The golden age of Buena Vista football dawned in 1970 when the school named Jim Hershberger as head coach. After spending his first year rebuilding a team that had lost 20 of 26 games the previous three years, Hershberger went on to lead the Beavers to three Iowa Conference Championships in the decade.

Following a 1-7 campaign in 1970, Buena Vista turned things around in 1971 by posting a 6-2 record which included the school's first homecoming win in five years. In recognition of the program's incredible turnaround, Coach Hershberger was named Iowa Conference Coach of the Year for the first of five times in his career.

	Beavers in action, 1973

The 1972 squad, which placed a school-record 10 players on the all-conference team, earned a share of the Iowa Conference Championship. It was the school's first league title in 20 seasons. The Beavers garnered a piece of the crown by upsetting nationally ranked William Penn 26-24 in the season finale. Dave Dolan was named the school's first Iowa Conference football MVP.

A year later, Buena Vista would not be content to simply share the conference championship. The 1973 Beavers went undefeated in league play and claimed back-to-back Iowa Conference titles for the only time in school history. Quarterback Charles Mulligan, who set the school record for career offense with 3,918 yards, was named the conference’s MVP. For the second year in a row, Buena Vista placed 10 athletes on the all-conference team, including two-time All-American Joe Kotval. Hershberger was again named conference coach of the year as he had turned one of the least successful programs in the conference over the past decade into the two-time defending Iowa Conference champions in just four seasons.

	Joe Kotval and Coach Hershberger

Although the team would not win another conference championship until 1978, the mid-1970s were filled with plenty of memorable moments. The 1974 squad allowed the fewest passing yards (755) in modern school history and gave up just 203.7 total yards per game, a record that stands today.

In 1975, Darrell Schumacher earned honorable mention All-America honors as Buena Vista regrouped from a 1-2 start to win its final six regular-season games. The Beavers earned an invitation to the Boot Hill Bowl (VIEW VIDEO), where they defeated St. Mary's (Kansas) 24-21 for the school’s only bowl victory. That same season, quarterback Steve Knutzen finished his collegiate career with 3,334 yards of total offense, third most in school history. Steve Trost and Jeff Trost set school receiving and rushing record respectively as Buena Vista competed in the NAIA for the final season.

From the final seven games of the 1975 season through the first four games of the 1976 season, Buena Vista set a school record by winning 11 straight games The first squad to compete in the NCAA featured one of the most potent aerial attacks in school history. Quarterback Rollie Wiebers and wide receiver Steve Trost shattered numerous school records. Trost became the school's all-time leading receiver with 1,776 yards and tied the school record for most touchdowns in a season with 10 while Wiebers was on his way to becoming the most prolific passer in school history. John Cassady set the school record for most extra point attempts in a season and Keith Kerkoff was named an All-American as Buena Vista went 7-1-1 and qualified for the NCAA national tournament in its first season as a member. The Beavers defeated Carroll 20-14 in the first round of the tournament to record the school's first and only NCAA playoff win (VIEW VIDEO). Buena Vista was steamrolled 61-0 in the second round by St. John's, who eventually went on to win the national championship.

The next fall, Buena Vista posted a 7-2 record but failed to qualify for postseason play. Each of the Beavers two losses were by a margin of just seven points. Wiebers, who missed much of the year due to an injury, set the school record for most passing yards in a game when he threw for 346 yards in a loss to Wartburg.

	Beavers in action, 1979

After barely missing out on the conference championship for three consecutive years, Buena Vista claimed a share of the league title in 1978 by going 7-2. The Beavers won their first seven games to open the season before dropping their last two. Wiebers, who was named the Iowa Conference MVP, wrapped up his career as the school’s all-time yardage leader with 6,148 yards.

Buena Vista closed out the decade with another 7-2 season in 1979. The Beavers won one more conference game than they had the year before, but were unable to claim a share of the conference championship as Dubuque ran the table in the league.

Coach Hershberger's teams went a combined 64-26-1 in the 1970s, by far the most successful decade in school history. In the 1970s alone, Buena Vista won three conference championships, had three Iowa Conference most valuable players, made two postseason appearances, and posted a total of 70 all-conference players.

MORE ON THE 1970s

To learn more about this decade, go to: Beavers win conference title, 1972 >> Beavers win conference title, 1973 >> 1975 Tack article >> Beavers win conference title, 1978 >> 1970s game film >> Buena Vista Football Records >>

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