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
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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<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Fitzgerald (offensive guard)</span> Former college American football player

John Fitzgerald is a former college American football player. He played offensive guard for the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma from 1997-2000. During his career, Fitzgerald was named an NCAA All-American following his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. He was also named Daktronics All-West Region all three seasons and All–Lone Star Conference each season. Fitzgerald was also the Lone Star Conference Offensive Lineman of The Year in 1998. Injury prevented a career in the National Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Oklahoma Bronchos</span> Athletic teams representing University of Central Oklahoma

The Central Oklahoma Bronchos, are the intercollegiate athletic teams representing University of Central Oklahoma, located in Edmond, Oklahoma. The five men's and nine women's varsity teams are called the "Bronchos". The school's identification as Bronchos dates back to 1922, when the wife of football coach Charles W. Wantland suggested it for the school's mascot. The official colors of the teams are bronze and blue, which the institution adopted in 1895. The Bronchos compete in the NCAA's Division II and in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association in all sports except women's rowing, which competes in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Bronchos have won 22 national championships, with the most recent coming in 2024 as the wrestling program won the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. The university's current athletic director is Stan Wagnon, who has served in the position since 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Oklahoma Bronchos football</span> College football team (University of Central Oklahoma)

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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The 2013 Central Oklahoma football team represented the University of Central Oklahoma during the 2013 NCAA Division II football season, and the 108th season of Broncho football. The Bronchos played their five home games at Wantland Stadium in Edmond, Oklahoma, which had been Central Oklahoma's home stadium since 1965. The 2013 team was coming off a 2-8 record in 2012. The 2013 team was headed by second year head coach Nick Bobeck. 2013 was the Bronchos 2nd as a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Oklahoma–Northeastern State football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Central Oklahoma–Northeastern State football rivalry, commonly referred to as the Battle for the President's Cup, is an American college football rivalry game played annually between the Central Oklahoma Bronchos football team of the University of Central Oklahoma from Edmond, Oklahoma, and the Northeastern State RiverHawks football team of Northeastern State University from Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Both schools currently compete in the NCAA Division II level, and are members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). Central Oklahoma, formerly Central State, has a 54–27–2 advantage in the series but Northeastern State has kept the series record close since the introduction of the President's cup in 1998.

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.

The 1990 NCAA Division II football rankings are from the NCAA Division II football committee. This is for the 1990 season.

The 1997 NCAA Division II football rankings are from the NCAA Division II football committee. This is for the 1997 season.

The 1996 UC Davis football team represented the University of California, Davis as an independent during the 1996 NCAA Division II football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Bob Biggs, UC Davis compiled an overall record of 8–5. 1996 was the 27th consecutive winning season for the Aggies. UC Davis was ranked No. 17 in the NCAA Division II poll at the end of the regular season and advanced to the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs, where they upset top-ranked Texas A&M–Kingsville in Kingsville, Texas in the first round. In the quarterfinals, the Aggies upset ninth-ranked Central Oklahoma at home. In the semifinals, they were defeated by sixth-ranked Carson–Newman in Jefferson City, Tennessee. The team outscored its opponents 369 to 240 for the season. The Aggies played home games at Toomey Field in Davis, California.

The 1972 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University in the 1972 NAIA Division I football season. They were led by head coach Ernest Hawkins, who was in his ninth season at East Texas State. The Lions played their home games at Memorial Stadium and were members of the Lone Star Conference. The Lions won the Lone Star Conference, the NAIA District IV, and the NAIA Division I National Championship.

The 1979 Texas A&I Javelinas football team was an American football team that represented the Texas College of Arts and Industries as a member of the Lone Star Conference during the 1979 NAIA Division I football season. In its first year under head coach Ron Harms, the team compiled a 12–1 record, won the Lone Star Conference championship, and defeated Central State (Oklahoma) in the Palm Bowl to win the NAIA national championship.

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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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  12. "NCAA Division II". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. October 6, 1998. p. C5. Retrieved April 30, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  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