St Josephs College - Phase Yearbook (Rensselaer, IN)

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Head Coach Bill Jennings, disappointed with this season’s progress, a?id unnerved by bad breaks, still managed to maintain a winning spirit that characterizes a coach. Both the skies and the Puma spirits were bright as the 1968 football season got underway in early September. The stingiest defense in the ICC returned practically intact while the Puma offense promised ex¬ plosive football for all Saint Joseph’s fans. The opening game with North Park College enhanced this brightness as the Pumas won their opener for the first time in 14 years. The spirit of optimism did not dim even after the trouncing administered by Dayton. Everyone realized that the Collegeville eleven was no match for Dayton’s formidable team, and the final tally simply proved that the Pumas were outmanned. Although outscored by De- Pauw—the team picked to capture the ICC championship—but not outplayed, the Pumas still had six games left on their schedule and hopes rode high for a winning record. players along with their spirits. At this point, the bright light only flickered. Wabash, the little team from down the road,” upset the Pumas and chances for a respectable season all but died. The Little Giants administered more than a defeat as Milt Payton, who was surely the key to the Puma offense, was lost for the rest of his Saint Joseph’s career with a broken ankle. Homecoming with arch-rival Valparaiso was next, and to stop them would be a sufficient salvaging of athletic pride. However, in a bitterly-fought struggle, fate deemed otherwise, and only a 30-yard field goal registered the difference. The Evansville contest was only an anticlimax to an already-dismal season, and although the outcome of the Ball State game would not greatly improve the statistics, at least another upset there would be a fitting end to the 1968 season. However, as the remaining ICC games ticked away, optimism grew dimmer and dimmer, score by score. Butler and Indiana State all but extinguished hope for a successful season, and the Pumas lost key ATHLETICS PUMAS WIN OPENER - FIRST IN 14 YEARS

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MINUTES DONORS CMDR. MRS. J. RUSSELL COOK CLASS OF ' 18 ' iq 1. Wayne Missaggia 29. Student Coach Steve Cusick 2. Tom Buechlein 30. Student Coach Jim Bender 3. Bob Trepeta 31. Assistant Coach Virgil Robbins 4. Tim Heinrich 32. Gary Gedney 5. Chuck Farber 33. Dan Epler 6. Steve Bakos 34. Steve Dmytrow 7. Milt Payton 35. Dennis Strobel 8. Rick Carrico 36. Mike Swierk 9. Dan Farrell 37. Lou Offer 10. Stan Wos 38. Mel Holtz 11. Jim Sullivan 39. Dave Scheafbauer 12. Karl Maio 40. Bob Litzenberg 13. Terry Rudnick 41. St. Asst. Joe Bisek 14. St. Asst. Ralph Iannelli 42. Head Trainer Red Kenney 15. Assistant Coach Ernie Fritsch 43. St. Trainer Brian Reynolds 16. Tom Burke 44. A1 Bellavia 17. Mike Howard 45. Harry Hiegel 18. Rocky Clemens 46. Ed Stith 19. Mike Conway 47. Leon Monnin 20. Tom Parks 48. Jim Graham 21. Head Coach Bill Jennings 49. Jerry Coyle , 22. Tom Green 50. Dan DeVoe 23. Jim Reinert 51. Tom Corcoran 24. John Siegel 62. Mike Broderick 25. Dennis Gallagher 53. Terry Martin 26. Jerry Lasko 54. Paul Kiffner 27. Assistant Coach Jim Holstein 28. Student Coach Jesse Taggart 65. Joe Franklin

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