TOWSON, Md. – Leading into the 50th Anniversary season that begins Saturday, Sept. 1 at Morgan State, the Towson University football program will look back at each season with key highlights each Friday from June 22 through August 24.
 
Here's the third installment of season highlights as we look back during Towson's successful era as a Division II program from 1979-1986. All recaps are courtesy of retired Towson Sports Information Director and Hall of Famer Pete Schlehr.
 
1979 (9-1-0)

• Tigers first season as a Division II school.
• After bowing to Morgan State, Tigers win nine straight for second longest 1979 win streak in Division II.
• Win streak started with 13-7 upset at Maine, Towson's first Division I-AA opponent.
• NG Vince Iorio rewrites single season sack record with seven.

 
1980 (5-5-0)

• PK/P Sean Landeta kicks school record 57-yd. FG vs. DSU, longest ever by anyone in state of Maryland.
• Landeta is first college player ever to lead a division in punting (43.4) and kicking (14 FGM).
• QB Ron Meehan, LB Jeff Boller and Landeta all named 1^st team All-ECAC.
• DB Randy Bielski is first Tiger drafted when taken by Baltimore Colts in 12th round.

 
1981 (5-0)

• RB Paul Cillo sets single game rushing record with 187 yards in win at Millersville State.
• OT Vaughn Harman named District 2 Academic All-American.
• DT Joe Varello has four of team's school record 20 fumble recoveries.
• DB Cleo McIntosh, DB Rich Roberts & DB Gary Rubeling combine for nine of 18 team interceptions.

 
1982 (7-4-0)

• Tigers earn first win over Morgan, 17-10, in front of Towson Stadium record crowd of 6,835.
• Landeta first college player ever named first team All-American as punter and kicker.
• Tigers go 3-2 vs. Div. I-AA opponents, including 35-32 win over Yankee Conference champ Maine.
• DT Sheldon Nelson ties for single season sack record with 10.
• QB Joe Anderson steps up to throw for school records of 2,272 yards and 20 TD's.
• WR Marc Brown rewrites single season receiving record with 61 catches for 1,222 yards

 
1983 (10-2-0)

• As Lambert-Meadowland Cup champions Towson returns to NCAA post-season, the first time as a Division II school.
• Season features four shutouts and a stunning 13-4 win at Division I-AA Delaware as Towson finished fourth in Division II rankings.
• Gary Rubeling's 13 interceptions lead all of college football in 1983 for a program record as he ends career with 25.
• LB Bobby Poist's 17 sacks, Bubby Hammond's 7 fumble recoveries are single season records.
• QB Bret Rogers passes for a school record 24 TD's.
• Gary Rubeing (consensus), OG Terrance Brooks, LB Bubby Hammond, TE Hernando Mejia, QB Bret Rogers named All-Americans and first team All-ECAC.
• Towson sets record for fewest points allowed with 88, a 50-year record, to lead nation in points allowed per game, 7.3.
• Tigers bow 24-17 to eventual national champion North Dakota State in playoffs.

 
1984 (9-4-0)

• Back in the playoffs for a second straight year, the eighth-ranked Tigers win first seven games of the season.
• Repeating as Lambert-Meadowlands Cup winners, the Tigers down Norfolk State in NCAA quarterfinals, 31-21 before bowing to eventual national champion Troy State in semifinals.
• PK Jerome Nolan ties single game record with 4 FG's in a win over CW Post.
• OG Terrance Brooks (first team), WR Sean Murphy (HM) named All-Americans.
• RB Dan Ricker scores a single season record 90 points.
• LB Allen Argent, OT Barry Cohen, Sean Murphy, DB Greg Rogers, Terrance Brooks, DT Wayne Wisnewski named All-ECAC.

 
1985 (7-2-1)

• Tigers open season defeating Shepherd 28-10 for program's 100th victory.
• Mike Barth scores Towson's first ever TD on a kickoff return, going 96 yards in 27-23 win over American International.
• QB Kurt Beathard sets a NCAA Division II record by completing 40 of 51 passes for a school record 466 yards in 27-24 win over Lafayette.
• OC Stan Eisenhooth is selected a consensus first team All-American.

 
1986 (8-3-1)

• Tigers make NCAA playoffs for third time in four years, closing out Division II affiliation with an 8-year 60-26-2 record.
• Central State eliminates the Tigers in the quarterfinals, ending their Division II era.
• Towson earns third Lambert-Meadowlands Cup award.
• RB Dan Ricker becomes the first back to gain over 200 yards in a game, rushing for 215 and four touchdowns in a 47-7 win over New Haven.
• WR Dale Chips is the only Tiger ever named ECAC Player of the Year.
• Third time Phil Albert honored as AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year.
• LB David Haden selected first team All-American.

 
This fall the Towson University football team will celebrate its 50th Anniversary as it takes on The Citadel Sept. 29 with a 4 p.m. kickoff.
 
In honor of the 50th year of football at Towson, fans can purchase season tickets for just $50. Additionally, season tickets in the Gaburick Gold Back Seats are priced at $75.
 
The Tigers will host five home games at Johnny Unitas ® Stadium this season, beginning on Sept. 29 with a 4 p.m. tilt with The Citadel. On October 6, the Tigers will play their first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) game at home against the Seawolves of Stony Brook at 4 p.m.
 
Towson rounds out the three-game home stand on Oct. 13 against the Tribe of William & Mary with a 4 p.m. kickoff. After two weeks on the road the Towson returns to Unitas Stadium on Nov. 3 for a 4 p.m. start time with the Black Bears of Maine.
 
The Tigers round out the 2018 regular season with a Nov. 17 game against James Madison University. Game time for the regular season finale is slated for 2 p.m.