Moments in First 50 Seasons of Karl Van Norman Field

Forty years ago, the 1975 football team posted a 5-4 record capped off with a season-ending 19-7 win over Bloomsburg. That victory gave the Mountaineers their first winning season since Bernie Sabol's first team went 6-3 in 1969.

It was a remarkable turnaround for a program that won just one game in each of the two prior seasons. Mike Kemp topped the ­offensive rushing for a PSAC East leading 849 rushing yards and was joined in the backfield by fullback Bruce Musselman and Ronnie Allen along with quarterback Fran Tagalong. Tight end Dave Snitger, who earned All-Conference honors the season before, was part of a solid offensive line was made even better when All-PSAC defensive tackle Dave Fisher moved over to the offensive side of the ball for his senior season. On the offensive line, he joined Guy Smith, Lance Marshall, Jim Black, Joe Saad and Vince McMonigle among others. Mark Hribar was one of the wideouts.

The defense ranked among the best in the PSAC that season, anchored by Captains Dennis Clisham and Bob Widhson, "Big" John Evans, freshman linebacker Bill Forsythe along with Donnie Savage, Rico Cardy, Ryan Hileman and Steve Bochie as some of the many standouts.

Fisher was named to 1^st Team All-PSAC East honors while Kemp, Widhson, Ed Ray and Ed Jenkins all earned 2^nd Team honors.

Seniors on the milestone team include Mike Price, Charlie Fox, Mike Kemp, Tim Walton, Ronnie Allen, Dennis Clisham, Kenneth Condran, Jim Black, Bob Widhson, Guy Smith, Rich Miller, Dave Fisher, Lance Marshall, Dave Snitger, Frank Gaudenzi, John Evans, Mark Hribar, and Bradley Hunsicker.

One strange note for the season was that Mansfield was supposed to play Bloomsburg in the third game of the season in late September, but flooding from ­Hurricane Eloise postponed the game until after the regular season was supposed to end. Had that game not been rescheduled the Mountaineers would have ended the season at 4-4.

As we celebrate Homecoming Weekend, Mansfield University and the Mountaineer football program will honor 1975 assistant coach Bob Irwin who passed away unexpectently last week with a moment of silence prior to the start of the game.