Shula helped JCU beat Syracuse on lakefront

It could be argued the biggest win in the history of John Carroll football occurred Nov. 12, 2016, when the visiting Blue Streaks stunned No. 1-ranked Mount Union, 31-28.

The win ended the Purple Raiders’ 112-game regular-season winning streak, gave JCU the outright Ohio Athletic Conference championship, and propelled it into the NCAA Division III playoffs, where it advanced to the national semifinal round.

The heroes that day in Alliance — among a cast of others — were quarterback Anthony Moeglin and wide receiver Willie Woods. Moeglin connected with Woods on a 24-yard touchdown throw and catch with 39 seconds left in the game to give the Blue Streaks a pulse-pounding victory over Mount.

That victory is difficult to top in the annals of JCU history, but another — 70 years ago this upcoming season — is in the mix. It’s notable on its own, but now amplified because of the passing of JCU graduate Don Shula on May 4.

Before Shula became a legend as the NFL’s winningest coach, the Harvey High School graduate had a stellar college career as a running back and on a cold November afternoon in downtown Cleveland helped the Blue Streaks to a huge victory that still resonates today.

On Nov. 10, 1950, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, JCU rallied to defeat Syracuse in a huge upset, 2116, as it scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The win helped put the program on the national scene.

During that era, Coach Herb Eisele’s team relied on a potent backfield of Carl Taseff and Shula. They were on display against Syracuse in front of 16,724 on a 27-degree day on the lakefront.

Taseff scored on a 1-yard run in the final minute, and then the JCU D held from its own 10 in the final seconds. That defense played big in the second half, as it pitched a shutout after the Blue Streaks trailed at halftime, 16-7.

Taseff’s 13-yard TD run earlier in the fourth quarter brought JCU within 1614. Taseff might have been the TD maker for the Blue Streaks on this day, but Shula also contributed heavily with a game-high 124 rushing yards on 23 carries. Tassel had 115 on 25 attempts.

Trailing, 16-14, with five minutes to play in the game and with Syracuse in possession, the JCU D again came up with another big play as John Zanetti recovered a fumble at the Syracuse 35.

A 12-yard pass completion on third down to the 21 set up heroics by the tandem of Taseff-Shula. Two straight carries by Shula netted 11 yards and a first down, and then Taseff carried it to the 5. Shula took the next carry to the 1 before Taseff finished off the drive with his second TD run.

At the time, the win helped JCU to its most successful season in school history. The following week, the Blue Streaks won at Baldwin Wallace, 33-25, and finished the season 8-2.

Eisele — who coached the football team from 1947 to 1958 — was instrumental in developing Shula, who went on to play seven years in the NFL. That included his first two in the league with the Browns in 1951 and 1952.

In 1948, Eisele became

JCU’s athletic director, a post he held until 1970. Until 1995, Eisele was the winningest coach in school history with a record of 60-374.

Eisele starred at Lorain High School in basketball and football before spending his junior and senior seasons at Cathedral Latin High School. He played football at the University of Dayton, where he was an honorable mention Walter Camp All-America selection.

Before JCU, Eisele coached football at Sandusky St. Mary and then Cathedral Latin. After that, he and Shula crossed paths at JCU, where he helped guide Shula to greatest in the NFL.