1976 Saint John's Johnnies football team
American college football season
| 1976 Saint John's Johnnies football | |
|---|---|
NCAA Division III champion MIAC champion | |
Stagg Bowl, W 31–28 vs. Towson State | |
| Conference | Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Record | 10–0–1 (7–0 MIAC) |
| Head coach |
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| Home stadium | Clemens Stadium |
Seasons ← 1975 1977 → | |
| Conf | Overall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Saint John's (MN) $^ | 7 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St. Olaf | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St. Thomas (MN) | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Concordia–Moorhead | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gustavus Adolphus | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hamline | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Augsburg | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Macalester | 0 | – | 7 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1976 Saint John's Johnnies football team represented Saint John's University as a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) during the 1976 NCAA Division III football season. In their 24th season under head coach John Gagliardi, the Johnnies compiled a 10–0–1 record and won the NCAA Division III national championship.[1]
After opening the season playing Minnesota Morris to a 15–15 tie, the Johnnies won 10 consecutive games, including victories over Augustana (IL) and Buena Vista in the NCAA Division III playoffs.[1]
The Johnnies closed their season facing Towson State in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl to determine the Division III championship. Saint John's took a 28-0 lead through three quarters, but Towson State scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to tie the score. Saint John's kicker Jeff Norman kicked a 19-yard field goal with one second remaining to secure the victory.[2]
Eight Saint John's players were included on the 1976 All-MIAC team: quarterback Jeff Norman; fullback Tim Schmitz; running back Jim Roeder; offensive lineman Dave Grovum; defensive lineman Ernie England, Terry Sexton and Joe Wentzel; and defensive back Joe Luby.[3]
Coach Gagliardi received the 1976 NCAA Division III Coach of the Year award.[4] Gagliardi became college football all-time winningest coach and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.[5]
The team played its home games at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville, Minnesota.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 11 | Minnesota Morris* | T 15–15 | [6] | ||||
| September 18 | at Hamline |
| W 57–28 | [7] | |||
| September 25 | at St. Thomas (MN) |
| W 14–11 | 8,000 | [8] | ||
| October 2 | Augsburg |
| W 62–12 | [9] | |||
| October 16 | Concordia–Moorhead |
| W 49–0 | [10] | |||
| October 23 | at Macalester |
| W 70–13 | [11] | |||
| October 30 | Gustavus Adolphus |
| W 44–14 | [12] | |||
| November 6 | at St. Olaf |
| W 29–13 | [13][14] | |||
| November 20 | at Augustana (IL)* |
| W 46–7 | [15] | |||
| November 27 | Buena Vista* |
| W 61–0 | 2,112 | [16] | ||
| December 4 | vs. Towson State* |
| W 31–28 | 7,214 | [2] | ||
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References
- ^ a b "1976 SJU Football Schedule". Saint John's University. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- ^ a b "Norman's field goal gives Johnnies win". The Winona Daily News. December 5, 1976. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "SJU dominates All-MIAC team". St. Cloud Times. November 16, 1976. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Photo". St. Cloud Times. December 14, 1976. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "John Gagliardi". National Football Foundation. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- ^ Dave Anderson (September 13, 1976). "St. John's, Morris indicate they're ready for title chase". St. Cloud Times. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Tom Briere (September 19, 1976). "St. John's stomps Hamline 57-28". Minneapolis Tribune. p. 12C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Tom Briere (September 26, 1976). "St. John's beats St. Thomas 14-11". Star Tribune. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Dave Anderson (October 4, 1976). "Johnnies can 'do no wrong' against Auggies". St. Cloud Times. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Tom Briere (October 17, 1976). "Johnnies crush Concordia 49-0". Star Tribune. p. 13C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Johnnies extend unbeaten string". St. Cloud Times. October 25, 1976. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Tom Briere (October 31, 1976). "St. John's sure of title tie". Star Tribune. p. 10C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "St. John's defeats St. Olaf 29-13". Minneapolis Tribune. November 7, 1976. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Dave Anderson (November 5, 1976). "Johnnies seek undisputed title". St. Cloud Times. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gordon Nelson (November 21, 1976). "St. John's merits top billing". The Dispatch. Moline, Illinois. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Top-Ranked St. John's Routs Buena Vista". The Des Moines Register. November 28, 1976. p. 3D – via Newspapers.com.
