1976 San Diego State Aztecs football team

1976 San Diego State Aztecs football
Conference	Independent
Record	10–1
Head coach	Claude Gilbert (4th season)
Home stadium	San Diego Stadium
Seasons ←  1975 1977  →

1976 NCAA Division I independents football records

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Pittsburgh			–					12	–	0	–	0
No. 17 Rutgers			–					11	–	0	–	0
San Diego State			–					10	–	1	–	0
No. 12 Notre Dame			–					9	–	3	–	0
Colgate			–					8	–	2	–	0
Boston College			–					8	–	3	–	0
Cincinnati			–					8	–	3	–	0
Memphis State			–					7	–	4	–	0
North Texas State *			–					7	–	4	–	0
Southern Illinois			–					7	–	4	–	0
Penn State			–					7	–	5	–	0
Villanova			–					6	–	4	–	1
South Carolina			–					6	–	5	–	0
Virginia Tech			–					6	–	5	–	0
Army			–					5	–	6	–	0
Florida State			–					5	–	6	–	0
Illinois State			–					5	–	6	–	0
Richmond			–					5	–	6	–	0
West Virginia			–					5	–	6	–	0
Georgia Tech			–					4	–	6	–	1
Temple			–					4	–	6	–	0
Air Force			–					4	–	7	–	0
Dayton			–					4	–	7	–	0
Louisville			–					4	–	7	–	0
Marshall			–					4	–	7	–	0
Navy			–					4	–	7	–	0
Indiana State			–					3	–	7	–	0
Hawaii			–					3	–	8	–	0
Holy Cross			–					3	–	8	–	0
Miami (FL)			–					3	–	8	–	0
Syracuse			–					3	–	8	–	0
Utah State			–					3	–	8	–	0
Northeast Louisiana			–					2	–	9	–	0
Southern Miss			–					2	–	9	–	0
Tulane			–					2	–	9	–	0
North Texas State (originally 6–5) was awarded a forfeit win after Mississippi State was found to be using an ineligible player. [1] Rankings from AP Poll

The 1976 San Diego State Aztecs football team represented San Diego State University during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season as an independent. They had been a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association ^{[note 1]} for the previous seven years.

The team was led by head coach Claude Gilbert, in his fourth year, and played home games at San Diego Stadium ^{[note 2]} in San Diego, California. They finished the season with a record of ten wins and one loss (10–1).

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 12	Arkansas State	San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA	W 24–14	36,791	[2]
September 18	Fresno State	San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA (rivalry)	W 7–3	40,768	[3] [4]
September 25	at Bowling Green	Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH	W 27–15	11,673	[5]
October 2	BYU	San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA	L 0–8	41,786	[6] [7]
October 16	Pacific (CA)	San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA	W 21–15	31,045	[8]
October 23	Cal State Fullerton	San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA	W 27–14	31,225	[9] [10]
October 30	at UTEP	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	W 27–16	9,500	[11]
November 6	San Jose State	San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA	W 30–17	40,710	[12]
November 13	Utah State	San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA	W 7–6	29,037	[13]
November 20	at Long Beach State	Veterans Stadium Long Beach, CA	W 10–3	14,900	[14] [15]
November 27	New Mexico	San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA	W 17–14	27,526	[16]
Homecoming

^{[17] [18]}

Team players in the NFL

The following were selected in the 1977 NFL draft. ^[19]

Player	Position	Round	Overall	NFL team
Bill Helms	Tight End	11	284	New York Giants

The following finished their college career in 1976, were not drafted, but played in the NFL. ^[20]

Player	Position	First NFL Team
Herm Edwards	Defensive Back	1977 Philadelphia Eagles

Team awards

Award	Player
Most Valuable Player (John Simcox Memorial Trophy)	Travis Hitt
Outstanding Offensive & Defensive Linemen (Byron H. Chase Memorial Trophy)	Mike Solari, Off Dave Johnston Ed Imo, Def
Team captains Dr. R. Hardy / C.E. Peterson Memorial Trophy	Tom Craft, Off Travis Hitt, Def
Most Inspirational Player	Tim Delaney, Herm Edwards

^[18]

Notes

1. The Big West Conference was known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association from its founding in 1969 through 1987.
2. San Diego County Credit Union Stadium (SDCCU Stadium) was known as San Diego Stadium from its opening in 1967 through 1980.

References

1. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1976-standings.html
2. "Turner Propels San Diego State". Santa Ana Register. Santa Ana, California. September 13, 1976. p. C7. Retrieved January 17, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
3. "Fresno State 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 8, 2016.
4. "Long Beach State Wins Again, 32-10". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 19, 1976. p. III-16. Retrieved February 23, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Aztecs' Turner Gains 209 Yards". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 26, 1976. p. III-16. Retrieved January 17, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
6. Steve Wilson (October 3, 1976). "Cougars Stun Aztecs, 8-0, In Rugged Defensive Clash". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 2D. Retrieved January 17, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Aztecs blanked by Cougars". Daily Times-Advocate. October 3, 1976. Retrieved October 17, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
8. "Aztecs edge UOP, 15-14". Independent Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. October 17, 1976. p. S-2. Retrieved January 17, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
9. "Aztecs Overcome Titans, Injuries in 27-14 Win". The San Diego Union. San Diego, California. October 24, 1976. p. H-1. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
10. "Long Beach State Beats Lamar". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 24, 1976. p. III-14. Retrieved March 16, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
11. "Texas El Paso 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 14, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
12. "San Diego St. upends San Jose St., 30-17". Independent Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. November 7, 1976. p. S-2. Retrieved January 17, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
13. "Aggies fall to Aztecs 7–6". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. November 14, 1976. Retrieved September 11, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
14. Forty-Niners '77;Football Media Guide (pamphlet). Long Beach, California: CSULB Athletic Department. 1977.
15. "Aztecs Beat Long Beach, 10-3". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. November 21, 1976. p. III-12. Retrieved February 23, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
16. Bart Ripp (November 28, 1976). "Aztecs Edge New Mexico". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. p. F-1. Retrieved January 17, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
17. "San Diego State 1976 Schedule" . Retrieved December 6, 2016.
18. "San Diego State 2016 Football Media Guide". Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
19. "1977 NFL Draft". Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
20. "San Diego St. Players/Alumni" . Retrieved December 8, 2016.