1975 Boise State Broncos football team


The 1975 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University during the 1975 NCAA Division II football season, the eighth season of Bronco football and the third in the newly reorganized Division II. The Broncos were in their sixth year as members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games on campus at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho.
Prior to the season, the stadium was expanded with an upper deck added to the east grandstand, which increased the permanent seating capacity to 20,000. Part of the original design, it had been delayed for five years due to high costs.

Season

Led by eighth-year head coach Tony Knap, the Broncos were in the regular season and undefeated in conference, gaining their third straight Big Sky title. For those three seasons, the Broncos were in conference play; the only non-victory was a tie at rival Idaho during the Kibbie Dome dedication game in October. Prior to the regular season finale at Idaho State, it was announced that the winner would gain one of the eight BSU won by three to advance to

Playoffs

Invited again to the eight-team Division II playoffs, sixth ranked BSU hosted #5 Northern Michigan at Bronco Stadium in the quarterfinals on conditions caused fourteen fumbles, nine by BSU, and the visitors won Winless the previous season, the Wildcats went on to win the they were led by sophomore quarterback later a head coach in the NFL for
It was the third consecutive year that the Broncos fell in the playoffs to the eventual national champion, and it was their last appearance in the D-II playoffs. Boise State won the Big Sky title in 1977 but could not participate in the playoffs because of a late regular season game, and they moved up to the new Division I-AA in 1978. to the postseason in 1980 and won its only national title.

Knap departs

Two months later in January 1976, 61-year-old Knap moved south to Nevada-Las Vegas to replace Ron Meyer, who went to SMU in Dallas. At the time, UNLV was also in Division II, but moved up to I-A in 1978; Knap led the Rebels for six seasons, through 1981. Jim Criner, the UCLA linebackers coach, was hired as BSU's next head coach in and stayed for seven seasons.

Schedule

Roster

NFL Draft

Three Broncos were selected in the 1976 NFL Draft, which lasted seventeen rounds.
PlayerPositionRoundOverallFranchise
John SmithRunning back3rd75Dallas Cowboys
Gary GorrellLinebacker16th448Buffalo Bills
Jim MeeksDefensive back17th475Detroit Lions