1976 Colgate Red Raiders football team

The 1976 Colgate Red Raiders football team was an American football team that represented Colgate University as an independent during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In its first season under head coach Frederick Dunlap, the team compiled an 8–2 record. Mark Murphy and Keith Polito were the team captains.[2]

1976 Colgate Red Raiders football
ConferenceIndependent
Record8–2
Head coach
Captains
  • Mark Murphy
  • Keith Polito
Home stadiumAndy Kerr Stadium
Seasons
← 1975
1977 →
1976 NCAA Division I independents football records
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 team played its home games at Andy Kerr Stadium in Hamilton, New York.

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11 Connecticut W 13–7 5,000–5,300 [3][4]
September 18 at Davidson W 17–7 3,500 [5]
September 25 at Cornell W 25–20 10,000 [6]
October 9 Holy Cross
  • Andy Kerr Stadium
  • Hamilton, NY
W 10–6 3,000 [7]
October 16 at Princeton W 17–7 18,000 [8]
October 23 at Lafayette W 24–14 3,000 [9]
October 30 Boston University
  • Andy Kerr Stadium
  • Hamilton, NY
W 21–14 3,500–5,000 [10][11]
November 6 at Bucknell W 24–13 3,500 [12]
November 13 at Army L 13–29 29,637 [13]
November 25 at No. 17 Rutgers L 9–17 33,405 [14]
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Leading players

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Two trophies were awarded to the Red Raiders' most valuable players in 1976:[15]

  • Keith Polito, wide receiver, received the Andy Kerr Trophy, awarded to the most valuable offensive player.
  • Doug Curtis, linebacker, received the Hal W. Lahar Trophy, awarded to the most valuable defensive player.

Statistical leaders for the 1976 Red Raiders included:[16]

  • Rushing: Pat Healy, 557 yards and 3 touchdowns on 141 attempts
  • Passing: Bob Relph, 1,353 yards, 95 completions and 10 touchdowns on 201 attempts
  • Receiving: Keith Polito, 555 yards and 6 touchdowns on 30 receptions
  • Total offense: Bob Relph, 1,530 yards (1,353 passing, 177 rushing)
  • Scoring: Jerry Andrewlavage, 51 points from 15 PATs and 12 field goals
  • All-purpose yards: Bruce Malverty, 859 yards (418 rushing, 281 kickoff returning, 160 receiving)
  • Tackles: Doug Curtis, 145 total tackles
  • Sacks: Sid Harris, 6 quarterback sacks

References

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  1. ^ https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1976-standings.html
  2. ^ "Colgate Athletic History: Football" (PDF). Hamilton, N.Y.: Colgate University. p. 13. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  3. ^ Price, Terry (September 12, 1976). "Colgate Nips Connecticut, 13-7". The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Conn. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Final 1976 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  5. ^ Quincy, Bob (September 19, 1976). "Passes Lift Colgate Past Davidson 17-7". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, N.C. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Jaworski, Charlie (September 26, 1976). "Relph Flings Cornell Loss". The Press & Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, N.Y. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Mumpton, Roy (October 10, 1976). "Colgate Outlucks Holy Cross, 10-6". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 67 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Bruns, John (October 17, 1976). "Tiger Defense Crumbles". The Sunday Home News. New Brunswick, N.J. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Reinhard, Paul (October 25, 1976). "Colgate Wrecks Lafayette 24-14". Sunday Call-Chronicle. Allentown, Pa. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com. Attendance figure in "East: Colgate 24, Lafayette 14". The Miami Herald. Miami, Fla. October 25, 1976. p. 4C.
  10. ^ Higdon, Bill (October 31, 1976). "Colgate Turns Back Tough BU Pass Rush, 21-14". Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 80 – via Newspapers.com. Attendance figure in "Colgate 21, Boston University 14". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Fla. October 31, 1976. p. 7C.
  11. ^ "Final 1976 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  12. ^ Ranck, Jeff (November 8, 1976). "Unbeaten Colgate Defeats Bucknell, 24-13". The Daily Item. Sunbury, Pa. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com. Attendance figure in "Colgate 24, Bucknell 13". Sunday News Journal. Wilmington, Del. November 7, 1976. p. Sports 4.
  13. ^ Ward, Gene (November 14, 1976). "Army, 29-13, Gives Colgate First Defeat". Sunday News. New York, N.Y. p. 137 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Lewis, Allen (November 26, 1976). "Rutgers Wins 18 in Row". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Colgate Athletic History: Football" (PDF). Hamilton, N.Y.: Colgate University. p. 19. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  16. ^ "Colgate Athletic History: Football" (PDF). Hamilton, N.Y.: Colgate University. pp. 43–55. Retrieved June 15, 2020.