Nearly perfect: 1985 MAC champion football team’s 40th reunion
The 1985 football team generated countless memorable moments – head coach Denny Stolz’s 100th career victory against the SEC’s Kentucky, “The Miami Miracle” featuring a backup quarterback’s epic performance, a shutout of rival Toledo and, most of all, an unblemished 11-0 record, including nine Mid-American Conference wins and the conference title. Quarterback Brian McClure’s chase for Doug Flutie’s NCAA record as well as Heisman votes became storylines as the offense lit up scoreboards and the defense smothered opponents. The fairytale season came to a bruising end when Stolz announced his departure just days before the California Bowl and the shocked team fell 51-7 in a less-than-storybook ending. Still, the bonds within this team run deep and when they gather at Doyt Perry Stadium for their 40th reunion, it will rekindle bonds that have lasted over the years. Here we gather memories of that historic season from those who lived it.
Season rewind
A lot of things going into making a team special and the 1985 Falcon football team had them all – star players, signature wins, clutch plays, a bond between players and unsung heroes. From a stunning upset over an SEC team to the legendary Miami Miracle to a beatdown of Toledo that led to goal posts being pulled down, the team etched its name into Falcon lore. See how camaraderie played a key role
The Miami Miracle
He served as understudy to the star quarterback for more than three years, taking about 10 game snaps, but when fate threw Rick Neiman into the spotlight, he calmly engineered one of the most legendary comebacks in BG football history, with help from both the defense and special teams. Check out the implausible script for a miracle
A young alum built an explosive offense
Just five years removed from a short stint in the NFL and USFL, former BG star quarterback Mark Miller took on the Falcons QBs and receivers and with protégée Brian McClure at the controls, created a simple, yet dynamic offense that struck fear into the hearts of opposing defenses. How the Falcons lit up scoreboards
Star QB lives up to Heisman hype
Brian McClure won conference Player of the Year as a freshman and led the Falcons to the conference title, then followed up with two more impressive years that earned BG second place. His senior year would be an exclamation point on his time at BG – another conference title, another POY award, an undefeated season and a 10th-place finish in the Heisman voting. Read a story unfathomable in the era of NIL and the transfer portal
Bonds of brotherhood fuel a stingy defense
All the hype about McClure’s Heisman chase and the gaudy offensive numbers could have put the defense in the shadows, but this crew, built on a bond of brotherhood and hard work, earned its own place in the spotlight. Nationally ranked in terms of points and yard allowed, this group also had its highlight reel moments from Melvin Marshall’s two pick-sixes in the season opener to a last-second pass deflection sealing “The Miami Miracle” to shutting out the hated Toledo Rockets. How a unique scheme and attention to detail caused havoc for opposing offenses
Stolz’s stunning exit clouded team’s bowl dreams
It was supposed to be the cherry on the season’s sundae, but just days before the California Bowl, head coach Denny Stolz announced he would be leaving to take the top job at San Diego State. Blindsided, a team built on focus and preparation found itself steamrolled by Fresno State and the dream of a perfect season ended with a 51-7 loss. How a perfect season ended in fog-shrouded Fresno
Student media trio knew ’85 could be something special
The football team had lots of experienced players coming back for the 1985 season, but so did student media, including The BG News. Two writers and a photographer followed the team from the opener in Muncie, Indiana to the fog-shrouded finale in Fresno and from the start, knew the season could be something special. Student media coverage looked much different in 1985
Select BG News coverage:
Rare video of the 1985 Cal Bowl
Other content related to the 1985 team
