1976 Purdue Boilermakers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1976 Purdue Boilermakers football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 5–6 4–4 Alex Agase 4th Scott Dierking Scott Dierking Blane Smith Ross–Ade Stadium The 1976 Purdue Boilermakers football team was an American football team that represented Purdue University in the 1976 Big Ten Conference football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach Alex Agase, the Boilermakers compiled a 5–6 record (4–4 against conference opponents) and finished in a four-way tie for third place in the Big Ten standings.1976 Big Ten Conference Year Summary Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football February 24, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/big-ten/1976.html Running back Scott Dierking led the team with 1,000 rushing yards and 66 points scored. He was selected by his teammates as the team's most valuable player and finished second to Rob Lytle in the voting for the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, awarded to the Big Ten's most valuable player.Lytle named Big 10 MVP: Purdue's Dierking is runnerup Chicago Tribune Roy Damer December 25, 1975 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9231097/lytle_named_big_10_mvp_purdues/ Dierking was also named by the Associated Press (AP) as a second-team All-AmericanTony Dorsett tops AP All-American Team Jefferson City Post Tribune December 2, 1976 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4499583/tony_dorsett_tops_ap_all_american_team/ and by the AP and United Press International (UPI) as a first-team running back on the 1976 All-Big Ten Conference football team.Michigan, Ohio State Pace All-Big Ten Team Toledo Blade (AP story) December 3, 1976 27 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19761203&id=ahBPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=agIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6803,3874955Illini place two on All-Big 10 The Pantagraph November 24, 1976 A11 https://www.newspapers.com/image/72821573/?terms=leach%2Bdierking%2Bcobb%2B%22united%2Bpress%22 Other statistical leaders included quarterback Mark Vitali with 1,184 passing yards.1976 Purdue Boilermakers Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football March 1, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/purdue/1976.html In addition to Dierking, three other Purdue players received honors on the 1976 All-Big Ten team: offensive guard Connie Zelencik (AP-1, UPI-2); defensive end Blane Smith (AP-1, UPI-2); and defensive back Paul Beery (AP-2, UPI-1). Schedule 1976 AP September 11 w Northwestern Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 31–19 46,311 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anderson-herald-runner-dierking-qb/181037691/ The Anderson Herald Runner Dierking, QB Vitali leads Purdue's 31–19 victory September 12, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com September 18 l y y Notre Dame Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 0–23 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-burgmeiers-stel/180957381/ The Des Moines Register Burgmeier's stellar defense play helps Irish spill Purdue, 23–0 September 19, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 25 l y USC 19 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 13–31 65,425 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lima-news-southern-cal-downs-purdue/181037354/ The Lima News Southern Cal downs Purdue September 26, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 2 w y Miami (OH) Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 42–20 55,102 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-recorder-purdue-crushes-redski/181040069/ The Times Recorder Purdue crushes Redskins 42–20 October 3, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 9 w y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 18–16 79,111 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-purdue-upstages-wiscon/181038925/ The Post-Crescent Purdue upstages Wisconsin, 18–16 October 10, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 16 l y Illinois Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 17–21 66,716 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-mail-decoy-phillips-lifts-illi/181040153/ The Times-Mail Decoy Phillips lifts Illinois October 17, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 23 l y Ohio State 9 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 3–24 87,898 https://www.newspapers.com/article/evansville-courier-and-press-buckeyes-bl/181040229/ Evansville Courier and Press Buckeyes blast Boilermakers, 24–3 October 24, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 30 l y Michigan State Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 13–45 52,222 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-smith-gets-msu-rol/181038476/ The Kalamazoo Gazette Smith gets MSU rolling October 31, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 w Michigan 1 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 16–14 57,205 Purdue Stuns No. 1 Michigan The Victoria Advocate (AP story) November 7, 1976 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cgdaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DEsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6968,1098713&dq=michigan+purdue&hl=en September 14, 2025 Google News ArchivePurdue stuns No. 1 Michigan, Pittsburgh may get top ranking The Bulletin (AP story) November 8, 1976 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6vtXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3fYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6290,324635&dq=michigan+football+ford&hl=en September 14, 2025 Google News Archive November 13 w y Iowa Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 21–0 44,763 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-hawkeye-fumble-give/181039942/ The Daily Nonpareil Hawkeye fumble give Boilermakers shutout November 14, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com November 20 l Indiana Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN Old Oaken Bucket 14–20 63,220 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-iu-surprises-purdue-to-wi/181040370/ The Muncie Star IU surprises Purdue to win Bucket November 21, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com 2022 Purdue Football Record Book https://purduesports.com/documents/2022/8/23/2022_Purdue_Record_Book.pdf Purdue University Athletics 89 January 29, 2023 Game summaries Northwestern Scott Dierking 27 rushes, 151 yards At Notre Dame Purdue Boilermakers 2; text-align:center collapsed Purdue Boilermakers (1–0) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0–1) September 18 Purdue 0 0 0 0 Notre Dame 3 7 7 6 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana 59,075 Recap/Box First quarter ND – Dave Reeve 39-yard field goal, 0:47. Notre Dame 3–0. Drive: Second quarter ND – Mark McLane 33-yard pass from Al Hunter (Dave Reeve kick). Notre Dame 10–0. Drive: Third quarter ND – Rick Slager 1-yard run (Dave Reeve kick). Notre Dame 17–0. Drive: Fourth quarter ND – Al Hunter 2-yard run (kick failed). Notre Dame 23–0. Drive: 49 yards. Top passers PUR ND Top rushers PUR ND Top receivers PUR ND Eugene Register-Guard. 1976 Sept 19. Pg. 14B. Retrieved 2021-Jan-11. USC January 2021 Miami (OH) Scott Dierking 28 rushes, 211 yards John Skibinski 15 rushes, 121 yards At Wisconsin Paul Beery's fourth interception and Rock Supan's 20-yard field goal with a little over two minutes remaining lifted Purdue to victory.Eugene Register-Guard. 1976 Oct 09. Retrieved 2018-Dec-30. Illinois January 2021 At Ohio State January 2021 At Michigan State January 2021 Michigan #1 Michigan at Purdue Michigan 7 0 7 0 Purdue 7 6 0 3 Saturday, November 6 Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana Source: Palm Beach Post yes 1 MICH Leach 8-yard run (Wood kick) MICH 7-0 1 PUR Dierking 4-yard run (Supan kick) Tied 7-7 2 PUR Dierking 25-yard run (kick blocked) PUR 13-7 3 MICH Smith 65-yard pass from Leach (Wood kick) MICH 14-13 4 4:20 PUR Supan 23-yard field goal PUR 16-14 yes PUR: Scott Dierking 38 rushes, 162 yards At Iowa Purdue 6 8 7 0 Iowa 0 0 0 0 November 13 Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa yes 1 Purdue Vitali 3-yard run (kick failed) Purdue 6-0 2 Purdue Vitali 20-yard run (Dierking run) Purdue 14-0 3 Purdue Vitali 1-yard run (Supan kick) Purdue 21-0 yes Eugene Register-Guard. 1976 Nov 14. Indiana January 2021 Roster 1976 Purdue Boilermakers y 21 Reggie Arnold WR 7 Steve Barr QB 25 Sr Scott Dierking RB y C 88 Tim Eubank TE 55 Tom Gibson OG 63 Sr Dave LaFary OT y 71 Jim LeFeber OT Bennie Leverett RB Rick Moss RB Jappy Oliver WR 31 Jr John Skibinski FB y Raymond Smith WR 81 Ricky Smith RB 42 Jr Jesse Townsend WR 65 Sr Jay Venzin C 18 Sr Mark Vitali QB 51 Sr Rich Wetendorf C 80 Sr Nigel Wirgowski TE 50 Sr Connie Zelencik OG y 48 Fred Arrington LB 73 Chris Barr DT Paul Beery S 96 Kim Cripe DE Cleveland Crosby DT 46 Jr Pat Harris CB Jerome King CB Ken Loushin MG 59 Bob Mannella LB Kevin Motts LB 24 Mike Northington CB RB 91 Sr Blane Smith DE C y 20 Rock Supan S K Dave Eagin P Scott Sovereen K John Turner K Alex Agase George Catavolos (DB) Fred Conti Jack Ellis Bob Geiger Jerry Hartman Pat Naughton Tom Roggeman Rick Venturi Stan Parrish (GA) Mike Wynn Awards Red Mackey Award: Mark Vitali Statistics Passing Player Comp Att Yards TD INT Mark Vitali 73 172 1,184 0 16 Scott Dierking 92 Rushing Player Att Yards TD Scott Dierking 201 1,000 11 John Skibinski 173 871 Mark Vitali 100 317 Receiving Player Rec Yards TD Reggie Arnold 16 287 Raymond Smith 11 233 John Skibinski 13 118 Broyles, Bob and Paul Guido. 50 Years of College Football: A Modern History of America's Most Colorful Sport References Purdue Category:Purdue Boilermakers football seasons Purdue Boilermakers football