The 1976 Purdue Boilermakers football team was an American football team that represented Purdue University in the 1976 Big Ten Conference football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach Alex Agase, the Boilermakers compiled a 5–6 record (4–4 against conference opponents) and finished in a four-way tie for third place in the Big Ten standings.

Running back Scott Dierking led the team with 1,000 rushing yards and 66 points scored. He was selected by his teammates as the team's most valuable player and finished second to Rob Lytle in the voting for the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, awarded to the Big Ten's most valuable player. Dierking was also named by the Associated Press (AP) as a second-team All-American and by the AP and United Press International (UPI) as a first-team running back on the 1976 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

Other statistical leaders included quarterback Mark Vitali with 1,184 passing yards. In addition to Dierking, three other Purdue players received honors on the 1976 All-Big Ten team: offensive guard Connie Zelencik (AP-1, UPI-2); defensive end Blane Smith (AP-1, UPI-2); and defensive back Paul Beery (AP-2, UPI-1).

Schedule

Game summaries

Northwestern Scott Dierking 27 rushes, 151 yards

At Notre Dame

Eugene Register-Guard. 1976 Sept 19. Pg. 14B. Retrieved 2021-Jan-11.

USC

Miami (OH) Scott Dierking 28 rushes, 211 yards John Skibinski 15 rushes, 121 yards

At Wisconsin Paul Beery's fourth interception and Rock Supan's 20-yard field goal with a little over two minutes remaining lifted Purdue to victory.Eugene Register-Guard. 1976 Oct 09. Retrieved 2018-Dec-30.

Illinois

At Ohio State

At Michigan State

Michigan

Source: Palm Beach Post

PUR: Scott Dierking 38 rushes, 162 yards

At Iowa

Eugene Register-Guard. 1976 Nov 14.

Indiana

Roster

Awards Red Mackey Award: Mark Vitali

Statistics Passing Player Comp Att Yards TD INT Mark Vitali 73 172 1,184 0 16 Scott Dierking 92

Rushing Player Att Yards TD Scott Dierking 201 1,000 11 John Skibinski 173 871 Mark Vitali 100 317

Receiving Player Rec Yards TD Reggie Arnold 16 287 Raymond Smith 11 233 John Skibinski 13 118 Broyles, Bob and Paul Guido. 50 Years of College Football: A Modern History of America's Most Colorful Sport

References