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Luckhardt, ’66 Boilermakers to be honored

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It will be a weekend to remember and be remembered for John Luckhardt.

Luckhardt and about 50 other players on Purdue University’s 1966 Rose Bowl team will be honored during Saturday’s Boilermakers’ game against Iowa in West Lafayette, Ind.

The 1966 Boilermakers, led by quarterback Bob Griese, defeated Southern California, 14-13, in their first appearance in the bowl game. USC scored a touchdown in the final two minutes to come within one point. USC head coach John McKay went for the two-point conversion and the win but George Catavolos intercepted the pass in the end zone.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is noon.

“Even Bob Griese is flying in,” Luckhardt said. “When you can get him to leave southern Florida to make a trip to West Lafayette, that’s quite an accomplishment. I think he’s doing the Dolphins-Steelers game (for radio) Sunday.”

Luckhardt played center on the team.

“I had very little to do with the victory over Southern Cal, I can tell you that,” Luckhardt said.

“We’re tickled about the guys coming back. Getting 52 back is a good representation. I’m involved in the process because I meddle too much in the process. I’m delighted to be (honored) and delighted to be able to go.”

Luckhardt had a legendary college coaching career, taking Washington and Jefferson to the NCAA Division III championship game in 1992 and 1994. Luckhardt had a 137-37-2 record in 17 seasons with the Presidents that began in 1982.

He later coached California University to three consecutive NCAA Division II Regional championships (2007-09). The Vulcans won their first PSAC title in 14 years in 2008. He had an 88-33 record in 10 seasons at Cal, including three trips to the NCAA Division II semifinals before retiring in June 2012. Luckhardt is believed to be the only head coach to be the winningest coach at two universities in the same county. Though Mike Sirianni is currently at 123-29.

Among his achievements, Luckhardt was named the NCAA Division III Coach of the Year in 1992, inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and received the American Football Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998.

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