1976 North Carolina Central Eagles football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1976
| team = North Carolina Central Eagles
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
| short_conf = MEAC
| record = 6–5
| conf_record = 2–4
| head_coach = Willie Smith
| hc_year = 4th
| captain =
| stadium = O'Kelly Stadium
}}
{{1976 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings}}
The 1976 North Carolina Central Eagles football team represented North Carolina Central University as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) during the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Willie Smith, the Eagles compiled an overall record of 6–5, with a mark of 2–4 in conference play, and finished fifth in the MEAC.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1976
| rankdivision = NCAA Division II
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 11
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1976|team=Elizabeth City State Vikings|title=Elizabeth City State}}
| site_stadium = O'Kelly Stadium
| site_cityst = Durham, NC
| score = 34–0
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-nc-central-rips-elizab/153821077/|work=Greensboro Daily News|title=N.C. Central rips Elizabeth City 34–0|date=September 12, 1976|accessdate=August 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 18
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1976|team=Winston-Salem State Rams|title=Winston-Salem State}}
| site_stadium = O'Kelly Stadium
| site_cityst = Durham, NC
| score = 31–7
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-nc-central-crush/153821292/|work=Winston-Salem Journal|title=N.C. Central crushes inexperienced WSSU|date=September 19, 1976|accessdate=August 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 25
| w/l = l
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Alcorn State
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Henderson Stadium
| site_cityst = Lorman, MS
| score = 17–23
| attend = 8,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123062507/alcorn-turns-back-central/|work=Durham Morning Herald|title=Alcorn turns back Central|date=September 26, 1976|accessdate=August 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 2
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Morgan State
| site_stadium = Hughes Stadium
| site_cityst = Baltimore, MD
| score = 10–12
| attend = 4,500
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-morgan-state-edges/143719681/|work=Winston-Salem Journal|title=Morgan State edges Central|date=October 3, 1976|accessdate=August 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 9
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1976|team=Virginia State Trojans|title=Virginia State}}
| site_stadium = O'Kelly Stadium
| site_cityst = Durham, NC
| score = 14–7
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-nc-central-hal/153821634/|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|title=N.C. Central halts Va. State|date=October 10, 1976|accessdate=August 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 16
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Delaware State
| site_stadium = Alumni Stadium
| site_cityst = Dover, DE
| score = 27–16
| attend =
| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86310290/the-morning-news/|newspaper=The Morning News|title=Passes doom Delaware State|date=October 17, 1976|accessdate=August 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 23
| w/l = l
| opponent = Maryland Eastern Shore
| site_stadium = O'Kelly Stadium
| site_cityst = Durham, NC
| score = 19–21
| attend =
| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-and-democrat-marylandes-bea/153822012/|newspaper=The Times and Democrat|title=Maryland–E.S. beats NCCU, 21–19|date=October 24, 1976|accessdate=August 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 30
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = South Carolina State
| site_stadium = State College Stadium
| site_cityst = Orangeburg, SC
| score = 0–30
| attend = 4,320
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40331658/sc_state_bulldogs_romp_over_nc/|newspaper=The Times and Democrat|title=S.C. State Bulldogs romp over N.C. Central: SCSC gains first place in the MEAC|date=October 31, 1976|pages=8A, 13A|accessdate=August 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 6
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1976|team=Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls|title=Johnson C. Smith}}
| site_stadium = O'Kelly Stadium
| site_cityst = Durham, NC
| score = 10–3
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-johnson-c-smith/153822335/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Johnson C. Smith is close...but N.C. Central prevails|date=November 7, 1976|accessdate=August 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 13
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Howard
| site_stadium = RFK Stadium
| site_cityst = Washington, DC
| score = 21–22
| attend = 3,158
| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-howard-slips-by-central/153808298/|newspaper=Durham Morning Herald|title=Howard slips by Central|date=November 14, 1976|accessdate=August 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 20
| w/l = w
| opponent = North Carolina A&T
| site_stadium = O'Kelly Stadium
| site_cityst = Durham, NC
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 17–16
| attend = 14,000
| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-central-beats-at-on-late/153758176/|newspaper=Durham Morning Herald|title=Central beats A&T on late FG|date=November 21, 1976|accessdate=August 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
{{cite web |author= |title=Final 1976 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (North Carolina Central) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/489/stats/13330 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=August 22, 2024 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{North Carolina Central Eagles football navbox}}
Category:North Carolina Central Eagles football seasons
North Carolina Central Eagles football
{{collegefootball-1976-season-stub}}