1976 Ball State Cardinals football team

1976 Ball State Cardinals football
MAC champion
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record8–3 (4–1 MAC)
Head coach
Captains
  • Art Yaroch
  • Mike Lecklider
Home stadiumBall State Stadium
1976 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Ball State $ 4 – 1 – 0 8 – 3 – 0
Kent State 6 – 2 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
Ohio 6 – 2 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Western Michigan 6 – 3 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Central Michigan 4 – 3 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Bowling Green 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Miami (OH) 2 – 4 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Toledo 2 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Eastern Michigan 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Northern Illinois 0 – 6 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1976 Ball State Cardinals football team was an American football team that represented Ball State University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In its sixth season under head coach Dave McClain, the team compiled an 8–3 record (4–1 against conference opponents) and won the school's first MAC championship.[1][2] The team played its home games at Ball State Stadium in Muncie, Indiana.

The team set a school record with 2,704 rushing yards, a total that was later eclipsed by the 1987 team.[3]

Running back Earl Taylor set the school's single-game record with 260 rushing yards against Eastern Michigan.[4] He led the team with 1,017 rushing yards for the season.[5] Other statistical leaders included Mike Andress with 551 receiving yards and quarterback Art Yaroch with 1,088 passing yards.[6] Yaroch received the John Magnabosco Award as the team's most valuable player.[7]

Five players received first-team honors on the 1976 All-MAC team: quarterback Art Yaroch; offensive guard Mitch Hoban; split end Rick Morrison; defensive back Maurice Harvey; and punter Mark O'Connell.[8]

Art Yaroch and Mike Lecklider were the team captains.[9]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11Louisiana Tech*
W 41–2816,172[10]
September 18at Miami (OH)
W 23–616,151[11]
September 25at Toledo
W 27–1415,235[12]
October 2at Dayton*
W 20–13[13]
October 9at Illinois State*
L 7–1012,000[14]
October 16Akron*
  • Ball State Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
L 0–318,323[15]
October 23Appalachian State*
  • Ball State Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
W 20–73,325[16]
October 30at Northern Illinois
W 33–715,126[17]
November 6Indiana State*
W 24–912,103[18]
November 13Western Michigan
  • Ball State Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
L 10–2410,257[19]
November 20at Eastern Michigan
W 52–32,500[20]
  • *Non-conference game

References

  1. ^ "2007 Ball State Football Media Guide". Ball State University. 2007. p. 98. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  2. ^ "1976 Ball State Cardinals Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sport Reference LLC. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  3. ^ Media Guide, p. 72.
  4. ^ Media Guide, p. 74.
  5. ^ Media Guide, pp. 74, 79.
  6. ^ "1976 Ball State Cardinals Statistics". SR/College Football. Sport Reference LLC. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  7. ^ Media Guide, p. 86.
  8. ^ Media Guide, p. 88.
  9. ^ Media Guide, p. 89.
  10. ^ "Yaroch pilots Cardinals by Tech". The Star Press. September 12, 1976. Retrieved June 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Cards extend nation's longest streak". The Anderson Herald. September 19, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Cards 'D'-fuse Rockets for 10th straight win". The Indianapolis Star. September 26, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Fake punt boosts BSU". Palladium-Item. October 3, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Upset; Spinks, Illinois State halt Ball State streak at 11". The Courier-Journal. October 10, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Akron U maintains visiting team advantage". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 17, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Cardinals recover missing offense". Anderson Herald. October 24, 1976. Retrieved December 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Yaroch guides Ball State rout of N. Illinois, 33–7". The Indianapolis Star. October 31, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Ball State thumps ISU as Yaroch nears record". The Muncie Star. November 7, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Lincoln's scores beat Ball State". The Blade. November 14, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Ball St. clinches MAC title, routs E. Michigan, 52–3". The Indianapolis Star. November 21, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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