American college football season
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.[1]
Running back Scott Dierking led the team with 1,000 rushing yards and 66 points scored.[2] 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.[3] Dierking was also named by the Associated Press (AP) as a second-team All-American[4] and by the AP and United Press International (UPI) as a first-team running back on the 1976 All-Big Ten Conference football team .[5] [6]
Other statistical leaders included quarterback Mark Vitali with 1,184 passing yards.[2] 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).[5] [6]
Game summaries
Northwestern
At Notre Dame
Game information
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
Top rushers
Top receivers
[10]
USC
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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.[11]
Illinois
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At Ohio State
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At Michigan State
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Michigan
#1 Michigan at Purdue
1
2 3 4 Total
Michigan
7
0 7 0
14
• Purdue
7
6 0 3
16
Scoring summary 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
PUR: Scott Dierking 38 rushes, 162 yards
At Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
• Purdue
6
8 7 0
21
Iowa
0
0 0 0
0
Scoring summary 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
[12]
Indiana
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Awards
Red Mackey Award: Mark Vitali