1978 Angelo State Rams football team

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

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]

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.