EDITOR'S NOTE: The Rose-Hulman Athletic History Project is designed to educate current Fightin' Engineer fans on the outstanding and unique history of Rose-Hulman and Rose Polytechnic athletics.  The Project will allow fresh content for the Rose-Hulman athletics website and social media channels during our athletic downtime caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.  We will start with one memory from each of Rose-Hulman's current 20 varsity athletic teams over the next 20 weekdays.  After the first 20 days, Rose-Hulman alumni and fans can have their memories become our daily "Rose-Hulman Athletic History Project" story by e-mailing us your story with one (appropriate for publishing) accompanying photo.

ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETIC HISTORY PROJECT:
Mon. March 23 - Football (1958 season)
Tues. March 24 - Women's Soccer (2007 season)
Wed. March 25 - Baseball (1992 season)
Thurs. March 26 - Volleyball (2011 season)
Fri. March 27 - Men's Basketball (1976-77 season)

DEEPEST NCAA TOURNAMENT RUN IN ROSE-HULMAN HISTORY
Only one Rose-Hulman Fightin' Engineer athletic team has reached the Elite Eight in an NCAA Division III Tournament - the historic men's basketball team from 1976-77.  Rose-Hulman won 21 straight games and hosted arguably the biggest men's basketball game in program history - the 1977 National Quarterfinal at Shook Fieldhouse. 

The season started with a 3-3 record, with narrow loss to NCAA Division II Eckerd and a one-point loss to Earlham.  Rose-Hulman then ran through the opposition for a school record 19 consecutive wins to qualify for the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in program history.  Highlights of the regular season included two wins over Wabash; two wins over Centre; a four-point win over DePauw; and a one-point win over Hanover.  The Fightin' Engineers relied on experience and toughness to make plays down the stretch to not only win close games, but also to keep its winning streak alive.

The NCAA Division III Tournament began with a trip to Transylvania University for the NCAA South Regional.  Rose-Hulman knocked off Knoxville 85-75 in the opener to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.  The Fightin' Engineers then faced host Transylvania, rallying from an 11-point deficit to force overtime.  Rose-Hulman won the South Regional with their 91-85 victory over the Pioneers and earned the right to host the Elite Eight game with perennial power Wittenberg as an added bonus.

The NCAA Quarterfinal was one of the most hyped games in Rose-Hulman history.  The City of Terre Haute issued a proclamation, stating that Friday March 11, 1977, was "Rose-Hulman Day - in honor of the student-athletes, coaching staff, student body and staff representing this fine instiution and the City of Terre Haute in the NCAA Tournament."  One of the great flyers on campus stated that 'A sacrilege has taken place on the Rose-Hulman campus' after the Witternberg coach protested to the NCAA about Rose-Hulman's use of the cannon and banner for the upcoming NCAA game.  The flyer stated that the "cannon will be fired at the victory celebration!"  Unfortunately, visiting Wittenberg ruined the party by placing four players in double figures and picked up a 71-57 victory.  The Fightin' Engineers still lifted up both campus and the City of Terre Haute with the memorable run.

Steve VanDyck led the team in scoring at 20.8 points per game and shot 54% from the field on the season.  Dave Sutherland added 18.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.  Mike Griggs added 13.9 points per game and led the team with 109 assists.  Roger Edelbrock scored 8.6 points with 7.6 rebounds per contest.  Other players averaging more than two points per game included Mark Givan (5.0); George Bowman (4.4); Terry Maddux (4.0); Mike Justus (3.3); and Jim Boerger (2.5).  Overall, Rose-Hulman averaged 80.9 points per game and allowed just 66.5.

The 1976-77 team may have been the best under head coach John Mutchner, but it certainly wasn't the only nationally renowned team.  The all-time leader in men's basketball wins at Rose-Hulman, Mutchner compiled a 340-291 record in 25 seasons from 1963-88.  The court inside Hulbert Arena is named "John Mutchner Court" to honor the influential head coach that would ultimately lead the Fightin' Engineers to the first four team NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in any sport in program history.

1976-77 (24-4)
Coach John Mutchner
CAC Champions
NCAA Quarterfinalist
Eckerd                        L, 65-67
Florida Tech                W, 90-70
Blackburn                    W, 88-73
Kenyon                        L, 89-95
Wheaton (Ill.)              W, 80-57
Earlham                       L, 62-63
Illinois Tech                 W, 83-69
Greenville                    W, 70-48
Illinois College             W, 94-63
Centre                         W, 63-53
Blackburn                    W, 83-71
Principia                      W, 100-59
DePauw                      W, 79-75
Sewanee                     W, 104-67
Southwestern (TN)      W, 91-70
Principia                      W, 90-48
MacMurray                  W, 76-62
Hanover                      W, 64-63
Sewanee                     W, 88-69
Southwestern (TN)      W, 80-70
Wabash                       W, 70-63
Centre                         W, 87-75
Wabash                       W, 70-51
MacMurray                  W, 73-59
Illinois College             W, 86-71
Knoxville $                  W, 85-75
Transylvania $             W, 91-85
Wittenberg $               L, 57-71
$ - NCAA D-III Tournament
(Note - Southwestern (TN) is now Rhodes)