1976 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

1976 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record6–5 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPTony Dungy
CaptainTony Dungy
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
1976 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Michigan + 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 6 Ohio State + 7 – 1 – 0 9 – 2 – 1
Minnesota 4 – 4 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Illinois 4 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Indiana 4 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Purdue 4 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Iowa 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Michigan State 3 – 5 – 0 4 – 6 – 1
Northwestern 1 – 7 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1976 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Minnesota in the 1976 Big Ten Conference football season. In their fifth year under head coach Cal Stoll, the Golden Gophers compiled a 6–5 record (4–4 against conference opponents), finished in a four-way tie for third place in the Big Ten Standings, and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 211 to 201.[1]

Quarterback Tony Dungy received the team's most valuable player award for the second consecutive year. Strong safety George Adzick was named All-Big Ten first team. Dungy, wide receiver Ron Kullas and defensive lineman George Washington were named All-Big Ten second team. Dungy, offensive lineman Brien Harvey, fullback Kent Kitzmann and cornerback Bob Weber were named Academic All-Big Ten. Terry Matula was named Offensive Lineman of the Year.[2] Jim Perkins was the Big Ten's third leading scorer with 78 points on 13 rushing touchdowns.[1]

Home attendance for the season was 257,878, which averaged to 42,979. The season high for attendance was against rival Iowa.[3] 1976 was the last season of Tartan Turf at Memorial Stadium.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11Indiana
W 32–1339,004[4]
September 18Washington State*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 28–1431,627[5]
September 25Western Michigan*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 21–1033,229[6]
October 2at Washington*
L 7–3837,994[7]
October 9Illinois
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
W 29–1452,606[8]
October 16at Michigan State
W 14–1056,166[9]
October 23Iowa
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)
L 12–2253,222[10]
October 30at No. 1 Michigan
L 0–45104,426[11]
November 6at Northwestern
W 38–1015,183[12]
November 13No. 8 Ohio State
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Minneapolis, MN
L 3–953,190[13]
November 20at Wisconsin
L 17–2660,304[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1976 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 9 Tony Dungy Sr
QB 18 Marc Trestman So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 84 Michael Hunt Jr
DE 88 Mark Merrill Jr
LB 97 Steve Stewart Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 2018-03-11

References

  1. ^ a b "1976 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  2. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), pp. 179–182
  3. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160
  4. ^ "Hoosiers sprawl, 32–13; Snyder lost". Evansville Courier and Press. September 12, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Cougars bow to Minnesota". The Bellingham Herald. September 19, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Gophers wake up late to win 21–10". Minneapolis Tribune. September 26, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Huskies, Cougars have a fun Saturday". Tri-City Herald. October 3, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Minnesota rips Illini". The Cedar Rapids Gazette. October 10, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Gophers edge Spartans". The Blade. October 17, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Hawkeyes knock Minnesota from top spot in Big Ten". The Journal News. October 24, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "No. 1 Wolverines rip Gophers, 45–0". The Mobile Register. October 31, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Gophers roll over Northwestern, 38–10". Brainerd Daily Dispatch. November 7, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Ohio State edges Gophers". The Winona Daily News. November 14, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "UW rises to occasion". Wisconsin State Journal. November 21, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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