Fitting in with the Homecoming theme, Saturday, one of the greatest teams and seasons will be honored during the Northwestern State-Southeastern football game.
The 1966 Demons will be the Exchange Bank Demon Great of the Game during the first quarter of Saturday’s contest, which kicks off at 3 p.m.
The 1966 football crew is celebrating the 55th anniversary of their undefeated 9-0 campaign, the last NSU football team to go undefeated and only the second-ever in Demon lore.
The Gulf States Conference champions faced a 14-point deficit in the regular-season finale against Southeastern, but the second of two Dick Reding receiving touchdowns along with two Malcolm Lewis field goals sparked the 27-24 comeback.
Reding set a then-NSU record 595 receiving yards on 32 catches with three touchdowns for the No. 1 team in the NAIA.
But the defense was the shining star in 1966, led by All-American safety Al Dodd, who was eventually drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round.
Dodd put up his third season of nine interceptions in 1966 and finished career as the national leader in career interceptions with 31 – still owning NSU’s record by double-digit picks.
Dodd’s No. 41 jersey is now of one six retired jerseys after No. 76 Marcus Spears joins the club Saturday.
A record seven Demons were picked to the All-Gulf States Conference team – Dodd, Lewis, Reding, guards Gerald Malley and Eddie Mittelbronn and punter Shelley Dickie.
Just two games were decided by one score – NSU’s triumph against Southeastern and a 14-7 decision over Troy.
The conference title was one of four for coach Jack Clayton in his 10 seasons, and the 1966 team will gather in the end zone plaza that bears that coaches name before the game.
