In 1970, Grand Valley State launched its football program with six non-varsity games.[ 1]
Rip Collins was hired in March 1970 as the school's first head football coach and an assistant professor of physical education. Collins had been on the faculty of Ottawa Hill High School since 1950.[ 2] [ 3]
The 1972 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State College (GVSC) as an independent during the 1972 NAIA Division II football season . In their third and final year under head coach Rip Collins , the Lakers compiled a 0–6 record and were outscored by a total of 199 to 71.[ 9]
Collins resigned as GVSC's head football coach at the end of the 1972 season. He retained his post as a professor of physical education. While Collins' 1970 won one junior varsity game in 1970, his teams lost 13 consecutive intercollegiate varsity games in 1971 and 1972.[ 17]
The Lakers played their first home game on their new football field on October 22, a loss against Findlay. The field was equipped with portable bleachers with the capacity to seat nearly 3,000 fans.[ 18]
The 1975 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1975 NAIA Division II football season . In their third year under head coach Jim Harkema , the Lakers compiled a 7–2–1 record (3–1–1 in conference games), tied for second place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 264 to 96.[ 21]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 6 at Wayne State (MI) L 6–154,375 [ 22]
September 13 at Valparaiso * Valparaiso, IN W 17–6
September 20 Grand Rapids * W 17–13
September 27 Illinois Benedictine * Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI W 31–6
October 4 Northeastern Illinois * Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI W 68–6
October 11 at Ferris State Big Rapids, MI W 38–0
October 18 Saginaw Valley State Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI W 32–5
October 25 at Northwood Midland, MI T 7–7
November 1 at No. 11 Northern Michigan * Marquette, MI L 17–214,002 [ 23]
November 8 Hillsdale Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI W 31–17
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
The 1976 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1976 NAIA Division I football season . In their fourth year under head coach Jim Harkema , the Lakers compiled an 8–2 record (3–2 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for second place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 194 to 131.[ 21]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 11 at Grand Rapids * Grand Rapids, MI W 23–74,000
September 18 at Michigan Tech * Houghton, MI W 10–84,000
September 25 at Franklin (IN) * Franklin, IN W 31–271,200
October 2 at Northeastern Illinois * Chicago, IL W 26–0300
October 9 Ferris State L 23–261,750
October 16 at Saginaw Valley State University Center, MI W 17–62,000
October 23 at Hillsdale Hillsdale, MI W 16–33,000
October 30 Northwood Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI L 14–401,200
November 6 Wayne State (MI) Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI W 3–01,900 [ 24]
November 13 Northern Michigan * Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI W 31–143,800
[ 25]
The 1977 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1977 NAIA Division I football season . In their fifth year under head coach Jim Harkema , the Lakers compiled a 7–3 record (4–1 in conference games), won the GLIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 212 to 128.[ 21]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 10 vs. Bowling Green * L 6–172,869 [ 26]
September 17 Michigan Tech * L 6–101,026
September 24 Franklin (IN) * Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI W 41–35726
October 1 at Northeastern Illinois * Chicago, IL W 34–12220
October 8 at Ferris State Big Rapids, MI L 7–119,000
October 15 Saginaw Valley State Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI W 41–141,508
October 22 Defiance * Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI W 24–01,131
October 29 at Northwood Midland, MI W 16–62,750
November 5 Hillsdale Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI W 31–201,968
November 12 at Wayne State (MI) W 6–33,748 [ 27]
[ 28]
The 1978 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1978 NAIA Division I football season . In their sixth year under head coach Jim Harkema , the Lakers compiled a 9–3 record (5–0 in conference games), won the GLIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 333 to 229.[ 21] They advanced to the NAIA Division I playoffs, defeating Wisconsin–La Crosse in the quarterfinals before losing to Elon in the semifinals.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 9 Northeastern Illinois * W 34–7856
September 16 at Northern Michigan * Marquette, MI L 22–499,062
September 23 at Bowling Green * L 3–4914,846 [ 29]
September 30 at Franklin (IN) * Franklin, IN W 62–19527 [ 30]
October 7 Ferris State Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI W 38–141,415–1,491 [ 31]
October 14 at Saginaw Valley State University Center, MI W 24–142,039–2,250 [ 32]
October 21 Central State (OH) * Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI W 31–121,569
October 28 Northwood Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI W 36–71,527 [ 33]
November 4 at Hillsdale Hillsdale, MI W 28–212,300 [ 34]
November 11 Wayne State (MI) Lakers Stadium Allendale, MI W 24–142,382 [ 35]
December 2 at Wisconsin–La Crosse * W 24–142,150 [ 36]
December 9 at Elon * L 7–13[ 37] [ 38]
*Non-conference game Homecoming
[ 39]
The 1979 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1979 NAIA Division I football season . In their seventh year under head coach Jim Harkema , the Lakers compiled a 4–5 record (2–3 in conference games), finished in fourth place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 215 to 182.[ 21]
The team played its home games at the new Lubbers Stadium .
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 15 Northern Michigan * L 14–414,854
September 22 at Northeastern Illinois * Chicago, IL W 48–7200
September 29 Franklin (IN) * Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 56–143,853
October 6 at Wayne State (MI) L 14–173,000
October 13 at Saginaw Valley State University Center, MI L 24–321,125
October 20 at Western Michigan * L 0–3714,500 [ 40]
October 27 Hillsdale Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI W 28–63,174
November 3 at Northwood Midland, MI W 22–141,800
November 10 Ferris State Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI L 9–143,209
[ 41]
1 2 Vern Plagenhoef (September 5, 1971). "Lakers Will Feel Football Growing Pains" . The Grand Rapids Press . p. 3C – via Newspapers.com .
↑ Joe Vanderhoff (March 25, 1970). "Collins Accepts Football Coaching Helm at GVSC" . The Grand Rapids Press . p. E1 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Collins Named as GVSC Grid Coach" . Grand Haven Tribune . March 26, 1970. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Grand Valley Plays First Football Game Monday" . Grand Haven Tribune . October 2, 1970. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Grand Valley Bows In Football Opener" . The Grand Rapids Press . October 6, 1970. p. 2F – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Grand Valley Beats Ferris Football Frosh" . The Grand Rapids Press . October 16, 1970. p. 3C – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Ferris Frosh Trip Lakers" . The Grand Rapids Press . November 6, 1970. p. 2E – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Lakers Drop Finale, 40-0" . The Grand Rapids Press . November 11, 1970. p. 6H – via Newspapers.com .
1 2 3 4 "Grand Valley State Yearly Results (1971-1974)" . College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2025 .
1 2 Vern Plagenhoef (September 12, 1971). "Raiders Dominate Debuting Lakers" . The Grand Rapids Press . p. C1 – via Newspapers.com .
1 2 "Ferris Thumps Lakers" . The Grand Rapids Press . October 10, 1971. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com .
↑ John Block (September 19, 1971). "Hornets Win Opener: Wild Offense, Sticky Defense Keys" . The Kalamazoo Gazette . p. E1 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ Mike Conklin (September 26, 1971). "Circle Captures Opener" . Chicago Tribune . p. 10 (section 2) – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Lakers Lose Again, 31-0" . The Grand Rapids Press . October 3, 1971. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Findlay Pulverizes Grand Valley, 70-6" . The Grand Rapids Press . October 24, 1971. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Dutchmen Set Many Records In 64-0 Smashing of GVSC" . The Holland Evening Sentinel . November 15, 1971. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ Vern Plagenhoef (November 28, 1972). "Collins Resigns Grand Valley Post" . The Grand Rapids Press . p. D1 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ Vern Plagenhoef (October 18, 1972). "Lakers Ready for Home Debut With Findlay College Oilers" . The Grand Rapids Press . p. 6C – via Newspapers.com .
↑ Joe Vanderhoff (January 3, 1973). "Harkema Returns to Michigan As Grand Valley's Grid Boss" . The Grand Rapids Press . p. D1 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Grand Valley jolts Chicago Circle, 40–8" . The Holland Evening Sentinel . September 22, 1973. Retrieved January 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .
1 2 3 4 5 "Grand Valley State Yearly Results (1975-1979)" . College Football Data Warehouse . Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2025 .
↑ Hal Schram (September 7, 1975). "Wayne Beats Grand Valley in GLIAC Debut: Skowneski Gets Tartars Off on the Right Foot, 15-6" . Detroit Free Press . p. 4E – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Final 1975 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Northern Michigan)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved December 7, 2022 .
↑ "McCoy Boots FG with 9:19 Remaining – Grand Valley Stops Wayne St., 3–0" . Detroit Free Press . November 7, 1976. p. 5D – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Final 1976 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grand Valley State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 20, 2025 .
↑ "Grand Valley scares Bowling Green" . The Grand Rapids Press . September 11, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ Brian Bragg (November 13, 1977). "Grand Valley Grabs Crown, 6-3" . Detroit Free Press . pp. 1D, 5D – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Final 1977 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grand Valley State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 20, 2025 .
↑ "Grand Valley gets pasted by BG, 49–3" . The Grand Rapids Press . September 24, 1978. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Grand Valley Breaks Its Losing Streak -- And How" . The Grand Rapids Press . October 1, 1978. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com .
↑ John Jarvi (October 8, 1978). "GVSC Lakers swamp Bulldogs 38-14" . The Muskegon Chronicle . p. 40 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Grand Valley 24, Saginaw Valley 14" . The Muskegon Chronicle . October 15, 1978. p. 43 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ Ruth Butler (October 29, 1978). "Lakers Highlight 1st Homecoming With a Victory" . The Grand Rapids Press . p. 5G – via Newspapers.com .
↑ James Gibowski (November 5, 1979). "Ex-Titans aid Grand Valley" . Jackson Citizen Patriot . p. C5 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ Herschel Nissenson (November 12, 1978). "Valley snares crown" . The Muskegon Chronicle . p. 37 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ Jim Pickett (December 3, 1978). "Grand Valley ends UW-L's season: Indians ousted in NAIA playoff" . La Crosse Tribune . p. 29 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ John Jarvi (December 5, 1978). "Lakers face host of challenges before semifinals" . The Muskegon Chronicle . p. 23 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ John Jarvi (December 10, 1978). "Elon slides past Grand Valley" . The Muskegon Chronicle . p. 49 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Final 1978 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grand Valley State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 20, 2025 .
↑ "Grand Valley gives Western a much-needed win" . The Grand Rapids Press . October 21, 1979. Retrieved October 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "Final 1979 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grand Valley State)" . National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 20, 2025 .