1979 Central State Bronchos football team

1979 Central State Bronchos football
ConferenceIndependent
Record11–2
Head coach
Home stadiumWantland Stadium
Seasons
← 1978
1980 →
1979 NAIA Division I independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Liberty Baptist   –   9 – 1 – 1
No. 5 Central State (OK) ^   –   11 – 2 – 0
Kentucky State   –   6 – 5 – 0
Wofford   –   5 – 5 – 0
Guilford   –   4 – 5 – 0
Eastern New Mexico   –   4 – 6 – 0
Cameron   –   3 – 7 – 0
Langston   –   1 – 8 – 0
  • ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

The 1979 Central State Bronchos football team represented Central State University (OK) (now University of Central Oklahoma) during the 1979 NAIA Division I football season, and completed the 74th season of Broncho football. The Bronchos played their home games at Wantland Stadium in Edmond, Oklahoma, which has been Central's home stadium since 1965.[1] The 1979 team returned to the NAIA after a brief stint in NCAA Division II. The 1979 team was led by coach Gary Howard in his third season. The team finished the regular season with a 9–1 record and made the program's third appearance in the NAIA playoffs after and first since 1972. The Bronchos advanced to the National Championship Game where they lost to the Texas A&I Javelinas 20–14.[2]

Schedule[edit]

DateOpponentRankSiteResultSource
September 8Evangel
W 55–0
September 15Southwestern Oklahoma State
  • Wantland Stadium
  • Edmond, OK
W 28–0
September 22at Northwestern Oklahoma State
W 49–0
September 29at East Texas State
W 17–6
October 6at East Central
W 35–28
October 20Eastern New Mexico
  • Wantland Stadium
  • Edmond, OK
W 20–0
October 27at Cameron
W 35–14
November 3vs. Langston
W 48–6
November 10at Northeastern State
L 14–22
November 17Texas LutheranNo. 5
  • Wantland Stadium
  • Edmond, OK
W 30–20
December 1at No. 3 Kearney StateNo. 5
W 42–22
December 8No. 1 PresbyterianNo. 5
  • Wantland Stadium
  • Edmond, OK (NAIA Semifinal)
W 28–6
December 15vs. No. 2 Texas A&INo. 5McAllen, TX (NAIA Championship, Palm Bowl)L 14–20[3][4]

After the season[edit]

Honors[edit]

The NAIA recognized running back, Steve Tate, center Kirk Condry, and quarter back Scott Burger as second team All-Americans.[5]

NFL draft[edit]

Main article: 1980 NFL Draft

The following Broncho was selected in the National Football League draft following the season.[6]

Round Pick Player Position NFL team
11 299 Terry Jones Defensive end Tampa Bay Buccaneers

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Chad Richison Stadium". University of Central Oklahoma athletics. July 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "1979 Football Schedule". University of Central Oklahoma athletics. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  3. ^ Emil Tagliabue (December 16, 1979). "Javs take NAIA title: A&I turns back Oklahomans, 20-14". Corpus Christi Caller Times. pp. 1C, 2C – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Texas A&I wins NAIA title". Austin American-Statesman. December 16, 1979. p. D2 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "NAIA Football Championship Records" (PDF). National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics. 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  6. ^ "1980 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
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