1977 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team

1977 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football
GSC champion
NCAA Division II Championship Game—Pioneer Bowl, L 0–33 vs. Lehigh
Conference	Gulf South Conference
Record	11–3 (7–1 GSC)
Head coach	Jim Fuller (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Watson Brown (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Bill Shaw (1st season)
Home stadium	Paul Snow Stadium

1977 Gulf South Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 9 Jacksonville State $^	7	–	1	–	0			11	–	3	–	0
Tennessee–Martin	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
Troy State	6	–	2	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Southeastern Louisiana	5	–	3	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Mississippi College	4	–	4	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
North Alabama	3	–	5	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Delta State	3	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
Nicholls State	2	–	6	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Livingston	1	–	7	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AP Poll

The 1977 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team represented Jacksonville State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1977 NCAA Division II football season. Led by first-year head coach Jim Fuller, the Gamecocks compiled an overall record of 11–3 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, and finished as GSC champion. In the playoffs, Jacksonville State advanced to the Championship Game where they were defeated by Lehigh.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 3	Western Carolina*		Paul Snow Stadium Jacksonville, AL	W 21–16	8,200	[1]
September 10	Alabama A&M*		Paul Snow Stadium Jacksonville, AL	W 34–0	7,800	[2]
September 17	at Nicholls State		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	W 10–7	9,700	[3]
September 24	Tennessee–Martin	No. 5	Paul Snow Stadium Jacksonville, AL	W 36–13	10,000	[4]
October 1	at Southeastern Louisiana	No. 4	Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA	W 14–10	7,500	[5]
October 8	at No. T–10 Tennessee Tech*	No. 3	Tucker Stadium Cookeville, TN	L 20–27	7,500	[6]
October 22	Chattanooga*	No. 9	Paul Snow Stadium Jacksonville, AL	L 14–18	8,500	[7]
October 29	at Delta State		Delta Field Cleveland, MS	W 16–13	1,200	[8]
November 5	Livingston		Paul Snow Stadium Jacksonville, AL	W 44–7	10,000	[9]
November 12	at Troy State		Veterans Memorial Stadium Troy, AL (rivalry)	W 17–9	10,000	[10]
November 19	at North Alabama	No. 9	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL	W 24–20	7,500	[11]
November 26	at No. T–5 Northern Arizona*	No. 9	NAU Ensphere Flagstaff, AZ (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal)	W 35–0	7,500	[12]
December 3	vs. No. 1 North Dakota State*	No. 9	Anniston Memorial Stadium Anniston, AL (NCAA Division II Semifinal—Grantland Rice Bowl)	W 31–7	9,000	[13]
December 10	vs. No. 8 Lehigh	No. 9	Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, TX (NCAA Division II Championship Game—Pioneer Bowl)	L 0–33	14,114	[14]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[15]

References

1. "Jacksonville holds off Western's comeback". Asheville Citizen-Times. September 4, 1977. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Jax State defeats Bama A&M". The Selma Times-Journal. September 11, 1977. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Colonels lose tough contest, 10–7". The Daily Advertiser. September 18, 1977. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "To Jacksonville St. Pacers fall, 36–13". The Jackson Sun. September 25, 1977. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Coleman catch gives Jacksonville victory". The Daily Advertiser. October 2, 1977. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Tech blows lead, hangs in to win". The Tennessean. October 9, 1977. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Mocs gain 18–14 victory". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. October 23, 1977. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "DSU loses to Jacksonville". The Yazoo Herald. October 30, 1977. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Jax runs LU to death". The Anniston Star. November 6, 1977. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Jacksonville State clinches title tie". The Columbus Ledger. November 13, 1977. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Jaxmen refuse to die at UNA". The Anniston Star. November 20, 1977. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Jacksonville too quick, pummels Northern Arizona". The Arizona Republic. November 27, 1977. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Jaxmen one win away from national title". The Anniston Star. December 4, 1977. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
14. Thompson, Greg (December 11, 1977). "Lehigh wins Division II title". The Tampa Tribune-Times. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "2023 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Jacksonville State University Athletics. p. 176. Retrieved August 5, 2024.