a game back at 6-2.

There were a lot of familiar names on the Blugold roster in 1978.  The Blugold offense was predicated around a power running back.  D.J. LeRoy became the school's all-time rushing leader during the course of the season, pushing his career total to 2,666 yards.  Tim Lewitzke became the first running back in school history to top the 1,000-yard mark with 1,051 yards.  Bob Semling was in his second season as a starter at quarterback and had some outstanding targets in wideout Tom Burrows and tight ends Tyrone Cooper and Dave Gamm.
 

 

 

The offense, which set school records for most points scored (254), most yards rushing (2,515) and most yards total offense (3,738), ran behind the blocking of center Jeff Olson, guards Jeff Lutz and Mark Zettel and tackles Mitch Patri and Tom Bane.

In recording five shutouts, the Blugolds were led by defensive end John White along with defensive captain Dave King at tackle and opposing tackle Scott Thompson, noseguard Scott Dziadosz, linebackers Ed Watkins, Mike McMillon and Dave Henquinet, free safety Scott Dahl and corners Mike Zeihen, Greg Polnasek and John Furrer.
 

The kicking duties were capably handled by punter Randy Schneider and placekicker Scott Meihack.

Three Blugolds earned All-Conference first team honors for the season while six were tabbed for the second team.  The first team selections were tackle Mitch Patri, running back D. J. LeRoy and defensive end John White.  Patri was eventually named to the NAIA All-American second team.  The All-Conference second team picks were tight end Tyrone Cooper, running back Tim Lewitzke, wide receiver Tom Burrows, defensive lineman Dave King, linebacker Dave Henquinet and defensive back Scott Dahl.  Offensive lineman Jeff Olson, punter Randy Schneider and defensive lineman Scott Thompson were recognized with honorable mention.
 

 

The Blugolds ranked No. 12 in the final NAIA poll of the season, which was conducted after the playoffs.

Final Rankings

1. Angelo State, TX
2. Elon, NC
3. Western State, CO
4. Grand Valley State, MI
5. Central Arkansas
6. Concord, WVA
7. UW-La Crosse
8. Oregon C. of Education
9. Ouachita Baptist, AR
10. Kearney State, NB
11. Abilene Christian
12. UW-Eau Claire
13. Presbyterian, SC
14. Kentucky State
15. Cameron, OK
16. Henderson State, AR
17. Clarion State, PA

18t Newberry, SC
18t Pittsburg State, KS

20. Texas A&I

 
How unusual was five shutouts in a single season for the 1978 Blugolds?  In the 34 previous seasons since 1945, only once had the Blugolds blanked more than two teams in a single season and that was three in the championship year of 1948.  In the 16 seasons from 1963 through 1977, the Blugolds had totaled just eight shutouts.