Terry Dittmer spent more time in an opponents backfield than all but one defender in school history.
Dittmer, who at 6-feet-1, 225 pounds, was a nose guard from 1976 through 1979 for the Penguins. He finished with 59 career tackles for losses - the second-highest total in school history.
He was part of a defense that advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 1978 and 1979, including reaching the title game as a senior. The Guins won Mid-Continent Conference titles in each of those two years.
Dittmer finished his career with 276 tackles, which ranks 13th in school history. He was twice a first-team All-MCC selection.
As a co-captain in 1979, the Penguins’ defense had a season to remember. In 13 games, the unit allowed just 209 points - 89 of those came in two contests. Seven opponents were held to single digits, while the Guins allowed 3,593 total yards - 276 per game. Only 1,547 of those yards came on the ground.
Dittmer finished third on the team in tackles with 97, including 59 solo stops. Of his stops, 31 were for losses. He was an honorable-mention All-America by The Associated Press and was a first-team All-Mid-Continent Conference selection.
During the first two games of the playoffs, the defense manhandled South Dakota State and Alabama A&M.
Against SDSU, the Penguins won 50-7 as the defense allowed 223 total offensive yards, including zero rushing.
Against Alabama A&M in the semifinals, YSU rolled to a 52-0 victory allowing just seven first downs and 68 total offensive yards, including seven rushing.
Youngstown State lost in the Division II championship game 38-21 to finish the campaign 11-2. In the three playoff contests, Dittmer was credited with 16 tackles, including nine solos.
As a junior in 1978, YSU reached the playoffs losing to Eastern Illinois and finishing with a 10-2 record.
A first-team all-conference selection, he had 93 totals tackles to finish fourth on the team. Of his stops, 18 were for losses and 19 came during the playoffs. He was also an Academic All-Mid-Con selection. Youngstown State allowed just 999 yards rushing in 12 games and 2,789 for the year.
In 1977, Dittmer had 86 total tackles ranking third on the team. Of his 86 stops, 34 were solos and 16 were for losses. He also had two fumble recoveries. YSU finished the year 7-3 allowing just 174 yards rushing per contest.
As a freshman in 1976, Dittmer started the first six games before missing the final four contests. He had 18 tackles, 15 of which were solos and three were for losses.
A native of Suffield, Ohio, he was a seven-time letterwinner - football, track and field, basketball at Field High School.
Dittmer earned his degree in Law Enforcement Administration from YSU. He had an internship with the Youngstown Police Department during his senior season.
He is currently a police lieutenant for the Columbus Ohio Division of Police. Terry and his wife Susan live in Gahanna, Ohio, They have two children, Brian and Amy.
