1976 Albion Britons football team

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1976
Albion Britons football
MIAA champion
ConferenceMichigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record9–0 (5–0 MIAA)
Head coach
(4th season)
CaptainRick Otis
Home stadiumSprankle-Sprandel Stadium
Seasons
← 1975
1977 →
1976 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Albion $ 5 – 0 – 0 9 – 0 – 0
Hope
 4 – 1 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Alma
 3 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Kalamazoo 2 – 3 – 0 3 – 4 – 1
Adrian
 1 – 4 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
Olivet 0 – 5 – 0 0 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1976 Albion Britons football team was an American football team that represented Albion College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1976 NCAA Division III football season. In their fourth season under head coach Frank Joranko, the Britons compiled a perfect 9–0 record (5–0 against MIAA members), won the MIAA championship, shut out five of nine opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 272 to 49.[1] It was the fifth unbeaten season in the history of Albion's football program, with prior unbeaten seasons in 1928, 1961, 1964, and 1969.[2]

The Britons were ranked No. 3 in Division III at the end of the regular season. They also ranked first in Division III in rushing offense, total defense, and scoring defense, fourth in total offense, and third in rushing defense.[3] They were unable to participate in the NCAA Division III championship tournament due to an MIAA rule prohibiting post-season play.[3]

Albion players took 10 of 22 first-team spots on the 1976 MIAA All-League team. The Albion honorees were: quarterback Steve Robb (37 of 72 passes for 565 yards and seven touchdowns); fullback Kevin Nixon (596 rushing yards and nine touchdowns); offensive lineman Kevin Schaefer; center Ron Vanderlinden; defensive end and team captain Rick Otis; defensive linemen Jim Haskins and Steve Spencer; linebackers Fred Cromie and Frank Carr; and defensive back Dave Abbott.[4][1]

The team played its home games at Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium in Albion, Michigan.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11
Defiance*
W 38–02,208[5]
September 18at Mount Union*Alliance, OHW 27–04,500[6][7]
September 25Wabash*
  • Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium
  • Albion, MI
W 36–01,873–3,180[8][9]
October 2at
Alma
W 16–72,000–5,500[10]
October 9at
Adrian
Adrian, MIW 20–195,400[11]
October 16Kalamazoodagger
  • Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium
  • Albion, MI
W 28–03,000–6,340[12]
October 23Olivet
  • Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium
  • Albion, MI
W 55–63,190[13]
October 30at
Hope
Holland, MIW 14–36,734[14][15]
November 6
Lakeland*
  • Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium
  • Albion, MI
W 49–143,284[16]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

[17]

References

  1. ^
    Newspapers.com
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  2. Newspapers.com
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  3. ^
    Newspapers.com
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  4. Newspapers.com
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  5. Newspapers.com
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  6. Newspapers.com
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  7. Newspapers.com
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  8. Newspapers.com
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  9. Newspapers.com
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  10. Newspapers.com
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  11. Newspapers.com
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  12. Newspapers.com
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  13. Newspapers.com
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  14. Newspapers.com
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  15. Newspapers.com
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  16. Newspapers.com
    .
  17. ^ "Final 1976 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
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