1977 Widener Pioneers football team
| 1977 Widener Pioneers football | |
|---|---|
NCAA Division III champion MAC champion | |
Stagg Bowl, W 39–36 vs. Wabash | |
| Conference | Middle Atlantic Conference |
| Record | 11–1 (6–0 MAC) |
| Head coach |
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| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albright x | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Upsala | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lycoming | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Juniata | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wilkes | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Susquehanna | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Delaware Valley | 0 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Widener x^ | 6 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Franklin & Marshall | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dickinson | 5 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Muhlenberg | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swarthmore | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lebanon Valley | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Maryland | 2 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moravian | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ursinus | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Johns Hopkins | 0 | – | 8 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 8 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gettysburg * | 1 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1977 Widener Pioneers football team represented Widener University as a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) during the 1977 NCAA Division III football season. The team won the 1977 NCAA Division III national championship.
Season overview[edit]
In their ninth season under head coach Bill Manlove, the Pride compiled an 11–1 record and won the NCAA Division III championship.[1][2][3][4]
The team lost to Fordham in the second game of the season – Widener's first home defeat since 1970.[5] The Fordham loss was followed by a 10-game winning streak. In the NCAA Division III playoffs, the Pioneers shut out Central (Iowa) (17–0) on the road. In the semifinals, the Pioneers defeated Albany as Chip Zawoiski carried a record 31 times for 171 rushing yards.[6]
In the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, Widener faced Wabash. The Pioneers won, 39–36, in a game that featured five lead changes. Widener ultimately pulled ahead with two fourth-quarter touchdowns on passes of 25 and 70 yards from Mark Walter to Walker Carter.[2][7]
The team played its home games in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Statistical leaders and awards[edit]
The team's statistical leaders included senior tailback Chip Zawoiski with 1,576 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns and quarterback Mark Walter with 1,312 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.[2]
Zawoiski was named the MAC most valuable player (tying with John Green of Franklin Y Marshall), and coach Manlove received MAC Coach of the Year honors for the fourth consecutive year. A total of ten Widener players received first-team All-MAC honors: Zawoiski; split end Walker Carter; offensive tackle Bob Brewster; offensive guard Andy Martin; kicker John Ferko; defensive end Tim Erlacher; defensive tackle Jim "Bubba" Carter; linebackers Eddie Fulmer and Wayne Pierce; and defensive back Ted Kukawaski.[8]
The 1977 team was inducted as a group into the Widener Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.[2]
Schedule[edit]
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 17 | Lebanon Valley | Chester, PA | W 28–0 | [9] | |||
| September 24 | Fordham* | Chester, PA | L 14–19 | [5] | |||
| October 1 | at Moravian | Bethlehem, PA | W 13–9 | [10] | |||
| October 8 | at New York Tech* | Old Westbury, NY | W 35–6 | [11][12] | |||
| October 15 | Johns Hopkins | Chester, PA | W 17–6 | 3,000 | [13] | ||
| October 22 | Franklin & Marshall | Chester, PA | W 42–12 | [14] | |||
| October 29 | at Ursinus | Collegeville, PA | W 56–6 | 362 | [15] | ||
| November 5 | at Delaware Valley | Doylestown, PA | W 50–27 | [16] | |||
| November 12 | at Swarthmore | Swarthmore, PA | W 32–3 | 1,000 | [17] | ||
| November 19 | at Central (IA)* | Pella, IA (NCAA Division III quarterfinal) | W 19–0 | [6][18] | |||
| November 26 | Albany* | Chester, PA (NCAA Division III semifinal) | W 33–15 | 3,000 | [19] | ||
| December 3 | vs. Wabash* | Phenix City, AL (Stagg Bowl) | W 39–36 | 7,852 | [7] | ||
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References[edit]
- ^ "1977 Football Schedule - NCAA Division III Champions". Widener Athletics. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "1977 Widener Football Team". Widener Athletics. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ Phil Jasner (November 25, 1977). "Widener Close To Title Shot". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 132 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Joe Juliano (December 1, 1977). "A tale of two schools -- small powers seek national titles: Widener after Division III crown". The Danville News. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Fordham topples Widener". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 25, 1977. p. 10E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Don Kruse (November 20, 1977). "Widener blanks Dutchmen 19-0". The Waterloo Courier. pp. 57–58 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Pa. Teams Win: Widener Outlasts Wabash 39-36 To Capture Division III Tite". Sunday News Journal. Lancaster, Pennsylvania. December 4, 1977. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Widener puts 10 on MAC team; Manlove shares loop's Coach-of-Year honors". Courier-Post. Camden, New Jersey. December 1, 1977. p. 52 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Widener Zips Lebanon Valley 28-0". Sunday News. ancaster, Pennsylvania. September 18, 1977. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ted Meixell (October 2, 1977). "Widener 13 Moravian 9". Sunday Call-Chronicle. p. C2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Widener 35, N.Y. Tech 6". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). October 9, 1977 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Quarterback Walter leads Widener, 35-6". The Des Moines Register. October 9, 1976. p. 10D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Widener runs past Hopkins". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 16, 1977. p. 10E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Widener defeats Diplomats 42-12". The Morning News. October 23, 1977. p. Sports 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Widener wallops Ursinus 56-6". Sunday News Journal. October 30, 1977. p. Sports 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Widener 50 DVC 27". Sunday Call-Chronicle. November 6, 1977. p. C3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Widener stops Swarthmore 32-3". The Morning News. Wilmington, Delaware. November 13, 1977. p. Sports 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Bob Dyer (November 20, 1977). "Widener's tough defense douses Central bid, 19-0". The Des Moines Register. p. 8D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Widener smashes Albany 33-15, enters NCAA Division III finals". The Morning News. Wilmington, Delaware. November 27, 1977. p. Sports 3 – via Newspapers.com.