LR Football Record Book HistoryHistory Chris Shaffer (2014-15) was a First-Team All-South Atlantic Confer- ence pick last fall in addition to earn- ing Academic All-American honors. Chris Shaffer 11 LR Football Record Book TheThe GloryGlory Years:Years: 1955-621955-62 Overview 1959 (10-1) LR’s football history is filled with tradition, In ’59, LR rolled through the regular season winning and many memorable moments. at 9-0 before dominating Southern Connecticut, However, an eight-year period beginning in 47-20, in the NAIA Eastern Championship 1955 and concluding in 1962 is an era of Bear game on Dec. 5, 1959. football which truly separated the program from However, Lenoir-Rhyne’s title hopes fell in its peers. a 20-7 loss to Texas A&I on Dec. 12, 1959, in During the stretch, Lenoir-Rhyne compiled Saint Petersburg, Fla. an incredible 76-6-4 mark for an astounding The ’59 squad was one of the Bears’ best .907 winning percentage. ever. LR was ranked No. 1 in the country This type of run ranks up with any college throughout the regular season and outscored its football program - at any level, NCAA or NAIA opponents, 336-96. - of all time. 1962 (11-1) To put it in another perspective, the Bears This squad, the first under Bear mentor averaged less than one loss per season during the Hanley Painter, will go down as one of the best span. defensive teams in program history. LR won all 10 of its regular season games By The Numbers and gave up just 61 points (6.1 per game) all Here is a look at several things LR accom- year. The defensive performance included four plished over those eight years: consecutive shutouts with five all total. • One NAIA National Championship (1960) Lenoir-Rhyne smothered Northern State (South Dakota) in the NAIA Eastern Playoff • Three NAIA National Championship appear- Championship, 20-7, on Dec. 2, 1962, at home ances in four years (1959, 1960 and 1962) before falling to No. 1-ranked Central Okla- • Three seasons without a loss (1955, 1956 and homa State, 28-13, in the Camellia Bowl (Dec. 8, 1960) Clarence Stasavich was Lenoir-Rhyne’s 1962) in Sacremento, Calif. • Eight straight conference titles Head Coach from 1946 to 1961 and com- piled a 120-37-7 (.753) record. The Perfect Season True Road Warriors The 1956 team (10-0) was the only squad in school history with a perfect campaign. The most impressive thing about Lenoir- According to NAIA regulations, the criteria Rhyne’s eight-season run may have been its for breaking a tie is total yardage. All-American Times Two record on the road. Nearly 6,500 people huddled around the During the dynasty, four players received Consider this, of the 10 losses or ties LR did press box right after regulation to await the an- All-American honors not once but twice: Harold have during the span, only three were away from nouncement. Bullard (1956-57), Lee Farmer (1959-60), Dick College Field/Moretz Stadium (two defeats and After numerous retotals, a winner was Lage (1959-60) and Richard Kemp (1961-62). one tie). declared: Lenoir-Rhyne. The Bears out-gained In fact, both losses were in the NAIA Na- Northern Michigan by 25 yards: 294 to 269. tional Championship game! The Bears were 34-4-3 (.866) at home com- The National Championship The Final Tally pared to 42-2-1 (.944) on the road. Lenoir-Rhyne’s first and only National Cham- pionship came on Dec. 10, 1960, when the 1955 9 0 1 .950 More Road Stuff: The Streaks Bears defeated Humboldt State (Calif.), 15-14, at 1956 10 0 0 1.000 LR put together a 25-game road unbeaten the Holiday Bowl Stadium in Saint Petersburg, 1957 8 2 1 .773 streak (24-0-1) before losing in the ’59 NAIA Fla. 1958 9 1 0 .900 National Title game. Trailing 14-12 late in the fourth quarter, LR 1959 10 1 0 .909 Not to be outdone, the Bears followed with Head Coach Clarence Stasavich sent out fresh- 1960 11 0 1 .958 an 18-game winning streak away from home man Marion Kirby to kick what would be the 1961 8 1 1 .850 which ended in the ’62 NAIA National Champi- game-winning field goal for the Bears and the 1962 11 1 0 .917 onship game. dream was realized. Total 76 6 4 .907 The Tiebreaker Individual Excellence One of the most memorable games in From 1955 to 1962, Lenoir-Rhyne had a Lenoir-Rhyne history took place on Dec. 3, whopping 48 players garner all-conference 1960, at College Field when the Bears hosted honors and 12 different Bears earned some kind Northern Michigan in the NAIA Eastern of All-American honors. Championship game. The game concluded with a 20-20 tie thanks The “Other” Years to some late game heroics by LR. The national championship season of 1960 The Bears’ Tony McClamrock hit Marcus may have overshadowed the fact that in 1959 Midgett on a 38-yard scoring pass with under a and 1962 the Bears reached the finals as well. minute to play to tie it. 22 LR Football Record Book CareerCareer LeadersLeaders Rushing Completion Percentage^ Scoring (Kickers) 1. .....Leonard Davis ...............1990-94 ............... 4,853 1. .....Tommy Laurendine .......1988-89 ................. .583 1. .....Colin Corpe ....................2008-11 .................. 264 2. .....Carl Bartles .....................1967-70 ............... 3,677 2. .....Brett Meunier .................’98, 2000-02 ......... .559 2. .....Jason Monday ................1989-92 .................. 247 3. .....Scott Crawford ..............1973-75 ............... 3,438 3. .....Mike Everett...................1972-75 ................. .551 3. .....Rick Padget .....................1973-75 .................. 186 4. .....Jameil Surratt..................1999-02 ............... 3,383 4. .....Brian Bryson ..................1984-87 ................. .537 4. .....Zach Neumann ..............2011-13 .................. 185 5. .....Mike McRee ...................1967-70 ............... 3,165 5. .....Scott Branton .................2003-04 ................. .534 5. .....Andrew Coln ..................2004-07 .................. 167 6. .....Harold Bullard ...............1954-57 ............... 3,108 6. .....Jack Huss ........................1965-68 ................. .525 6. .....Jeff Long ........................1980-83 .................. 159 7. .....Richard Kemp ................1959-62 ............... 3,059 7. .....Robb Stamey ..................1991-94 ................. .509 7. .....Tommy Obst ..................1993-96 .................. 157 8. .....Jarrod Spears ..................2011-14 ............... 2,971 8. .....Kurtis Koester ...............2004-05 ................. .507 8. .....Tommy Ross ..................1969-72 .................. 139 9. ....Steve Trudnak ................1949-52 ............... 2,791 9. .....Joel Roope ......................1988-91 ................. .502 9. .....Steve Hinkle ...................1965-68 .................. 136 10. ...Isaiah Whitaker ..............2011-14 ............... 2,700 Lemuel Adams ...............1999....................... .502 10. ...Bryce Reiger ...................1998-01 .................. 133 Passing Receptions Punt Return Yards 1. .....Brian Bryson ..................1984-87 ............... 6,583 1. .....Terence Steward ............1983-86 .................. 247 1. .....Michael Green ...............2009, 2011-13 ....... 903 2. .....Brett Meunier .................’98, 2000-02 ....... 5,081 2. .....Chris Winford ................2002-05 .................. 141 2. .....Mike Porter ....................1968-71 .................. 702 3. .....Joel Roope ......................1988-91 ............... 4,351 3. .....Chad Beam .....................1995-98 .................. 137 3. .....Gus Parsons ...................1977-80 .................. 563 4. .....Robb Stamey ..................1991-94 ............... 4,240 4. .....Aaron Caldwell ..............2001-04 .................. 136 4. .....Paris Edwards ................2000-03 .................. 535 5. .....Tommy Laurendine .......1988-89 ............... 4,064 5. .....Kenny Jones ...................1988-91 .................. 131 5. .....Mike Campbell ...............1963-66 .................. 507 6. .....Kurtis Koester ...............2004-05 ............... 3,175 6. .....Shannon Myers ..............1991-94 .................. 121 6. .....Ted Ash ...........................1979-82 .................. 506 7. .....Justin Sanders .................2006-09 ............... 2,714 7. .....Mark Sanders .................1985-88 .................. 116 7. .....Chris Winford ................2002-05 .................. 499 8. .....Jack Huss ........................1965-68 ............... 2,394 8. .....Kennard France .............2000-01 .................. 108 8. .....Shannon Myers ..............1991-94 ................. 474 9. .....Craig Corbett .................1977-80 ............... 2,373 9. .....Brian Jack ........................1967-70 .................. 107 9. .....Tim Thick .......................1971-73 .................. 428 10. ...Mike McRee ...................1967-70 ............... 2,349 10. ...Nick Stutts ......................2008-11 .....................99 10. ...Barry Tate .......................2004-05, ’07-’08 .... 388 Completions Yards Receiving Kickoff Return Yards 1. .....Brian Bryson ..................1984-87 .................. 502 1. .....Terence Steward ............1983-86 ............... 3,631 1. .....Scott Walker ...................1987-90 ............... 2,227 2. .....Brett Meunier .................’98, 2000-02 .......... 432 2. .....Shannon Myers ..............1991-94 ............... 2,384 2. .....Barry Tate .......................2004-05, ’07-’08 . 1,859 3. .....Joel Roope ......................1988-91 .................