1976 Saint John's Johnnies football
NCAA Division III champion
MIAC champion
Stagg Bowl, W 31–28 vs. Towson State
ConferenceMinnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record10–0–1 (7–0 MIAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumClemens Stadium
1976 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Saint John's (MN) $^ 7 –0 –010 –0 –1
St. Olaf 5 –2 –07 –3 –0
St. Thomas (MN) 5 –2 –07 –3 –0
Concordia–Moorhead 5 –2 –06 –3 –0
Gustavus Adolphus 3 –4 –05 –5 –0
Hamline 2 –5 –04 –5 –0
Augsburg 1 –6 –01 –8 –0
Macalester 0 –7 –00 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
  • St. Thomas (MN) received a non-conference forfeit win from St. Cloud State.

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

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11Minnesota Morris*
T 15–15[6]
September 18at Hamline
W 57–28[7]
September 25at St. Thomas (MN)
  • O'Shaughnessy Field
  • St. Paul, MN
W 14–118,000[8]
October 2Augsburg
  • Clemens Stadium
  • Collegeville, MN
W 62–12[9]
October 16Concordia–Moorhead
  • Clemens Stadium
  • Collegeville, MN
W 49–0[10]
October 23at Macalester
  • Mac Field
  • St. Paul, MN
W 70–13[11]
October 30Gustavus Adolphus
  • Clemens Stadium
  • Collegeville, MN
W 44–14[12]
November 6at St. Olaf
W 29–13[13][14]
November 20at Augustana (IL)*
W 46–7[15]
November 27Buena Vista*
  • Clemens Stadium
  • Collegeville, MN (NCAA Division III semifinal)
W 61–02,112[16]
December 4vs. Towson State*
W 31–287,214[2]
  • *Non-conference game

References

  1. 1 2 "1976 SJU Football Schedule". Saint John's University. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Norman's field goal gives Johnnies win". The Winona Daily News. December 5, 1976. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "SJU dominates All-MIAC team". St. Cloud Times. November 16, 1976. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Photo". St. Cloud Times. December 14, 1976. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "John Gagliardi". National Football Foundation. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  6. ↑ Dave Anderson (September 13, 1976). "St. John's, Morris indicate they're ready for title chase". St. Cloud Times. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Tom Briere (September 19, 1976). "St. John's stomps Hamline 57-28". Minneapolis Tribune. p. 12C – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Tom Briere (September 26, 1976). "St. John's beats St. Thomas 14-11". Star Tribune. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Dave Anderson (October 4, 1976). "Johnnies can 'do no wrong' against Auggies". St. Cloud Times. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Tom Briere (October 17, 1976). "Johnnies crush Concordia 49-0". Star Tribune. p. 13C – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Johnnies extend unbeaten string". St. Cloud Times. October 25, 1976. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Tom Briere (October 31, 1976). "St. John's sure of title tie". Star Tribune. p. 10C – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "St. John's defeats St. Olaf 29-13". Minneapolis Tribune. November 7, 1976. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Dave Anderson (November 5, 1976). "Johnnies seek undisputed title". St. Cloud Times. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Gordon Nelson (November 21, 1976). "St. John's merits top billing". The Dispatch. Moline, Illinois. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Top-Ranked St. John's Routs Buena Vista". The Des Moines Register. November 28, 1976. p. 3D – via Newspapers.com.
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