1972 Navy Midshipmen football team

1972 Navy Midshipmen football
ConferenceIndependent
Record4–7
Head coach
CaptainJim Garban
Home stadiumNavy–Marine Corps Memorial 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     3 8 0
Marshall     2 8 0
Cincinnati     2 9 0
Villanova     2 9 0
Pittsburgh     1 10 0
Rankings from AP Poll

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

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16William & MaryW 13–916,196[2]
September 231:30 p.m.at No. 11 Penn StateL 10–2150,457[3]
September 30Boston College
  • Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
  • Annapolis, MD
W 27–2023,121[4]
October 71:30 p.m.at No. 5 MichiganL 7–3581,131[5]
October 141:30 p.m.at SyracuseL 14–3022,187[6]
October 213:30 p.m.at No. 16 Air ForceW 21–1739,078[7]
October 28vs. DukeL 16–1726,000[8]
November 41:30 p.m.vs. No. 12 Notre DameL 23–4243,089[9]
November 111:30 p.m.Pittsburgh
  • Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
  • Annapolis, MD
W 28–1321,244[10]
November 182:00 p.m.at Georgia TechL 7–3039,233[11]
December 212:55 p.m.vs. ArmyL 15–2395,774[12]

[13]

Game summaries

Army

  • Cleveland Cooper 112 yards rushing

Roster

1972 Navy Midshipmen football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB 24 Dan Howard So
RB Cleveland Cooper So
  Larry Van Loan
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

References

  1. ^ "Football History" (PDF). United States Naval Academy. p. 193. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  2. ^ "Navy leads late TD to nip W&M". Press of Atlantic City. September 17, 1972. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Penn State rally beats Navy, 21–10". The Houston Post. September 24, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Navy edges BC 27–20". Sunday News. October 1, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Michigan's Salvo in 3d period sinks Navy 35–7". Chicago Tribune. October 8, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Syracuse swamps Naval boys 30–14". Florence Morning News. October 15, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Navy pulls upset". Messenger-Inquirer. October 22, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Blue Devils nip Navy by 17–16". The Gastonia Gazette. October 29, 1972. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Parseghian unhappy at Irish defense; Diminick starts rout". The Courier-Journal. November 5, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Howard leads Navy over Panthers, 28–13". Syracuse Herald-Journal. November 12, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "McAshan passes Georgia Tech over Navy 30–7". Bristol Herald Courier. November 19, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Blocked FG by Cadets beats Navy". The Spokesman-Review. December 3, 1972. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Schedule/Results (1972 Navy)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 14, 2025.