1979 Central State Bronchos football team

The 1979 Central State Bronchos football team represented Central State University (OK) (now University of Central Oklahoma) during the 1979 NAIA Division I football season, and completed the 74th season of Broncho football. The Bronchos played their home games at Wantland Stadium in Edmond, Oklahoma, which has been Central's home stadium since 1965.^[1] The 1979 team returned to the NAIA after a brief stint in NCAA Division II. The 1979 team was led by coach Gary Howard in his third season. The team finished the regular season with a 9–1 record and made the program's third appearance in the NAIA playoffs after and first since 1972. The Bronchos advanced to the National Championship Game where they lost to the Texas A&I Javelinas 20–14.^[2]

1979 Central State Bronchos football
NAIA Division I Championship, L 14–20 vs. Texas A&I
Conference	Independent
Record	11–2
Head coach	Gary Howard (3rd season)
Home stadium	Wantland Stadium
Seasons ← 1978 1980 →

1979 NAIA Division I independents football records

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Liberty Baptist			–					9	–	1	–	1
No. 5 Central State (OK) ^			–					11	–	2	–	0
Kentucky State			–					6	–	5	–	0
Wofford			–					5	–	5	–	0
Guilford			–					4	–	5	–	0
Eastern New Mexico			–					4	–	6	–	0
Cameron			–					3	–	7	–	0
Langston			–					1	–	8	–	0
^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Source
September 8	Evangel		Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK	W 55–0
September 15	Southwestern Oklahoma State		Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK	W 28–0
September 22	at Northwestern Oklahoma State		Ranger Field Alva, OK	W 49–0
September 29	at East Texas State		Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 17–6
October 6	at East Central		Norris Field Ada, OK	W 35–28
October 20	Eastern New Mexico		Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK	W 20–0
October 27	at Cameron		Cameron Stadium Lawton, OK	W 35–14
November 3	vs. Langston		Taft Stadium Oklahoma City, OK	W 48–6
November 10	at Northeastern State		Gable Field Tahlequah, OK (rivalry)	L 14–22
November 17	Texas Lutheran	No. 5	Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK	W 30–20
December 1	at No. 3 Kearney State	No. 5	Foster Field Kearney, NE (NAIA quarterfinal)	W 42–22
December 8	No. 1 Presbyterian	No. 5	Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK (NAIA Semifinal)	W 28–6
December 15	vs. No. 2 Texas A&I	No. 5	McAllen, TX (NAIA Championship, Palm Bowl)	L 14–20	[3][4]
Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

After the season

Honors

The NAIA recognized running back, Steve Tate, center Kirk Condry, and quarter back Scott Burger as second team All-Americans.^[5]

NFL draft

Main article: 1980 NFL draft

The following Broncho was selected in the National Football League draft following the season.^[6]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL team
11	299	Terry Jones	Defensive end	Tampa Bay Buccaneers