1966 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

The 1966 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan University in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1966 NCAA College Division football season. In their 16th and final season under head coach Kenneth Kelly, the Chippewas compiled a 5–5 record (3–0 against IIAC opponents), lost five straight games to start the season, won five straight to end the season, won the IIAC championship, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 213 to 159.^[1]

1966 Central Michigan Chippewas football
IIAC champion
Conference	Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record	5–5 (3–0 IIAC)
Head coach	Kenneth Kelly (16th season)
MVP	Paul Verska
Home stadium	Alumni Field
Seasons ← 1965 1967 →

1966 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Central Michigan $	3	–	0	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Eastern Illinois	1	–	1	–	1			1	–	6	–	1
Western Illinois	1	–	2	–	0			1	–	7	–	1
Illinois State	0	–	2	–	1			2	–	5	–	2
$ – Conference champion

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Bob Miles with 5,000 passing yards, Bob Rosso with 662 rushing yards, and Wally Hempton with 574 receiving yards.^[2] Miles also threw a school record 17 interceptions in 1966.^[3] Offensive guard Paul Verska received the team's most valuable player award.^[4] End Greg Hoefler set a school record (since broken) with 187 receiving yards against Wayne State on November 19, 1966.^[5] Ten Central Michigan players (Miles, Rosso, Hoefler, Veska, defensive guard Chuck Barker, halfbacks Bob Foldesi and Don Krueger, defensive end Mark Maksimovicz, tackle Mike Pintek, and defensive tackle Bill Sinkule) received first-team honors on the All-IIAC team.^[6]

Coach Kelly retired as Central Michigan's head football coach at the end of the 1966 season after 16 years in the position.^[7] He compiled a 91–58–2 record as the head football coach at Central Michigan.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 10	vs. Whitewater State*	Saginaw, MI (Red Feather game)	L 16–40	8,200–9,000	[8][9]
September 17	Youngstown State*	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	L 6–7	9,000
September 24	at Western Michigan*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI (rivalry)	L 14–31	17,500
October 1	at Northern Illinois*	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	L 13–20	8,343–8,500	[10][11]
October 8	Northern Michigan*	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	L 14–35	8,500
October 15	at Hillsdale*	Hillsdale, MI	W 28–7	2,500
October 22	Illinois State	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	W 20–6	11,500
October 29	Western Illinois	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	W 28–3	6,000
November 5	at Eastern Illinois	Lincoln Field Charleston, IL	W 30–10	4,000	[12]
November 19	Wayne State (MI)*	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI	W 44–0	1,000
*Non-conference game

^[13]

References

1. "Central Michigan 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Central Michigan University. 2015. pp. 100, 111. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
2. 2015 Media Guide, pp. 88-89.
3. 2015 Media Guide, p. 81.
4. 2015 Media Guide, p. 95.
5. 2015 Media Guide, p. 83.
6. 2015 Media Guide, p. 96.
7. Hal Schram (November 21, 1966). "Retired Chips Coach Hunts Deer, Not TDs". Detroit Free Press. p. 2D.
8. "Central Tripped In Opener". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. September 11, 1966. p. H-1. Retrieved August 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
9. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
10. Swanson, Greg (October 3, 1966). "Northern's Fourth Win In Row Concludes Series With Central". The DeKalb Daily Chronicle. p. 16. Retrieved December 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
12. "EIU Hangs on Until Last Quarter". Mattoon Journal Gazette. November 7, 1966. p. 7. Retrieved May 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 13, 2022.