Otterbein (Defense) 24 vs Heidelberg (Offense) 27 (FILM 1 of 2)
OTTERBEIN 24 vs HEIDELBERG 27
Saturday, November 8, 1975, 1:30 PM
Memorial Stadium, Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio
Film #1: Otterbein (Offense) 24 vs Heidelberg (Defense) 27 (film 1 of 2), 10:27
Film #2: Otterbein (Defense) 24 vs Heidelberg (Offense) 27 (film 2 of 2), 11:02
The Otterbein Cardinals host the Heidelberg Student Princes in the final game of the season. The film is in Black and White, with Otterbein wearing dark uniforms and white helmets while Heidelberg is wearing white jerseys, black pants, and black helmets. During the 1975 season the Otterbein coaching staff had the game films divided into Defense and Offense for instructional and evaluation purposes, instead of first and second halves.
HEIDELBERG College
Location: Tiffin, Ohio
Colors: Red, Orange, Black
Conference: Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC)
Coach: Pete Riesen 3-6 (1971-1975, 30-17-0, .638)
Nickname – Student Princes, the mascot is a knight named “Siggy.” Heidelberg’s unusual nickname is credited to form alumni director Edwin Butcher. In 1926 Butcher was walking through downtown Tiffin and noticed a theater sign promoting a production of “The Student Prince of Heidelberg.” The story is based on the 1924 Sigmund Romberg operetta which involves a young German prince whose tutor convinces the king to allow the boy to attend his alma mater, the University of Heidelberg. The connection to its German namesake was obvious, so when Butcher introduced the title of Student Princes in school publications and local sports stories it quickly replaced Cardinals as the school’s official nickname. A costumed mascot, a knight dubbed “Siggy” in honor of the opera’s composer.
University Background – Heidelberg University was founded by the German Reformed Church as "Heidelberg College" in 1850 in Ohio. It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ, the successor to that denomination. In the mid-nineteenth century, there were a significant number of German immigrants in Ohio. On October 25, 2008, the Heidelberg College Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to transition to "Heidelberg University". The name change went into effect at the beginning of the 2009–2010 academic year.
OTTERBEIN College
Location: Westerville, Ohio
Colors: Tan and Cardinal
Conference: Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC, 1921)
Coach: Rich Seils, first year: 4-5 (1975-1984: 49-40-2, .549)
Nickname – Cardinals, the mascot is “Cardy.” Initially, as with most other universities, the athletic teams were referred to by their colors. In Otterbein’s case it was either the Tans or the Cardinals. When the State of Ohio officially adopted the cardinal as the state bird the term Cardinals started catching on. It wasn’t until after WWII that the nickname Cardinals became prevalent through the efforts of coach and athletic director Robert “Moe” Agler. However, there has been a long battle between using the term Cardinals or changing the nickname “Otters,” which is not used by any institution in the NCAA. Both nicknames are used interchangeably.
University Background – Otterbein University was founded in 1847 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and named for United Brethren founder the Rev. Philip William Otterbein. After the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church, in 1968, Otterbein has been associated with the United Methodist Church. It was Otterbein University from 1847 to 1917, when it changed to Otterbein College. In 2010, with the increase in courses and graduate degrees it reverted to its original name, Otterbein University.
1975 Otterbein Football Results (4-5-0)
09/13   A          26        Manchester                 0
09/20   A          24        Kenyon                        0
09/27   H          13        Capital                         7
10/04   A          15        Ohio Wesleyan            17
10/11   H          9          Marietta                      13
10/18   A          9          Muskingum                 34
10/25   H          22        Wooster (HC)              7
11/01   A          0          Baldwin-Wallace         27
11/08   H          24        Heidelberg                  27
142                                          132

1975 Otterbein Football Results (4-5-0)
09/13   A          26        Manchester                 0
09/20   A          24        Kenyon                        0
09/27   H          13        Capital                         7
10/04   A          15        Ohio Wesleyan            17
10/11   H          9          Marietta                      13
10/18   A          9          Muskingum                 34
10/25   H          22        Wooster (HC)              7
11/01   A          0          Baldwin-Wallace         27
11/08   H          24        Heidelberg                  27
                        142                                          132