1972 Colgate Red Raiders football team

The 1972 Colgate Red Raiders football team was an American football team that represented Colgate University as an independent during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. In its fifth season under head coach Neil Wheelwright, the team compiled a 5–4–1 record. Kenneth Nelson and David Palmer were the team captains.[1]

1972 Colgate Red Raiders football
Conference	Independent
1972 record	5–4–1
Head coach	Neil Wheelwright (5th season)
Captains	Kenneth Nelson David Palmer
Home stadium	Andy Kerr Stadium

1972 NCAA University Division independents football records
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 10 Penn State			–					10	–	2	–	0
No. 14 Notre Dame			–					8	–	3	–	0
Utah State			–					8	–	3	–	0
West Virginia			–					8	–	4	–	0
Florida State			–					7	–	4	–	0
Northern Illinois			–					7	–	4	–	0
Rutgers			–					7	–	4	–	0
No. 20 Georgia Tech			–					7	–	4	–	1
Air Force			–					6	–	4	–	0
Army			–					6	–	4	–	0
Virginia Tech			–					6	–	4	–	1
Houston			–					6	–	4	–	1
Tulane			–					6	–	5	–	0
Temple			–					5	–	4	–	0
Colgate			–					5	–	4	–	1
Holy Cross			–					5	–	4	–	1
Syracuse			–					5	–	6	–	0
Miami (FL)			–					5	–	6	–	0
Dayton			–					4	–	6	–	1
Boston College			–					4	–	7	–	0
Navy			–					4	–	7	–	0
South Carolina			–					4	–	7	–	0
Southern Miss			–					3	–	7	–	1
Xavier			–					2	–	8	–	0
Cincinnati			–					2	–	9	–	0
Villanova			–					2	–	9	–	0
Pittsburgh			–					1	–	10	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The team played its home games at Andy Kerr Stadium in Hamilton, New York.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	Lafayette	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	W 33–14	5,500	[2]
September 30	at Cornell	Schoellkopf Field Ithaca, NY (rivalry)	L 7–37	15,000	[3]
October 7	at Yale	Yale Bowl New Haven, CT	L 7–27	6,074	[4]
October 14	Holy Cross	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	T 21–21		[5]
October 21	at Princeton	Palmer Stadium Princeton, NJ	W 35–26	16,000	[6]
October 28	at The Citadel	Johnson Hagood Stadium Charleston, SC	W 28–26	15,290	[7]
November 4	Lehigh	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	W 42–34	2,500	[8]
November 11	at Bucknell	Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	L 7–41		[9]
November 18	at Boston University	Nickerson Field Boston, MA	W 26–0		[10]
November 25	at Rutgers	Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ	L 13–43		[11]

Leading players

Two trophies were awarded to the Red Raiders' most valuable players in 1972:[12]

• Tom Parr, quarterback, received the Andy Kerr Trophy, awarded to the most valuable offensive player.
• Dave Palmer, defensive tackle, received the Hal W. Lahar Trophy, awarded to the most valuable defensive player.

Statistical leaders for the 1972 Red Raiders included:[13]

• Rushing: Tom Parr, 721 yards and 12 touchdowns on 145 attempts
• Passing: Tom Parr, 1,206 yards, 83 completions and 9 touchdowns on 169 attempts
• Receiving: Steve Fraser, 535 yards and 4 touchdowns on 29 receptions
• Total offense: Tom Parr, 1,927 yards (1,206 passing, 721 rushing)
• Scoring: Tom Parr, 74 points from 12 touchdowns and 1 two-point conversion
• All-purpose yards: Russell Brown, 886 yards (450 rushing, 267 kickoff returning, 93 punt returning, 76 receiving)

References

1. "Colgate Athletic History: Football" (PDF). Hamilton, N.Y.: Colgate University. p. 13. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
2. "Parr Leads Colgate to a 33-14 Triumph". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. Associated Press. September 24, 1972. p. S4.
3. Fox, John W. (October 1, 1972). "Big Red Splinters Wishbone". The Sunday Press. Binghamton, N.Y. p. 1E – via Newspapers.com.
4. Harvin, Al (October 8, 1972). "Yale Downs Colgate, 27-7, Scoring All Points in 2d Half". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S4.
5. "Colgate Rallies, Ties Holy Cross". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. Associated Press. October 15, 1972. p. S7.
6. Werden, Lincoln A. (October 22, 1972). "Parr Directs Colgate to 35-26 Victory over Princeton". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S6.
7. "Colgate Conquers The Citadel, 28 to 26". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. United Press International. October 29, 1972. p. S8.
8. "Colgate Triumphs over Lehigh, 42-34". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. Associated Press. November 5, 1972. p. S6.
9. "2019 Bucknell Football Media Guide". Lewisburg, Pa.: Bucknell University. p. 138. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
10. "Colgate Downs Boston U., 26-0". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. Associated Press. November 19, 1972. p. S13.
11. Strauss, Michael (November 26, 1972). "Rutgers Ends Season With 43-13 Trouncing of Colgate". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S3.
12. "Colgate Athletic History: Football" (PDF). Hamilton, N.Y.: Colgate University. p. 19. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
13. "Colgate Athletic History: Football" (PDF). Hamilton, N.Y.: Colgate University. pp. 43–55. Retrieved June 15, 2020.