Wayne State University Athletics

Vaughn, a Dearborn native and graduate of Dearborn Fordson HS, where he was an All-Border Cities player, lettered in football in 1965, 1966, and 1967 seasons. Nicknamed "Apple Juice", as he was playing at about the same time O.J. "Orange Juice" Simpson was at USC, Vaughn set 15 individual single game, season and career rushing, passing, total offense and punting records. As a quarterback of the 1967 Tartars, Vaughn established a new NCAA Individual Total Offense record with 555 yards in Wayne State's 39-31 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His 271 rushing yards and 284 passing yards, which also set new WSU individual single game records, helped break a NCAA record that had lasted over 25 years. However, Vaughn's outstanding performance that day wouldn't last long in record books, as three weeks later, Bob "Holy" Toledo of Sacramento State finished with 562 total offensive yards, breaking Vaughn's mark. As a sophomore punter in 1965, Vaughn finished third in the NCAA Small College Division and fourth overall in the NCAA with a 44.1 punting average, which was also a new WSU record. His other single game records included Most Touchdowns Thrown, 4 vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Case in 1967; Total Offensive Plays, 52 vs. Case, 1967; and the longest run from scrimmage. Against Wisconsin-Milwaukee the afternoon of his record-setting performance, Vaughn set a single game record for the longest run from scrimmage, which stills stands today, when he ran 90 yards for a touchdown. Vaughn's individual WSU season records were: Net Passing Yards, 1090; Passes Attempted, 142; Passes Completed, 68; Touchdown Passes Thrown, 17; Total Offensive Plays, 297; and Total Offensive Yards, 1866. All were set in the 1967 season. Vaughn's individual career records at WSU were in both total offense categories, for Most Yards at 3174, and Most Plays with 601. He finished second on five other career lists, including Passing Yardage, Passes Completed, and Touchdowns Thrown. A walk-on quarterback who ran the 40 in 4.5, Vaughn was also interested in attending Western Michigan and Delaware. He started as a tailback and punter in his Tartar career, but changed to quarterback in his junior season as Coach Vern Gale switched to a Wing-T offense. Upon conclusion of his Wayne State career, Vaughn was drafted and given a tryout by the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. He taught secondary education for several years, and coached football on the high school level at Southgate Aquinas and Garden City West. Vaughn was also an accomplished hockey coach, coaching at Aquinas and the Detroit Junior A Red Wings. While with the Junior Red Wings, Vaughn coached Mark and Marty Howe, sons of former Red Wing great Gordie Howe. After leaving teaching, Vaughn worked privately in the sporting goods business, and today he is in the terminal manager of Custom Delivery in Newark, NJ, a subsidiary of Leaseway Transportation. He resides in Bear, Delaware with his wife Debbie and family.