1976 Saint John's Johnnies football team

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]

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.

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 31–28[2]
  • *Non-conference game

References
  1. "1976 SJU Football Schedule". Saint John's University. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  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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