1965 Saint John's Johnnies football team

rdf:langString 1965 Saint John's Johnnies football team

rdf:langString MIAC champion

rdf:langString NAIA national champion

rdf:langString football

rdf:langString Linfield Wildcats

rdf:langString Saint John's Johnnies

rdf:langString Fairmont State Falcons

rdf:langString Linfield Wildcats

rdf:langString Fairmont State

rdf:langString W 33–0 vs.

rdf:langString MIAC

rdf:langString The 1965 Saint John's Johnnies football team was an American football team that represented Saint John's University as a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) during the 1965 NAIA football season. In their 13th season under head coach John Gagliardi, the Johnnies compiled an 11–0 record (7–0 against conference opponents) and won the MIAC championship. The team advanced to the NAIA playoff and won the NAIA national championship with a 33–0 victory over Linfield Wildcats in the Champion Bowl. It was the second of four national championships for the Saint John's Johnnies football program under head coach John Gagliardi. On defense, the team opened the season with four consecutive shutouts and held seven of eleven opponents scoreless. In all 11 games, the defense gave up only 27 points, an average of 2.5 points per game. They gave up an average of only 112.1 yards of total offense per game. On offense, the Johnnies averaged 233 rushing yards per game, led by halfback Jim Shiely's 823 rushing yards. Coach Gagliardi was named NAIA Coach of the Year, and junior defensive back Pat Whalin was named to the first team on the Little All-America team. Eight Saint John's player were named to the 1965 All-MIAC team.