1968 VPI Gobblers football team

Last updated

1968 VPI Gobblers football
Liberty Bowl, L 17–34 vs. Ole Miss
ConferenceIndependent
Record7–4
Head coach
Home stadium Lane Stadium
Seasons
  1967
1969  
1968 NCAA University Division independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Penn State   11 0 0
Rutgers   8 2 0
West Texas State   8 2 0
No. 5 Notre Dame   7 2 1
Florida State   8 3 0
Air Force   7 3 0
Army   7 3 0
Buffalo   7 3 0
No. 18 Houston   6 2 2
Utah State   7 3 0
Boston College   7 3 0
West Virginia   7 3 0
VPI   7 4 0
Pacific   6 4 0
Syracuse   6 4 0
Villanova   6 4 0
Xavier   6 4 0
Colgate   5 5 0
Dayton   5 5 0
Miami (FL)   5 5 0
New Mexico State   5 5 0
Georgia Tech   4 6 0
Southern Miss   4 6 0
Holy Cross   3 6 1
San Jose State   3 7 0
Navy   2 8 0
Tulane   2 8 0
Pittsburgh   1 9 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1968 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI (now known as Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University or Virginia Tech) as an independent during the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Jerry Claiborne the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 7–4 and with a loss against Ole Miss in the Liberty Bowl. VPI played home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia. [1]

Contents

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 21at No. 7 Alabama L 7–1463,759 [2] [3]
September 28at William & Mary W 12–015,000 [4]
October 5 Kansas State L 19–3419,000 [5]
October 12 Wake Forest Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
W 7–631,000 [6]
October 18at No. 13 Miami (FL) L 8–1336,844 [7]
October 26 West Virginia
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)
W 27–1233,000 [8]
November 2at No. 18 Florida State W 40–2231,342 [9]
November 9 Richmond
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
W 31–1812,000 [10]
November 16at South Carolina W 17–640,137 [11]
November 28vs. VMI W 55–617,000 [12]
December 14vs. Ole Miss L 17–3446,206 [13]
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

At No. 7 Alabama

Tech lost 14-7 to the 7th-ranked team in the nation in front of a crowd of 63,759 in Birmingham. At the time it was the largest audience in school history. The Gobblers scored on a blocked punt by Larry Creekmore recovered in the end zone by Jud Bronwell. Tech was dominated by the Crimson Tide defense, racking up only three first downs, the first coming in the fourth quarter. [14]

At William & Mary

The Tech special teams scored a touchdown and a safety by blocking two punts and put up its first offensive points of the year with a 20-yard field goal by Jack Simscack. The Gobblers defense pitched a shutout, helped by defensive back Ron Davidson who picked off three W&M passes. [15]

Roster

The following players were members of the 1968 football team according to the roster published in the 1969 edition of The Bugle, the Virginia Tech yearbook. [16]

VPI 1968 roster
  • Art Aguilar
  • David Bailey
  • Frank Beamer
  • David Binko
  • Preston Blackburn
  • Steve Bocko
  • William G. "Jerry" Boykin
  • Jud Brownell
  • James Edward "Eddie" Carter
  • Dennis Cogan
  • Chris Frank Collis
  • George Constantinides
  • Donald Dewitt Cooke
  • Larry Creekmore
  • J. Dee Crigger
  • Daniel Cupp
  • Ron Davidson
  • Peter Francis Dawyot
  • Nick DelViscio
  • Kenneth Wayne Edwards
  • Doug Gainous
  • Jerry Green
  • George Butch Hall
  • Waddey Harvey
  • Bert Henderson
  • D. Hickman
  • Wayne Humphries
  • Hank Immel
  • John Ivanac
  • Al Kincaid
  • Larry Kushner
  • Dickie Longerbeam
  • Leonard Angelo Luongo
  • T. MacDonald
  • John Lawrence Maxwell
  • Tom Mikulski
  • Frederick Marshall Mooney
  • Thomas Irwin Parks
  • James Anthony Pigninelli
  • Rick Piland
  • Paul Ripley
  • Gil Schwabe
  • Jack Simcsak
  • Bill Skinner
  • Bobby Slaughter
  • Leonard James Smith
  • Terry Smoot
  • L. Wayne Stonesifer
  • Larry Duke Strager
  • Tom Swords
  • Perry Tiberio
  • John Randolph Treadwell
  • Joe Tucker
  • Danny Waller
  • Mike Widger
  • S. Womack

Related Research Articles

The 1933 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1933 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 40th overall and 1st season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Frank Thomas, in his third year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of seven wins, one loss and one tie, and as the first SEC champions.

The 1963 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the 1963 NCAA University Division football season. It was the only Southern Conference football championship Tech won during its tenure in the leage, 1921-1965.

The 1921 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the 1921 college football season. The team was led by their head coach B. C. Cubbage and finished with a record of seven wins and three losses (7–3).

The 1967 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as an independent during the 1967 NCAA University Division football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Jerry Claiborne the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 7–3. VPI played home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1966 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as an independent during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Jerry Claiborne the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 8–2–1 and were defeated by Miami (FL) in the Liberty Bowl. VPI played home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1925 VPI Gobblers football team was an American football team that represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute as a member of the Southern Conference during the 1925 season. In its fifth season under head coach B. C. Cubbage, VPI compiled a 5–3–2 record, finished in tenth place in the Southern Conference, and was outscored by a total of 52 to 39. The team played its home games at Miles Field in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1946 VPI Gobblers football team was an American football team that represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1946 college football season. In their second year under head coach Jimmy Kitts, the Gobblers compiled a 3–4–3 record, lost to Cincinnati in the 1947 Sun Bowl, and were outscored by a total of 149 to 102.

The 1969 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as an independent during the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Jerry Claiborne the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 4–5–1. VPI played home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1965 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as an independent during the 1965 NCAA University Division football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Jerry Claiborne the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 7–3. VPI played home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1964 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1964 NCAA University Division football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Jerry Claiborne the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 6–4 with a mark of 3–1 in conference play, and finished second in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1956 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1956 NCAA University Division football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Frank Moseley the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 7–2–1 with a mark of 3–0 in conference play, and finished second in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1957 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1957 NCAA University Division football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Frank Moseley the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 4–6 with a mark of 1–3 in conference play, and finished eighth in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1958 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1958 NCAA University Division football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Frank Moseley the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 5–4–1 with a mark of 3–1 in conference play, and finished second in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1955 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1955 college football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Frank Moseley the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 6–3–1 with a mark of 2–1–1 in conference play, and finished second in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1953 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1953 college football season. Led by third-year head coach Frank Moseley the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 3–3 in conference play, and finished ted for fifth in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1962 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1962 NCAA University Division football season. Led by second-year head coach Jerry Claiborne the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 2–3 in conference play, and finished sixth in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1959 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1959 NCAA University Division football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Frank Moseley the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 6–4 with a mark of 3–1 in conference play, and finished third in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1960 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1960 NCAA University Division football season. Led by 10th-year head coach Frank Moseley the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 6–4 with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, and finished tied for second in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1961 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1961 NCAA University Division football season. Led by first-year head coach Jerry Claiborne the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 4–5 with a mark of 2–3 in conference play, and finished seventh in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 1952 VPI Gobblers football team represented the Virginia Polytechnic Institute or VPI as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1952 college football season. Led by second-year head coach Frank Moseley the Gobblers compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 4–4 in conference play, and finished sixth in the SoCon. VPI played home games at Miles Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

References

  1. "1968 Virginia Tech Hokies Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  2. Whittaker, Dave (September 22, 1968). "Tide tames Gobblers". The Florence Times. p. 9. Retrieved October 12, 2013 via Google News Archives.
  3. Land, Charles (September 22, 1968). "Tide just good enough, 14–7". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 11. Retrieved October 12, 2013 via Google News Archives.
  4. "Gobblers block out W-M, 12–0". The Miami Herald. September 29, 1968. Retrieved October 26, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  5. Young, Ed (October 6, 1968). "Inspired K-State Team Devours Virginia Tech's Football Gobblers, 34-19". The Danville Register . Danville, Virginia. Associated Press. p. 1D. Retrieved January 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  6. Lindquist, Jerry. "Gobblers nip Deacons 7–6". Richmond Times Dispatch.
  7. Brill, Bill (October 19, 1968). "Miami is 13–8 winner over Tech's Gobblers". Roanoke Times.
  8. "Tech defeats WVU with offense, 27–12". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 27, 1968. Retrieved January 21, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Virginia Tech Gobblers clout luckless FSU Seminoles 40–22". News-Press. November 3, 1968. Retrieved January 21, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Virginia Tech turns back Richmond by 31 to 18 count". The Danville Register. November 10, 1968. Retrieved October 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Gamecocks bow to VPI by 17–6". The News and Observer. November 17, 1968. Retrieved January 21, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Tech express floods VMI in wave of touchdowns". The Commercial Appeal. November 29, 1968. Retrieved January 30, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Ole Miss overcomes early Tech blitz, 34–17". Richmond Times-Dispatch. December 14, 1968. Retrieved October 21, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  14. "7th ranked Crimson Tide creams VPI". Sunday News, Lancaster, PA. September 22, 1968.
  15. "Gobblers block out W-M, 12–0". The Miami Herald. September 29, 1968. Retrieved October 26, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  16. "The Bugle 1969". Virginia Tech Bugle . 1969. p. 88. Retrieved August 25, 2019.