1976 Saint John's Johnnies football team

American college football season March 2026 August 2023 1976 Saint John's Johnnies football Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference MIAC 10–0–1 7–0 John Gagliardi 24th Clemens Stadium NCAA Division III championMIAC champion Stagg Bowl W 31–28 vs. 1976 Towson State Tigers Towson State The 1976 Saint John's Johnnies football team represented Saint John's University as a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) during the 1976 NCAA Division III football season. In their 24th season under head coach John Gagliardi, the Johnnies compiled a 10–0–1 record and won the NCAA Division III national championship.1976 SJU Football Schedule Saint John's University October 24, 2021 https://gojohnnies.com/sports/football/schedule/1976 After opening the season playing 1976 Minnesota Morris Cougars Minnesota Morris to a 15–15 tie, the Johnnies won 10 consecutive games, including victories over 1976 Augustana (Illinois) Vikings Augustana (IL) and 1976 Buena Vista Beavers Buena Vista in the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Johnnies closed their season facing 1976 Towson State Tigers Towson State in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl to determine the Division III championship. Saint John's took a 28-0 lead through three quarters, but Towson State scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to tie the score. Saint John's kicker Jeff Norman kicked a 19-yard field goal with one second remaining to secure the victory. Eight Saint John's players were included on the 1976 All-MIAC team: quarterback Jeff Norman; fullback Tim Schmitz; running back Jim Roeder; offensive lineman Dave Grovum; defensive lineman Ernie England, Terry Sexton and Joe Wentzel; and defensive back Joe Luby.SJU dominates All-MIAC team St. Cloud Times November 16, 1976 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87775395/sju-dominates-all-miac-team/ Newspapers.com Coach Gagliardi received the 1976 NCAA Division III Coach of the Year award.Photo St. Cloud Times December 14, 1976 18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87775621/gagliardi/ Newspapers.com Gagliardi became college football all-time winningest coach and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.John Gagliardi National Football Foundation October 25, 2021 https://footballfoundation.org/honors/hall-of-fame/john-gagliardi/2173 The team played its home games at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville, Minnesota. Schedule y y September 11 1976 Minnesota Morris Cougars Minnesota Morris<ncg> Clemens Stadium Collegeville, MN T 15-15 8,500 St. John's, Morris indicate they're ready for title chase St. Cloud Times Dave Anderson September 13, 1976 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87773539/st-johns-morris-indicate-theyre/ Newspapers.com September 18 at 1976 Hamline Pipers Hamline Norton Field St. Paul, MN W 57-28 St. John's stomps Hamline 57-28 Minneapolis Tribune Tom Briere September 19, 1976 12C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87773640/st-johns-stomps-hamline-57-28/ Newspapers.com September 25 at 1976 St. Thomas Tommies St. Thomas (MN) O'Shaughnessy Field St. Paul, MN W 14-11 8,000 St. John's beats St. Thomas 14-11 Star Tribune Tom Briere September 26, 1976 4C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87773755/st-johns-beats-st-thomas-14-11/ Newspapers.com October 2 1976 Augsburg Auggies Augsburg Clemens Stadium Collegeville, MN W 62-12 9,500 Johnnies can 'do no wrong' against Auggies St. Cloud Times Dave Anderson October 4, 1976 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87773916/johnnies-can-do-no-wrong-against/ Newspapers.com October 16 1976 Concordia Cobbers Concordia–Moorhead Clemens Stadium Collegeville, MN W 49-0 8,000 Johnnies crush Concordia 49-0 Star Tribune Tom Briere October 17, 1976 13C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87773990/johnnies-crush-concordia-49-0/ Newspapers.com October 23 at 1976 Macalester Scots Macalester Mac Field St. Paul, MN W 70-13 Johnnies extend unbeaten string St. Cloud Times October 25, 1976 18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87774103/johnnies-extend-unbeaten-string/ Newspapers.com October 30 1976 Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties Gustavus Adolphus Clemens Stadium Collegeville, MN W 44-14 7,500 St. John's sure of title tie Star Tribune Tom Briere October 31, 1976 10C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87774280/st-johns-sure-of-title-tie/ Newspapers.com November 6 at 1976 St. Olaf Oles St. Olaf Manitou Field Northfield, MN W 29-13 St. John's defeats St. Olaf 29-13 Minneapolis Tribune November 7, 1976 5C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87774358/st-johns-defeats-st-olaf-29-13/ Newspapers.comJohnnies seek undisputed title St. Cloud Times Dave Anderson November 5, 1976 11 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87775117/johnnies-seek-undisputed-title/ Newspapers.com November 20 at 1976 Augustana (Illinois) Vikings Augustana (IL)<ncg> Ericson Field Rock Island, IL (NCAA Division III first round) W 46-7 St. John's merits top billing The Dispatch Moline, Illinois Gordon Nelson November 21, 1976 28 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87774457/st-johns-merits-top-billing/ Newspapers.com November 27 1976 Buena Vista Beavers Buena Vista<ncg> Clemens Stadium Collegeville, MN (NCAA Division III semifinal) W 61-0 2,112 Top-Ranked St. John's Routs Buena Vista The Des Moines Register November 28, 1976 3D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87774700/top-ranked-st-johns-routs-buena-vista/ Newspapers.com December 4 vs 1976 Towson State Tigers Towson State<ncg> Phenix Municipal Stadium Phenix City, AL (Stagg Bowl—NCAA Division III championship game) W 31-28 7,214 Norman's field goal gives Johnnies win The Winona Daily News December 5, 1976 1B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87774849/normans-field-goal-gives-johnnies-win/ Newspapers.com Final 1975 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Saint John's (MN)) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/602/stats/133306 National Collegiate Athletic Association May 31, 2025 References Saint John's Category:Saint John's Johnnies football seasons Category:NCAA Division III Football Champions Category:Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football champion seasons Saint John's Johnnies football Category:College football undefeated seasons