1998 Central Oklahoma Bronchos football team

Last updated
1998 Central Oklahoma Bronchos football
LSC champion
LSC North division champion
Conference Lone Star Conference
DivisionNorth Division
Record12–1* (9–0 LSC)
Head coach
Home stadium Wantland Stadium
(capacity: 10,000)
Seasons
 1997
1999 

The 1998 Central Oklahoma Bronchos football team represented the University of Central Oklahoma during the 1998 NCAA Division II football season as members of the Lone Star Conference. This was the 93rd 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 team was headed by coach Gary Howard in his 22nd season as head coach. The Bronchos finished the regular season with an undefeated 11–0 record and the Lone Star Conference Championship. [2] The Bronchos also made the program's second appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Entering the playoffs the Bronchos were the number one ranked team in the country. [3] The Bronchos they won their first-round game over NAIA Football National Championship with a win over Chadron State, but lost their second-round game against Texas A&M–Kingsville. In 2000, the NCAA forced Texas A&M–Kingsville to forfeit their entire 1998 season due to use of inelgible players. [4] As a result, the University of Central Oklahoma officially recognizes this season as an undefeated 13–0. [5]

Contents

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultSource
September 5at Northwestern Oklahoma State *No. 13
W 3–0
September 12No. 6 Texas A&M–Kingsville No. 13W 38–9
September 19 Abilene Christian No. 13
W 30–0
September 26at Tarleton State No. T–5W 31–17
October 3 Langston *No. 3
  • Wantland Stadium
  • Edmond, OK
W 29–13
October 10 East Central No. 3
W 14–13 OT [6]
October 17at Harding No. 2 Searcy, AR W 31–3 [7]
October 24 Ouachita Baptist No. 2
  • Wantland Stadium
  • Edmond, OK
W 48–7
October 31at Southwestern Oklahoma State No. 1W 20–6
November 7at Southeastern Oklahoma State No. 1
W 48–7
November 14at Northeastern State No. 1W 36–10 [8]
November 21No. 19 Chadron State No. 1
W 21–19
November 21No. 11 Texas A&M–KingsvilleNo. 1
  • Wantland Stadium
  • Edmond, OK (NCAA Division II Second Round)
L 21–24* OT

Rankings

The Bronchos began the 1998 season ranked 13th in the Division II Committee poll. They rose to a tie for 5th by the end of the month. [9] [10] [11] [12] The Bronchos would rise to No. 2 by mid October. [13] [14] The Bronchos would gain the number one ranking after the Ouachita Baptist game and hold the top spot until the playoffs. [15] [16] [17]

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
( ) = First place votes.
Week
PollPre1234567Final
NCAA13533221 (4)1 (4)1 (4)

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Chad Richison Stadium is the on-campus football facility for the Central Oklahoma Bronchos football team in Edmond, Oklahoma. The official seating capacity of the stadium, following recent renovations, is 12,000, making the 7th largest Division II stadium, and the largest in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

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The Central Oklahoma Bronchos football team represents the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in college football. The team is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), which is in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Bronchos football program began in 1902 and has since compiled over 600 wins, two national championships, and 27 conference championships. As of 2022, the Bronchos are ranked fifth in NCAA Division II for wins. In 1962, the Bronchos went 11–0 on the season and defeated Lenoir–Rhyne University (NC) 28–13 in the Camellia Bowl to claim its first NAIA national championship. Twenty years later, Central Oklahoma defended its home turf and defeated Colorado Mesa University 14–11 in the NAIA national championship game to take its second title and finish the season with a 10–2 record. Despite its rich history in football, Central Oklahoma has struggled beginning in the late 2000s. The program has not participated in the NCAA Division II playoffs since 2003. The Bronchos play their home games at Chad Richison Stadium, a 12,000-seat football stadium built in 1965, and remodeled in 2022. The Bronchos have enjoyed nine undefeated home seasons and are 5–1 in playoff games at Wantland Stadium.

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Gary Howard is a former American football coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Central Oklahoma—from 1977 to 2002, compiling a career college football record of 161–106–6, four NAIA playoff appearances, three NCAA Division II playoff appearances, two conference championships, and a national championship. He is winningest coach the history of the Central Oklahoma program.

The 1998 NCAA Division I-AA football rankings are from the Sports Network poll of Division I-AA head coaches, athletic directors, sports information directors and media members. This is for the 1998 season.

The 1991 NCAA Division I-AA football rankings are from the NCAA Division I-AA football committee. This is for the 1991 season.

The 1990 NCAA Division I-AA football rankings are from the NCAA Division I-AA football committee. This is for the 1990 season.

The 1989 NCAA Division I-AA football rankings are from the NCAA Division I-AA football committee. This is for the 1989 season.

The 1998 NCAA Division II football rankings are from the NCAA Division II football committee. This is for the 1998 season.

The 1989 NCAA Division II football rankings are from the NCAA Division II football committee. This is for the 1989 season.

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References

  1. "Chad Richison Stadium". University of Central Oklahoma athletics. July 19, 2023.
  2. "LSC Championship History". Lone Star Conference. April 3, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  3. "NCAA Division II football record book" (PDF). NCAA. p. 63. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  4. "NCAA Penalizes Texas School". Los Angeles Times. September 21, 2000. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  5. "1998 Football Schedule" . Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  6. McKenzie, Wes (October 12, 1998). "Central Oklahoma is undefeated but not unconcerned". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  7. McKenzie, Wes (October 19, 1998). "State Shows a little Northern Composure". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  8. McKenzie, Wes (November 15, 1998). "Immaculate Perfection-UCO Rolls". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
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  13. "NCAA Division II Poll". The Kokomo Tribune. Kokomo, Indiana. October 13, 1998. p. B4. Retrieved April 30, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  14. "NCAA Division II Poll". Great Falls Tribune. Great Falls, Montana. October 20, 1998. p. 2S. Retrieved April 30, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  15. "NCAA Division II poll". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. October 27, 1998. p. D4. Retrieved April 30, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  16. "NCAA Division II Poll". The Kokomo Tribune. Kokomo, Indiana. November 3, 1998. p. B3. Retrieved April 30, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  17. "NCAA Division II Poll". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. November 10, 1998. p. C4. Retrieved April 30, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg