The 1972 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy (USNA) as an independent during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. The team was led by fourth-year head coach Rick Forzano.[1]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 16 | | William & Mary | | W 13–9 | 16,196 | [2] |
| September 23 | 1:30 p.m. | at No. 11 Penn State | | L 10–21 | 50,457 | [3] |
| September 30 | | Boston College | - Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
- Annapolis, MD
| W 27–20 | 23,121 | [4] |
| October 7 | 1:30 p.m. | at No. 5 Michigan | | L 7–35 | 81,131 | [5] |
| October 14 | 1:30 p.m. | at Syracuse | | L 14–30 | 22,187 | [6] |
| October 21 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 16 Air Force | | W 21–17 | 39,078 | [7] |
| October 28 | | vs. Duke | | L 16–17 | 26,000 | [8] |
| November 4 | 1:30 p.m. | vs. No. 12 Notre Dame | | L 23–42 | 43,089 | [9] |
| November 11 | 1:30 p.m. | Pittsburgh | - Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
- Annapolis, MD
| W 28–13 | 21,244 | [10] |
| November 18 | 2:00 p.m. | at Georgia Tech | | L 7–30 | 39,233 | [11] |
| December 2 | 12:55 p.m. | vs. Army | | L 15–23 | 95,774 | [12] |
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[13]
Game summaries
Army
- Cleveland Cooper 112 yards rushing
Roster
| 1972 Navy Midshipmen football team roster
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| Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
| RB
|
24
|
Dan Howard
|
So
|
| RB
|
|
Cleveland Cooper
|
So
|
|
|
|
Larry Van Loan
|
|
Defense
|
Special teams
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
|
References
- ^ "Football History" (PDF). United States Naval Academy. p. 193. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
- ^ "Navy leads late TD to nip W&M". Press of Atlantic City. September 17, 1972. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Penn State rally beats Navy, 21–10". The Houston Post. September 24, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Navy edges BC 27–20". Sunday News. October 1, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Michigan's Salvo in 3d period sinks Navy 35–7". Chicago Tribune. October 8, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Syracuse swamps Naval boys 30–14". Florence Morning News. October 15, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Navy pulls upset". Messenger-Inquirer. October 22, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Blue Devils nip Navy by 17–16". The Gastonia Gazette. October 29, 1972. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Parseghian unhappy at Irish defense; Diminick starts rout". The Courier-Journal. November 5, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Howard leads Navy over Panthers, 28–13". Syracuse Herald-Journal. November 12, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "McAshan passes Georgia Tech over Navy 30–7". Bristol Herald Courier. November 19, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Blocked FG by Cadets beats Navy". The Spokesman-Review. December 3, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Schedule/Results (1972 Navy)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
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National championship seasons in bold |