1976 Wyoming Cowboys football team

1976 Wyoming Cowboys football
WAC co-champion
Fiesta Bowl, L 7–41 vs. Oklahoma
Conference	Western Athletic Conference
Record	8–4 (6–1 WAC)
Head coach	Fred Akers (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Leon Fuller (2nd season)
Captain	Ray Davies, Steve Edwards, Kevin McClain, Paul Nunu
Home stadium	War Memorial Stadium
Seasons ←  1975 1977  →

1976 Western Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
BYU +	6	–	1	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Wyoming +	6	–	1	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Arizona State	4	–	3	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Utah	3	–	3	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Arizona	3	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
New Mexico	3	–	4	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Colorado State	2	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
UTEP	0	–	7	–	0			1	–	11	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions

The 1976 Wyoming Cowboys football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wyoming as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In their second and final season under head coach Fred Akers, the Cowboys compiled an 8–4 record (6–1 against conference opponents), tied for the WAC championship, lost to Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, and outscored their opponents by a total of 278 to 250. ^{[1] [2]}

They played their home games on campus at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming.

The team's statistical leaders included Don Clayton with 409 passing yards, Robbie Wright with 718 rushing yards, Walter Howard with 305 receiving yards, and Dan Christopulos with 53 points scored. ^[3]

It was Wyoming's first winning season since 1969 and first bowl appearance since the Sugar Bowl in January 1968. Akers soon departed for the University of Texas and the Cowboys' next winning season was in 1980; the next bowl appearance was in December 1987.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 11	South Dakota *	War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY	W 48–7
September 18	at Michigan State *	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	L 10–21
September 25	Utah State *	War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY	W 20–3
October 2	Arizona State	War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY	W 13–10
October 9	at BYU	Cougar Stadium Provo, UT	W 34–29
October 16	New Mexico	War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY	W 24–23		[4]
October 23	Utah	War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY	W 45–22
October 30	at Colorado State	Hughes Stadium Fort Collins, CO	L 16–19
November 6	at Arizona	Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ	W 26–24	52,809	[5]
November 13	at UTEP	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	W 14–10
November 20	at Air Force *	Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO	L 21–41	25,736	[6]
December 25	vs. No. 8 Oklahoma *	Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ (Fiesta Bowl)	L 7–41
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "1976 Wyoming Cowboys Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
2. "2018 Wyoming Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Wyoming. 2018. p. 213. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
3. "1976 Wyoming Cowboys Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
4. Chuck Harkins (October 17, 1976). "Cowboys slip by Lobos, 24-23". Casper Star-Tribune. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Chuck Harkins (November 7, 1976). "Cowboys 26 Wildcats 24". Casper Star-Tribune. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Chuck Harkins (November 21, 1976). "Falcons upset Pokes". Casper Star-Tribune. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.