1978 Angelo State Rams football team

The 1978 Angelo State Rams football team was an American football team that represented Angelo State University and won the national championship during the 1978 NAIA Division I football season. In their fifth season under head coach Jim Hess, the Rams compiled a perfect 14–0 record. They participated in the NAIA Division I playoffs, defeating Western State (CO) (35–3) in the semifinals and Elon (34–14) in the City of Palms Bowl to win the NAIA Division II championship.[1]

1978 Angelo State Rams football
NAIA Division I national champion
LSC champion
City of Palms Bowl, W 34–14 vs. Elon
ConferenceLone Star Conference
Record14–0 (7–0 LSC)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1977
1979 →
1978 Lone Star Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Angelo State $^ 7 0 0 14 0 0
No. 11 Abilene Christian 5 2 0 7 3 0
Sam Houston State 4 3 0 6 5 0
No. 20 Texas A&I 4 3 0 6 5 0
Southwest Texas State 3 4 0 6 4 0
Stephen F. Austin 3 4 0 3 8 0
East Texas State 2 3 0 4 7 0
Howard Payne 0 7 0 2 8 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

Schedule edit

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 9Central State (OK)*W 42–13
September 16at Eastern New Mexico*
W 40–0
September 23at Sam Houston StateW 42–13[2]
September 30at East Central*Ada, OKW 14–7
October 7Stephen F. Austin
  • San Angelo Stadium
  • San Angelo, TX
W 15–3
October 14Abilene Christian
  • San Angelo Stadium
  • San Angelo, TX
W 33–8
October 21at Howard Payne
W 38–22
October 28Texas A&I
  • San Angelo Stadium
  • San Angelo, TX
W 21–19
November 4at Southwest Texas State
W 29–6
November 11Sam Houston State
  • San Angelo Stadium
  • San Angelo, TX
W 44–1711,000[3]
November 18at East Texas StateW 35–14
December 2Oregon College*
  • San Angelo Stadium
  • San Angelo, TX (NAIA Division I quarterfinal)
W 32–0
December 9Western State (CO)*
  • San Angelo Stadium
  • San Angelo, TX (NAIA Division I semifinal)
W 35–35,363
December 16Elon*W 34–14
  • *Non-conference game

References edit

  1. ^ "Rams 1978 National Championship Team to be Inducted into Angelo State Athletics Hall of Honor". Angelo State University. August 24, 2015.
  2. ^ "Aldridge, A-State power past SHSU". San Angelo Standard-Times. September 24, 1978. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Angelo State wins LSC title in 44–17 triumph". The Odessa American. November 12, 1978. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.