1979 Central State Bronchos football team

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]

1979 Central State Bronchos football
ConferenceIndependent
Record11–2
Head coach
Home stadiumWantland Stadium
(capacity: 10,000)
1979 NAIA Division I independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW 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

Schedule
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

Honors

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

NFL draft
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
11299Terry JonesDefensive endTampa Bay Buccaneers

References
  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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