1976 Wyoming Cowboys football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1976
| team = Wyoming Cowboys
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Western Athletic Conference
| short_conf = WAC
| record = 8–4
| conf_record = 6–1
| head_coach = Fred Akers
| hc_year = 2nd
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Leon Fuller
| dc_year = 2nd
| def_scheme =
| captain = Ray Davies
| captain2 = Steve Edwards
| captain3 = Kevin McClain
| captain4 = Paul Nunu
| stadium = War Memorial Stadium
| champion = WAC co-champion
| bowl = Fiesta Bowl
| bowl_result = L 7–41 vs. Oklahoma
}}
{{1976 Western Athletic Conference football standings}}
The 1976 Wyoming Cowboys football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wyoming as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In their second and final season under head coach Fred Akers, the Cowboys compiled an 8–4 record (6–1 against conference opponents), tied for the WAC championship, lost to Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, and outscored their opponents by a total of 278 to 250.{{cite web|title=1976 Wyoming Cowboys Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=October 12, 2018|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wyoming/1976-schedule.html}}{{cite web|title=2018 Wyoming Football Media Guide|publisher=University of Wyoming|year=2018|page=213|access-date=October 12, 2018|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/wyoming.sidearmsports.com/documents/2018/7/22/2018_Wyoming_Football_Media_Guide.pdf}}
They played their home games on campus at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming.
The team's statistical leaders included Don Clayton with 409 passing yards, Robbie Wright with 718 rushing yards, Walter Howard with 305 receiving yards, and Dan Christopulos with 53 points scored.{{cite web|title=1976 Wyoming Cowboys Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=October 12, 2018|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wyoming/1976.html}}
It was Wyoming's first winning season since 1969 and first bowl appearance since the Sugar Bowl in January 1968. Akers soon departed for the University of Texas and the Cowboys' next winning season was in 1980; the next bowl appearance was in December 1987.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1976
| poll = AP
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 11||{{cfb link|year=1976|team=South Dakota Coyotes|title=South Dakota}}
|September 18|at|Michigan State
|September 25||Utah State
|October 2||Arizona State|War Memorial Stadium|Laramie, WY|W 13–10|25,406|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal-wyoming-chills-sun-d/157341167/|work=Albuquerque Journal|title=Wyoming chills Sun Devils|date=October 3, 1976|accessdate=October 17, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 9|at|BYU|Cougar Stadium|Provo, UT|W 34–29|35,423|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-cowboys-withstand-couga/157339750/|work=The Daily Herald|title=Cowboys withstand Cougar charge|date=October 10, 1976|accessdate=October 17, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 16||New Mexico|War Memorial Stadium|Laramie, WY|W 24–23|23,649|{{cite news|title=Cowboys slip by Lobos, 24–23|newspaper=Casper Star-Tribune|author=Chuck Harkins|date=October 17, 1976|page=20|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115991342/cowboys-slip-by-lobos/|accessdate=October 17, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 23||Utah|War Memorial Stadium|Laramie, WY|W 45–22|20,609|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montana-standard-cowboys-top-utah-w/157341311/|work=The Montana Standard|title=Cowboys top Utah, WAC|date=October 24, 1976|accessdate=October 17, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 30|at|Colorado State|Hughes Stadium|Fort Collins, CO|L 16–19|32,572|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-drakes-four-field/157341404/|work=The Arizona Republic|title=Drake's four field goals subdue Wyoming, 19–16|date=October 31, 1976|accessdate=October 17, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 6|at|Arizona|Arizona Stadium|Tucson, AZ|W 26–24|52,809|{{cite news|title=Cowboys 26 Wildcats 24|newspaper=Casper Star-Tribune|author=Chuck Harkins|date=November 7, 1976|page=20|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115990724/cowboys-26-wildcats-24/|accessdate=October 17, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 13|at|UTEP|Sun Bowl|El Paso, TX|W 14–10|4,200|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-wyoming-win-clinche/157341554/|work=The Sunday Oregonian|title=Wyoming win clinches tie for WAC title|date=November 14, 1976|accessdate=October 17, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 20|at|Air Force
|December 25|vs|No. 8 Oklahoma
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Wyoming Cowboys football navbox}}
{{Western Athletic Conference football champions}}
Category:Wyoming Cowboys football seasons
Category:Western Athletic Conference football champion seasons