1957-1959 Football Films
1959 September 19, Otterbein 38 vs Findlay 14, NO GAME FILM CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
Files
Description
OTTERBEIN 38 vs FINDLAY 14
(No Films Currently Available)
Saturday, September 19, 1959, 8:00 PM
Memorial Stadium, Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio
Attendance: 3,000
Film #1: NO FILM IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME
The Otterbein Cardinals host the Oilers of the University of Findlay, members of the Mid-Ohio League. Unfortunately, there is no film of this game available currently.
Otterbein is returning from an injury riddled 1958 season where the Cardinals went 3-4-2, including a 0-0 tie with Findlay. Although Otterbein suffered through a 3-4-2 season in 1958 they did have two players reach honorable mention All-American – sophomore fullback Gary Allen and senior center Dick Berio. Still, head coach Moe Agler was optimistic for the season ahead. “For the first time since I have coached here, we’ll have veterans in all positions. . . that is unless something happens,” said Agler. “It seems almost too good to be true.”
This is the first season the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) approved the two-platoon system. However, Otterbein couldn’t take advantage of the new rule change because of a roster with fewer than 40 players. Several experienced veterans suffered injuries during pre-season camp and quarterback Larry Cline is still recovering from hernia surgery and subsequent infections from 1958. The Cardinals have three talented backs that transferred from major university programs. Halfback Jack Spicer, and fullback Gary Allen, both came to Otterbein from Ohio State, and Jim Earnest came from the University of New Mexico.
Findlay took the opening kickoff and capped a 70 yard, nine play, drive with the first score of the game, followed by a two-point conversion. What looked like it was going to be a long night for the home team was short lived. Quarterback Larry Cline led the Cardinals down the field hitting Ron Jones with a 26-yard scoring pass, followed by a two-point conversion to tie the score at 8-8. At the half Otterbein led 14-8 and never surrendered the lead again. The Cardinals had a 10 play, 66-yard drive, with 60 of those yards made by fullback Gary Allen, to begin the second half. Allen plunged over the goal line for the score, followed by an extra-point kicked by back-up quarterback Gary Fields. Otterbein lineman Don Eppert recovered an Oiler fumble and nine plays later the Cardinals had another seven-points. Fields was responsible for another 10-points by kicking a field goal, scoring on a seven-yard pass from Cline, and then adding the extra point. The final score was Otterbein 38, Findlay 14. If you looked at the statistics it appeared closer except for passing yards and fumbles.
First downs: Otterbein 12 Findlay 10
Rushing yards: 207 213
Passing yards: 163 70
Passes: 9-15 6-12
Interceptions: 2 2
Punts: 1-36 yds. 2-35 yds.
Fumbles lost: 0 4
Yards Penalized: 45 45
University of FINDLAY
Location: Findlay, Ohio
Colors – Orange and Black
Conference: Mid-Ohio Conference, NAIA. (At the time of this game Findlay was “small college,” today’s Division III. Currently they are NCAA Division II and a member of the Great Midwest Conference [G-MAC].)
Coach: Jim Houdeshell: 5th season, 5-3-1 (1955-1959, 5-years: 24-17-3, .622)
Nickname – Oilers, “Derrick.” For the first 55-years of their existence the university didn’t have a mascot. However, in 1937 they adopted Oilers for the roughnecks who worked the plentiful oil fields that dotted the area. Marathon Oil is headquartered in Findlay.
University Background – Findlay College, founded in 1882 through a partnership between the Churches of God General Conference and the City of Findlay, became the University of Findlay in 1989.
OTTERBEIN College
Location: Westerville, Ohio
Colors: Tan and Cardinal
Conference: Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC)
Coach: Robert “Moe” Agler: 5th season, 7-2 (1955-1965 & 1970-1974, 16-years [11-years + 5-years]: 73-63-5, .539)
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 unique by any institution in the NCAA. The media frequently uses “Otters” so as not to be confused with other local teams using the Cardinal nickname. 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.
1959 Otterbein Football Results (7-2-0)
09/19 H 38 Findlay 14
09/26 A 13 Denison 21
10/03 A 27 Kenyon 0
10/10 H 48 Oberlin 6
10/17 A 30 Hiram 0
10/24 H 16 Marietta (HC) 12
10/31 A 0 Heidelberg 21
11/07 H 39 Ashland (Dads Day) 12
11/14 H 60 Capital 28
271 114
Game Date
Fall 9-19-1959
Game Score
Otterbein 38 vs Findlay 14
Coaches
Findlay Coach: Jim Houdeshell: 5th season, 5-3-1 (1955-1959, 5-years: 24-17-3, .622)
Otterbein Coach: Robert “Moe” Agler: 5th season, 7-2 (1955-1965 & 1970-1974, 16-years [11-years + 5-years]: 73-63-5, .539)
Game Location
Memorial Stadium, Otterbein College, Westerville, OH
Recommended Citation
Wilson, Rusty, "1959 September 19, Otterbein 38 vs Findlay 14, NO GAME FILM CURRENTLY AVAILABLE" (1959). 1957-1959 Football Films. 15.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/sports_films_1957-1959/15
Keywords
College Football, Football Programs, Football Films
Comments
Otterbein is returning from an injury riddled 1958 season where the Cardinals went 3-4-2, including a 0-0 tie with Findlay. Although Otterbein suffered through a 3-4-2 season in 1958 they did have two players reach honorable mention All-American – sophomore fullback Gary Allen and senior center Dick Berio. Still, head coach Moe Agler was optimistic for the season ahead. “For the first time since I have coached here, we’ll have veterans in all positions. . . that is unless something happens,” said Agler. “It seems almost too good to be true.”
This is the first season the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) approved the two-platoon system. However, Otterbein couldn’t take advantage of the new rule change because of a roster with fewer than 40 players. Several experienced veterans suffered injuries during pre-season camp and quarterback Larry Cline is still recovering from hernia surgery and subsequent infections from 1958. The Cardinals have three talented backs that transferred from major university programs. Halfback Jack Spicer, and fullback Gary Allen, both came to Otterbein from Ohio State, and Jim Earnest came from the University of New Mexico.
Findlay took the opening kickoff and capped a 70 yard, nine play, drive with the first score of the game, followed by a two-point conversion. What looked like it was going to be a long night for the home team was short lived. Quarterback Larry Cline led the Cardinals down the field hitting Ron Jones with a 26-yard scoring pass, followed by a two-point conversion to tie the score at 8-8. At the half Otterbein led 14-8 and never surrendered the lead again. The Cardinals had a 10 play, 66-yard drive, with 60 of those yards made by fullback Gary Allen, to begin the second half. Allen plunged over the goal line for the score, followed by an extra-point kicked by back-up quarterback Gary Fields. Otterbein lineman Don Eppert recovered an Oiler fumble and nine plays later the Cardinals had another seven-points. Fields was responsible for another 10-points by kicking a field goal, scoring on a seven-yard pass from Cline, and then adding the extra point. The final score was Otterbein 38, Findlay 14. If you looked at the statistics it appeared closer except for passing yards and fumbles.
First downs: Otterbein 12 Findlay 10
Rushing yards: 207 213
Passing yards: 163 70
Passes: 9-15 6-12
Interceptions: 2 2
Punts: 1-36 yds. 2-35 yds.