1977 Widener Pioneers football team

American college football season March 2026 August 2023 1977 Widener Pioneers football Middle Atlantic Conference Southern Division MAC 11–1 6–0 Bill Manlove 9th NCAA Division III championMAC Southern Division champion Stagg Bowl W 39–36 vs. 1977 Wabash Little Giants Wabash The 1977 Widener Pioneers football team represented Widener University as a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) during the 1977 NCAA Division III football season. In their ninth season under head coach Bill Manlove, the Pride compiled an 11–1 record and won the NCAA Division III championship.1977 Football Schedule - NCAA Division III Champions Widener Athletics October 24, 2021 https://widenerpride.com/sports/football/schedule/1977Widener Close To Title Shot Philadelphia Daily News Phil Jasner November 25, 1977 132 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87787166/widener/ Newspapers.comA tale of two schools -- small powers seek national titles: Widener after Division III crown The Danville News Joe Juliano December 1, 1977 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87786709/a-tale-of-two-schools-small-powers/ Newspapers.com The team lost to 1977 Fordham Rams Fordham in the second game of the season – Widener's first home defeat since 1970. The Fordham loss was followed by a 10-game winning streak. In the NCAA Division III playoffs, the Pioneers shut out 1977 Central Dutch Central (Iowa) (17–0) on the road. In the semifinals, the Pioneers defeated 1977 Albany Great Danes Albany as Chip Zawoiski carried a record 31 times for 171 rushing yards.Widener blanks Dutchmen 19-0 The Waterloo Courier Don Kruse November 20, 1977 57–58 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87790200/widener-blanks-dutchmen-19-0/ Newspapers.com In the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, Widener faced 1977 Wabash Little Giants Wabash. The Pioneers won, 39–36, in a game that featured five lead changes. Widener ultimately pulled ahead with two fourth-quarter touchdowns on passes of 25 and 70 yards from Mark Walter to Walker Carter. The team played its home games in Chester, Pennsylvania. Schedule y y September 17 1977 Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen Lebanon Valley Chester, PA W 28-0 3,000 Widener Zips Lebanon Valley 28-0 Sunday News ancaster, Pennsylvania September 18, 1977 42 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87785203/widener-zips-lebanon/ Newspapers.com September 24 1977 Fordham Rams Fordham<ncg> Chester, PA L 14-19 3,500 Fordham topples Widener The Philadelphia Inquirer September 25, 1977 10E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87785337/fordham-topples-widener/ Newspapers.com October 1 at 1977 Moravian Greyhounds Moravian Bethlehem, PA W 13-9 1,200 Widener 13 Moravian 9 Sunday Call-Chronicle Ted Meixell October 2, 1977 C2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87790703/widener-13-moravian-9/ Newspapers.com October 8 at 1977 New York Tech Bears New York Tech<ncg> Old Westbury, NY W 35-6 500 Widener 35, N.Y. Tech 6 Newsday (Suffolk Edition) October 9, 1977 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87786316/widener/ Newspapers.comQuarterback Walter leads Widener, 35-6 The Des Moines Register October 9, 1976 10D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87786400/widener/ Newspapers.com October 15 1977 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Johns Hopkins Chester, PA W 17-6 3,000–4,500 Widener runs past Hopkins The Philadelphia Inquirer October 16, 1977 10E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87788608/widener-runs-past-hopkins/ Newspapers.com October 22 1977 Franklin & Marshall Diplomats Franklin & Marshall Chester, PA W 42-12 5,000 Widener defeats Diplomats 42-12 The Morning News October 23, 1977 Sports 5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87788441/widener-defeats-diplomats-42-12/ Newspapers.com October 29 at 1977 Ursinus Bears Ursinus 500 Collegeville, PA W 56-6 362 Widener wallops Ursinus 56-6 Sunday News Journal October 30, 1977 Sports 3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87790533/widener-wallops-ursinus-56-6/ Newspapers.com November 5 at 1977 Delaware Valley Aggies Delaware Valley Doylestown, PA W 50-27 500 Widener 50 DVC 27 Sunday Call-Chronicle November 6, 1977 C3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87790410/widener-50-dvc-27/ Newspapers.com November 12 at 1977 Swarthmore Garnet Tide Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA W 32-3 1,000 Widener stops Swarthmore 32-3 The Morning News Wilmington, Delaware November 13, 1977 Sports 5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87789974/widener-stops-swarthmore-32-3/ Newspapers.com November 19 at 1977 Central Dutch Central (IA)<ncg> Pella, IA (NCAA Division III quarterfinal) W 19-0 Widener's tough defense douses Central bid, 19-0 The Des Moines Register Bob Dyer November 20, 1977 8D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87789807/wideners-tough-defense-douses-central/ Newspapers.com November 26 1977 Albany Great Danes Albany<ncg> Chester, PA (NCAA Division III semifinal) W 33-15 3,000 Widener smashes Albany 33-15, enters NCAA Division III finals The Morning News Wilmington, Delaware November 27, 1977 Sports 3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87786101/widener-smashes-albany/ Newspapers.com December 3 vs 1977 Wabash Little Giants Wabash<ncg> Phenix City, AL (Stagg Bowl—NCAA Division III championship game) W 39-36 7,852 Pa. Teams Win: Widener Outlasts Wabash 39-36 To Capture Division III Title Sunday News Journal Lancaster, Pennsylvania December 4, 1977 37 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87784880/stagg-bowl/ Newspapers.com Final 1977 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Widener) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/783/stats/12867 National Collegiate Athletic Association May 31, 2025 Statistical leaders and awards The team's statistical leaders included senior tailback Chip Zawoiski with 1,576 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns and quarterback Mark Walter with 1,312 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.1977 Widener Football Team Widener Athletics October 26, 2021 https://widenerpride.com/honors/widener-university-athletics-hall-of-fame/1977-widener-football-team/21 Zawoiski was named the MAC most valuable player (tying with John Green of Franklin Y Marshall), and coach Manlove received MAC Coach of the Year honors for the fourth consecutive year. A total of ten Widener players received first-team All-MAC honors: Zawoiski; split end Walker Carter; offensive tackle Bob Brewster; offensive guard Andy Martin; kicker John Ferko; defensive end Tim Erlacher; defensive tackle Jim "Bubba" Carter; linebackers Eddie Fulmer and Wayne Pierce; and defensive back Ted Kukawaski.Widener puts 10 on MAC team; Manlove shares loop's Coach-of-Year honors Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey December 1, 1977 52 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87789363/widener-puts-10-on-mac-team/ Newspapers.com The 1977 team was inducted as a group into the Widener Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007. References Widener Category:Widener Pride football seasons Category:NCAA Division III Football Champions Widener football