Central Oklahoma Bronchos football

Central Oklahoma Bronchos football
2015 Central Oklahoma Bronchos football team
First season	1902 (1902)
Athletic director	Joe Muller
Head coach	Nick Bobeck 4th year, 19–25 (.432)
Stadium	Wantland Stadium
Year built	1964
Seating capacity	10,000
Field surface	FieldTurf
Location	Edmond, Oklahoma
NCAA division	NCAA Division II
Conference	MIAA
Past conferences	Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference Lone Star Conference
All-time record	614–384–46 (.610)
Bowl record	3–2–0 (.600)
Claimed nat'l titles	2 (1962, 1982)
Conference titles	27
Colors	Bronze and Blue
Fight song	UCO Fight Song
Mascot	Buddy Broncho
Marching band	UCO Stampede of Sound
Outfitter	Nike
Rivals	Northeastern State Pittsburg State Gorillas
Website	www.bronchosports.com

The Central Oklahoma Bronchos football team represents the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in college football. The team is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, which is in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The UCO Bronchos football began in 1902 and has since compiled 600 wins, two national championships, and 26 conference championships.^[1][2][3] As of 2011, the Bronchos were ranked third in NCAA Division II for total wins and ranked 12th in winning percentage (0.621). In 1962, the Bronchos went 11–0 on the season and defeated Lenoir–Rhyne University (NC) 28–13 in the Camellia Bowl to claim its first NAIA national championship.^[4] Twenty years later, Central Oklahoma defended its home turf and defeated Colorado Mesa University (then Mesa State College) 14–11 in the NAIA national championship game to take its second title and finish the season with a 10–2 record.^[5][6]

Despite its rich history in football, Central Oklahoma has struggled in recent years, posting a 19–35 record and attaining only one winning season in the last five years. The decline in performance coincided with the NCAA's decision to place the Bronchos on three years probation for "lack of institutional control," starting in 2008.^[7] Chuck Langston, the Bronchos' head coach during the period when the rules violations occurred, was fired and replaced by Tracy Holland.^[7] As a result of penalties, UCO's roster was reduced from 100 players to 90 players each season during the probation, and Holland's win-loss record declined each year. In December 2011, Tracy Holland was fired as head coach after compiling a 15–29 record during his four seasons at the helm.^[8] The following month, Nick Bobeck, a UCO alumnus and former fullback for the Bronchos, was hired to take the reins as head football coach at UCO.^[9][10]

The Bronchos play their home games at Wantland Stadium, a 10,000-seat football coliseum built in 1965. The Bronchos have enjoyed nine undefeated home seasons and are 5–1 in playoff games at Wantland Stadium.

History

Pre-Wantland era (1902–1911)

UCO made its football debut in 1902, five years before Oklahoma statehood, during which the Bronchos were shutout in their only game of the season. In the match, the Oklahoma State Cowboys (formerly, Oklahoma A&M Aggies) defeated coach-less Central by a score of 40–0.^[11] The Bronchos did not field a team in 1903, but they resumed play the following year in 1904 after securing their first head coach, Lt. Boyd Hill. Hill stepped down after posting a 2–3 record his first season, and he later went on to coach at Oklahoma State during the 1906 season.^[12] In 1905, Coach Fenis Bently took the reigns of the young football program and compiled a record of 18–33–4 over the span of seven seasons, with over a third of those losses coming against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.^[13]

Wantland era (1912–1930)

After ten years of inconsistent play, the Bronchos landed a coach whose name now adorns their stadium in Edmond. Charles W. Wantland took over as the Bronchos head coach in 1912 and guided Central to 106 victories, six conference championships, and UCO's first undefeated season in 1915, during his 18 years at the helm. UCO's first conference championship came in 1914, when the Bronchos posted a 7–1–1 record. The third conference championship came in 1923, the Bronchos were impressive that season, beating its opponents by a combined score of 184–25, including a 14–6 victory over the Oklahoma A&M Cowboys in Stillwater, Oklahoma.^[14] The Bronchos continued their success by winning their fifth conference championship the following season in which Central defeated the likes of Oklahoma, Baylor (then Southwest Conference Champions), and Tulsa, all on the road.^[15][16] Interestingly, 1924 was the year that witnessed UCO's sole victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. This fact is notable because the coaches for both schools, Charles W. Wantland (UCO) and Bennie Owen (OU), were later immortalized for their accomplishments in a nearly identical fashion: UCO named its stadium after Wantland, and OU named its playing field after Owen.^[17][18] In addition to the stadium, UCO memorialized Coach Wantland by naming the physical education building in his honor.^[19] Wantland guided UCO to one more conference championship in 1929 and finished the following year with a final record of 106–43–15 (.692).^[20]

Reeds era (1931–1940)

Claude Reeds took over the UCO program in 1931 and picked up right where his predecessor left off by winning eight conference championships in his ten years in charge.^[21][3] In 1940, Reeds ended his tenure at UCO with an impressive record of 57–28–8 (.656).

Hamilton era (1941–1957)

After Reeds' departure, UCO hired Dale E. Hamilton to lead the Bronchos to victory. Hamilton did not disappoint, posting a 73–25–3 (.738) and winning eight conference championships in his 12-year post.^[3] After coaching, Hamilton served as UCO's athletic director. The university's Hamilton Field House is named in his honor.^[22]

Blevins era (1958–1963)

Following Hamilton's tough act, Coach Al Blevins managed to take UCO to new heights by winning the programs first national championship in 1962. The season prior to their national crown, the Bronchos finished 9–1–0 and won its 20th conference championship. In 1962, UCO went a perfect 11–0–0 on the season and defeated Lenoir–Rhyne (NC) 28–13 in the Camellia Bowl to take its first of two national championships.

Howard era (1977–2002)

Coach Gary Howard led UCO to its second national championship with a 14–11 win over Colorado Mesa University (then Mesa State College) in 1982. Howard stepped down in 2002 as UCO's longest-tenured and winningest coach, with a record of 161–106–6 (.601) in 26 seasons.

Bobeck era (2012–present)

With the Bronchos off probation from the NCAA, former UCO-fullback Nick Bobeck, took over as head coach in 2012. After his fourth season in charge, the Bronchos are 19–25. In the first game of the 2014 season, the Bronchos won their 600th game. At the time this placed UCO as the fourth highest win total in Division II history.^[23][24] The Bronchos continued their success under coach Bobeck in 2015, with a win in the Live United Texarkana Bowl over long time in-state rival Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Current coaching staff

Coaching history

The team has had 13 head coaches since organized football began in 1902. The Bronchos have played in more than 1,000 games in its 110 seasons. In those seasons, three coaches have led the Bronchos to postseason playoff appearances: Al Blevins, Gary Howard and, Chuck Langston. Bobeck has lead the Bronchos to the Mineral Water Bowl. Seven coaches have won conference championships with the Bronchos: Charles W. Wantland, Claude Reeds, Dale E. Hamilton, Gene Smith, Blevins, Phil Ball, and Howard. Blevins, and Howard have also won national championships with the Bronchos. Howard is the all-time leader in games coached and years coached, while Blevins is the all-time leader in wins and winning percentage. Tracy Holland is by December 2014, in terms of winning percentage, the least successful coach the Bronchos have had as head coach.

Of the 13 Bronchos coaches, Reeds has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, albeit from his time as a player for the Oklahoma Sooners. The current coach is Nick Bobeck, who was hired in December 2011.^[26]

Conferences

From its inaugural season in 1902 until 1913, Central Oklahoma played as an independent program. In 1914, it joined the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference (later renamed the Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference) in which the school won 22 conference championships before leaving to play as an NAIA independent in 1976. In 1988, it transferred to the Lone Star Conference in which it won two conference championships. Central Oklahoma later joined the MIAA in 2012, after playing as an independent for one season.

Championships

• National Championships (2)^[4][5]

National championship seasons

Conference championship seasons

• Conference Championships (27)^[27][28]

Divisional championships

The Lone Star Conference was split into two divisions from the 1997 to the 2010 season with Central Oklahoma competing in the LSC North. Central Oklahoma has won or shared 5 divisional titles. Their last division title was in the 2008 season. The conference and division championships were separate rankings.

Stadium

The Bronchos have played their home football games at Wantland Stadium, located on the north side of the UCO campus, since 1965.

The Bronchos play their home games at Wantland Stadium. The current capacity is 10,000. As of 2015, their current record at home stands at 163–94–5, a 62.2 winning percentage.^[29]

Rivalries

Northeastern State

Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State first played each other in 1912 and have since played in 75 contests with Central Oklahoma holding a 46–27–2 advantage. The two teams have combined for four NAIA national championships, and have played in two NCAA Division II conferences since 1997.^[30] Beginning in 1998 the two programs have competed for the President's Cup. Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma are tied 9–9 in the trophy series.

All-time record vs. current MIAA teams

Official record (including any NCAA imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current MIAA opponents as of the end of the 2015 season:

Postseason history

Central Oklahoma football teams have been invited to participate in 6 NAIA playoffs 4 NCAA Division II playoffs and 2 bowl games and have garnered a record of 23–15–2. Most recently, Central Oklahoma defeated the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs in the Live United Texarkana Bowl, 38–21, on December 5, 2015. Central Oklahoma's most recent playoff appearance was a 2003 Second round game against Texas A&M–Kingsville on November 29, 2003. They lost by a score of 49–6.

^{[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]}

See also

• 2015 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football season

References

External links

• Official website

University of Central Oklahoma Academics Colleges College of Business College of Education & Professional Studies College of Fine Arts & Design College of Liberal Arts College of Jackson College of Graduate Studies College of Mathematics & Sciences School of Criminal Justice Location Edmond, OK People Presidents Notable alumni Facilities Old North Athletics Teams Football Wrestling Softball Rowing Mascot Buddy Broncho Facilities Wantland Stadium Hamilton Field House Major Rival Northeastern State RiverHawks Student life UCentral KUCO KZUC-LP Established: 1890 – Endowment: $27.003 million – Students: 16,840 (Fall 2014)