1968 NAIA National Champions

HISTORY 1968 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Led by a record-setting aerial attack and a defense that recorded four shutouts, the Red Wave claimed the 1969 NAIA National Championship with a 43-35 victory over Texas A&I at Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.).

Under the guidance of third-year head coach Bill Atkins, Troy opened the season with a 49-31 win over Samford. In that game, quarterback Sim Byrd threw five touchdowns, hitting 23-of-33 passes for 443 yards. The Red Wave continued to roll, winning its first seven games. Byrd led Troy past Delta State, 35-23, connecting on 34-of-49 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns; also rushing for two touchdowns. He followed that performance with five touchdown passes, all to Danny Grant, in a 52-0 win over McNeese State.

Troy had risen to number three in the national poll before dropping a 12-3 decision to TennesseeMartin. Byrd and Heard threw eight interceptions as the Red Wave could only muster a 34-yard field goal by Randy Hicks in the loss.

Troy bounced back the next week, and demolished Concord (W.Va.), 76-0, on Homecoming at Veterans Memorial Stadium, rising back to number four in the NAIA rankings and earning a berth in the playoffs. Byrd was at it again, throwing for six touchdowns and rushing for another, while Ronnie Shelley returned two punts for touchdowns.

The Red Wave advanced to the title game with a 63-10 victory over Willamette (Ore.) in the semifinals. Byrd threw for six touchdowns, while his back-up Al Heard threw two. Shelley joined the scoring with a 66-yard interception.

In the national title game, Byrd connected on 25of-44 passes and threw five touchdowns en route to Most Valuable Back honors as the Red Wave cruised past Texas A&I. Cecil Barber scored two touchdowns, one on a 53-yard run and the other on a five-yard pass.

Bobby Enslen scored on a 54-yard pass, and Vince Green scored on a 15-yard reception. Doug Taylor was named Most Valuable Lineman after catching two touchdown passes from Byrd, one from five-yards out and the other from three.

Byrd and Shelley were named to the NAIA All-American First Team at the conclusion of the season after their outstanding year.

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

Date Opponent Score

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Rushing Player Att Yards

Sept. 14 at Samford W, 49-31 Sept. 21 Gordon Military W, 47-7 Sept. 28 # West Alabama W, 42-23 Oct. 5 Sam Houston State W, 37-19 Oct. 12 Delta State W, 35-23 Oct. 19 at Jacksonville State W, 31-0 Oct. 26 at North Alabama W, 41-0 Nov. 2 McNeese State W, 52-0 Nov. 9 at UT-Martin L, 12-3 Nov. 16 Concord (HC) W, 76-0

Champion Bowl Semifinal Dec. 7 # Willamette (Ore.) W, 63-10

Champion Bowl

Dec. 14 # Texas A&I # - played at Cramton Bowl W, 43-35 Cecil Barber Jeff Cotton J.A. Williams 167 724 114 451 38 173

Passing Player A-C-I Yards TD Sim Byrd 414-260-21 3569 41 Al Head 62-28-5 360 7

Receiving Player Catches Yards TD Danny Grant 72 1002 14 Bobby Enslen 61 970 12 Doug Taylor 45 574 8 Vince Green 54 500 7

Interceptions Player Ronnie Shelley David Cooper Int. Yards 15 294 6 33