The Saginaw Valley State Cardinals football program, 1975–1979 represented Saginaw Valley State College (SVSC) (now known as Saginaw Valley State University) during the 1970s in college football. SVSC was a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The team was led during the period by head coach Muddy Waters.
The team played its home games at Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium, commonly shortened to Wickes Stadium, in University Center, Michigan.
Decade overview YearHead coachOverall recordConf. recordConf. rankPoints scoredPoints againstDelta1975Muddy Waters3–71–35128219-1091976Muddy Waters4–70–56213158+551977Muddy Waters6–52–33 (tie)193188+51978Muddy Waters4–5–11–3–14 (tie)211210+11979Muddy Waters8–2–14–0–11295130+165TOTAL25–26–28–14–2
Early development In December 1973, SVC's Board of Control unanimously decided to establish a football program. In January 1974, SVC announced that it had received approximately $1 miliion from Saginaw philanthropist H. Randall Wickes, an 85-year-old millionaire and chairman of Wickes Corp., to build a stadium. In February 1974, SVC hired Muddy Waters as its head coach. He had been the head football coach at Hillsdale College for the prior 21 yards, posting a 138-46-5 record. In the fall of 1974, SVC fielded a non-varsity football team. The team won its first game on September 16, 1974, defeating Northwood's junior varsity team by a 2-16 score at Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw.
1975
The 1975 Saginaw Valley State Cardinals football team represented Saginaw Valley State College as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1975 NAIA Division II football season. In their first year under head coach Muddy Waters, the Cardinals compiled a 3–7 record (1–3 in conference games), finished in fifth place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 219 to 128.
Schedule
1976
The 1976 Saginaw Valley State Cardinals football team represented Saginaw Valley State College as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1976 NAIA Division II football season. In their second year under head coach Muddy Waters, the Cardinals compiled a 3–7 record (0–5 in conference games), finished in sixth and last place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 213 to 158.
Schedule
1977
The 1977 Saginaw Valley State Cardinals football team represented Saginaw Valley State College as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1977 NAIA Division II football season. In their third year under head coach Muddy Waters, the Cardinals compiled a 6–5 record (2–3 in conference games), finished in four-way tie for third and last place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 193 to 188.
Schedule
1978
The 1978 Saginaw Valley State Cardinals football team represented Saginaw Valley State College as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1978 NAIA Division I football season. In their fourth year under head coach Muddy Waters, the Cardinals compiled a 4–5–1 record (1–3–1 in conference games), finished in a tie for fourth place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 211 to 210.
Schedule
1979
The 1979 Saginaw Valley State Cardinals football team represented Saginaw Valley State College as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1979 NAIA Division I football season. In their fifth year under head coach Muddy Waters, the Cardinals compiled an 8–2–1 record (4–0–1 in conference games), won the GLIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 295 to 130.
Schedule
References