1965 Lafayette Leopards football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1965
| team = Lafayette Leopards
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Middle Atlantic Conference
| division = University Division
| short_conf = MAC
| record = 3–7
| conf_record = 1–5
| head_coach = Kenneth Bunn
| hc_year = 3rd
| captain = Thomas Rosenberg
| captain2 = Joseph Smodish
| captain3 = Gabriel Washo
| stadium = Fisher Field
| champion = Middle Three Conference co-champion
}}
{{1965 Middle Atlantic Conference football standings}}
The 1965 Lafayette Leopards football team was an American football team that represented Lafayette College during the 1965 NCAA College Division football season. Lafayette finished last in the Middle Atlantic Conference, University Division, and was one of three co-champions in the Middle Three Conference.
In their third year under head coach Kenneth Bunn, the Leopards compiled a 3–7 record.{{cite book |title=2019 Lafayette Football Record Book |chapter=Lafayette Football 1963-1986 |publisher=Lafayette College |location=Easton, Pa. |page=104 |accessdate=June 20, 2020 |url=https://goleopards.com/documents/2019/8/26/2019LafayetteFootballRecordBook.pdf}} Thomas Rosenberg, Joseph Smodish and Gabriel Washo were the team captains.{{cite book |title=2019 Lafayette Football Record Book |chapter=Team Captains 1882-2019 |publisher=Lafayette College |location=Easton, Pa. |page=97 |accessdate=June 20, 2020 |url=https://goleopards.com/documents/2019/8/26/2019LafayetteFootballRecordBook.pdf}}
In conference play, Lafayette's 1–5 record against MAC University Division opponents represented the worst winning percentage in the seven-team circuit; Lehigh finished slightly ahead in the standings with a 1–3 record. All three teams in the Middle Three recorded one win and one loss against league rivals, splitting the championship three ways. Lafayette lost to Lehigh but beat Rutgers.
Lafayette played its home games at Fisher Field on College Hill in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1965
| rankdivision = small college
| poll = UPI
| attend = y
| source = y
| September 18 | @ | Colgate
| Colgate Athletic Field | Hamilton, NY | L 0 40
| 5,800 | {{cite news |title=Colgate Could Change Leopards' Spot: to 39 |agency=Associated Press |date=September 19, 1965 |page=3C |newspaper=The Sunday Press |location=Binghamton, N.Y.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69024725/1965-colgate-lafayette/ }}
| September 25 | @ | Columbia
| Baker Field | New York, NY | W 14 10
| 8,514 | {{cite news |title=Lafayette Beats Columbia After 14 Losses, 14-10 |agency=United Press International |date=September 26, 1965 |at=sec. 3, p. 2 |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Philadelphia, Pa. |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55693481/1965-columbia-lafayette}}
| October 2 | @ | #10 Hofstra
| Hofstra Stadium | Hempstead, NY | L 7 31
| 4,300–5,000 | {{cite news |title=Hofstra Whips Lafayette, 31-7 |agency=Associated Press |date=October 3, 1965 |at=sect. 3, p. 8 |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Philadelphia, Pa.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69045279/1965-hofstra-lafayette/ }}
| October 9 | | Delaware
| Fisher Field | Easton, PA | L 7 40
| 4,000 | {{cite news |title=Delaware Belts Lafayette, 40-7, on 27-Pt. Half |agency=Associated Press |date=October 10, 1965 |at=sect. 3, p. 2 |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Philadelphia, Pa.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69046564/1965-delaware-lafayette/ }}
| October 16 | @ | Temple
| Temple Stadium | Philadelphia, PA | L 12 27
| 5,500 | {{cite news |title=Temple Rolls Past Lafayette |first=Charlie |last=Frush |date=October 17, 1965 |at=sect. 3, p. 1 |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Philadelphia, Pa.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69052426/1965-lafayette-temple/ }} Attendance figure in {{cite news |title=Temple Trips Lafayette by 27-12 Score |agency=Associated Press |date=October 17, 1965 |page=44 |newspaper=Sunday News |location=Lancaster, Pa. }}
| October 23 | | Bucknell
| Fisher Field | Easton, PA | W 14 13
| 7,000–7,200 | {{cite news |title=Lafayette Surprises Bucknell, 14-13 |first=Paul |last=May |date=October 24, 1965 |page=D1 |newspaper=Sunday Call-Chronicle |location=Allentown, Pa.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69053221/1965-bucknell-lafayette/ }}{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Bucknell) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/83/stats/13167 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=August 14, 2024 }}
| October 30 | @ | {{cfb link|year=1965|team=Gettysburg Bullets|title=Gettysburg}}
| Musselman Stadium | Gettysburg, PA | L 20 40
| 5,950–7,000 | {{cite news |title=Bullets Riddle Leopards 40-20 in Homecoming Tilt; Ward Runs for Four Scores |date=November 1, 1965 |page=5 |newspaper=The Gettysburg Times |location=Gettysburg, Pa.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69054492/1965-lafayette-gettysburg/ }}
| November 6 | | Rutgers
| Fisher Field | Easton, PA | W 23 18
| 5,000 | {{cite news |title=Lafayette Outpoints Rutgers, 23-18 |first=Paul |last=May |date=November 7, 1965 |page=D1 |newspaper=Sunday Call-Chronicle |location=Allentown, Pa.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69055854/1965-lafayette-rutgers/ }}
| November 13 | | Davidson
| Fisher Field | Easton, PA | L 10 14
| 3,500–4,000 | {{cite news |title=Davidson Nips Lafayette as Defense Stands Out |first=Paul |last=May |date=November 14, 1965 |page=D1 |newspaper=Sunday Call-Chronicle |location=Allentown, Pa.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69056060/1965-lafayette-davidson/ }}
| November 20 | @ | Lehigh
| Taylor Stadium | Bethlehem, PA (The Rivalry) | L 14 20
| 13,000 | {{cite news |title=Lehigh Surprises Lafayette, 20-14 |first=Jim |last=Buss |date=November 21, 1965 |page=D1 |newspaper=Sunday Call-Chronicle |location=Allentown, Pa.|via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/69062763/1965-lafayette-lehigh/}}
}}
{{cite web |author= |title=Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Lafayette) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/342/stats/13167 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=August 14, 2024 }}