St Edwards University - Tower Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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| erotably the most curious and frustrating thing a sports champion quickly learns is how often it must continue to prove itself. In 1972 the Zoo was setting out in quest of its third consecutive SEFL championship, ample enough credential for finally establishing it the preseason favorite, but there were still those who questioned the authenticity of that credential. The Tuf-Nuts were one of those with doubts, having twice lost to the Zoo era in the playoffs. After the particularly bitter frustration of 1971’s 24-14 loss to the Zoo, the Tuf-Nuts, who having added a large contingent from the Canadian Club were now officially the Tuf-Nuts Canadian Club, felt they had much to prove in 1972. They didn’t prove much opening day, however, ii a miserable 19-0 whitewashing by a measurably strengthened Organized Confusion. The surprise team of early season, the Confusion cruised through its first six games | 5 3 . unbeaten, allowing but six points along the revealed good and bad news about the way. A 6-0 victory over the Henways | Confusion’s eventual playoff hopes. First the good news; they won on a six yard strike to John Barbick on 4th down with twenty seconds left to win the sort of game they used to lose. But the bad news was the uncharacteristic friction they displayed which was to destroy a promising season. When the Tuf-Nuts beat O. C. in their second meeting, the Confusion never won an | important game thereafter. = ee The Tuf-Nuts took over first place with that victory over O. C. and methodically clinched the AFC title on the sure passing arm and cool head of Kevin Burns, the SEFL passing leader. Bobby Semptimphelter was gone, yet the Nuts still exceeded their remarkable scoring pace of 1971 with nearly 30 points a game, and only the Zoo allowed its opponents fewer points. When Organized Confusion began its fade when the schedule stiffened, 1972’s genuine surprise team emerged from the dust of one of the season’s most exciting ball games. The Magic Co. edged the Bears 15-14 in the rubber match of a three game series that eventually determined the wild card representative in the playoffs. Really, the Magic Co. should have snuck up on no one after they forced the Zoo to scramble to a win by penetrations in their opener. But this was the lowly Banchy A’s group of 1971 which won 4 of 28 games. However, the competent battery of quarterback Peyton Turk and Tim Gavin, with Luis Perez anchoring a solid defense, turned the club around and when they edged the Bears the second time they were in the 1972 SEFL Standings AEG W Tuf-Nuts Can. Club 13 Organized Confusion ll Delta Sigma Pi 9 MeE LG: 3 Henways 2, NFC Zoo Magic Co. Bears Leper Colony Mangum’s Marauders Play off: Tuf-Nuts C.C. 30, Magic Co. 17 Championship: driver’s seat. A three game losing streak at season’s end was nearly fatal, but when the Tuf-Nuts defeated Organized Confusion and the Zoo crushed the Bears on the last day, the Magic Co. earned the wild card entry, having beaten O. C. in their only meeting of the year, and the Bears two out of three in that season’s series. Zoo 25, Tuf-Nuts Canadian Club 12 93

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92 The Zoo, like the Dolphins in the NFL, picked a most unlikely year to reign unbeaten in the SEFL. Above is one reason why they shouldn’t have, Nick Nichols, one of the Tuf-Nuts; above right is another, Drake Torrado of the pesky Henways; and at the right is a third, Mike Thoennes of the unpredictable Leper Colony. There were several more reasons as well why the Zoo shouldn’t have, and yet they did. The Winner and still Champion Amazing no one, surprising no one, and certainly upsetting no one, the Zoo goes undefeated for its first asterisk-less championship.

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94 Nick Nichols and John Barbick caught second half touchdown passes from Kevin Burns to spark the AFC (right) to a come-from-behind victory over the NFC in the 1972 All Star game. The NFC led 6-0 at the half on Kenny Garcia’s 3 yard lob to Bill Jakotowicz, and Garcia found Tom McCloskey from the one with two minutes remaining to tie at 12-12, but when the conversion failed the AFC had it won, 4 penetrations to 3. In back are Mike Barrett, Gary Kudrna, Jim McGrory, Mark White, Ed Daeger, Mike Toomey, Mike Jachimezyk, Terry Bauer, Nick Nichols, John Barbick, and Mark McDermott. In front are Joe Maguire, Kevin Burns, Dominic Cappelli, Rod Tieken, Joe Capuano, and Ted McGorty. Not pictured is Wayne Mitchell.