University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2006
- Class:
- 1996
1996 Football Team - Head Coach Joe Glenn
The 1996 Northern Colorado football team claimed the first-ever team national championship in school history, topping Carson-Newman 23-14 in Florence, Ala. (Dec. 14, 1996). Coached by Joe Glenn, the team compiled an overall record of 12-3 and had seven players named All-American (RB Billy Holmes, DB/P Dirk Johnson, DL Pat Kemble, LB Brian Munroe, OL Tony Ramirez, DB Jesse Tann, DB Delano Washington). Captained by quarterback Tom Beck and linebacker Brian Munroe, the Bears had several highlights during the season, including a 21-6 victory over No. 11 South Dakota State on Nov. 2 to help them put themselves into playoff contention after a 5-3 start to the season; including that game, the team won its final seven contests of the season. The team opened the playoffs with a 24-21 victory at Pittsburg State and followed that up at home by defeating No. 2-ranked Northwest Missouri 27-26 when Beck found Omar Zuniga in the end zone from two yards out for the winning score with 12 seconds remaining. Northern Colorado
Team Members: Ryan Abrahamson, Jason Adams, Chad Ansell, Bryan Applewhite, Ryan Ayres, Tom Beck, Ed Bendokas, Jeff Berven, Bill Branch, Bernard Brockman, Donavan Brown, Brad Bunting, Ryan Burkholder, Lennis Campbell, Cliff Casco, Rob Case, Mark Chicarelli, Joshua Ching-Pickett, Jake Clark, Steve Cotham, Pat Coy, John Curto, Wes Daniels, Jason Dreweck, Kunta Duncan, Nathan Eastin, Noland Eastin, Ethan Emery, Derek Frazier, T.J. Gadlin, Dean Grable, Keith Grable, Jeremy Guddat, Andy Haase, Wade Hancock, Matt Harting, Brian Heil, Jamie Heiner, Jason Heinrich, Don Hemerson, Dylan Hockett, Billy Holmes, Mark Holte, Richard Jacoby, Mark Jeffries, Dirk Johnson, Floyd Johnson, J.D. Johnson, Martin Jones, Max Keeler, Pat Kemble, Steve Kensinger, Andy Klatt, Kris Kovel, Heath Kucera, Justin Lanham, Brian Lonergan, Desi Lopez, Brian Lusk, Darick Maes, Matt Markley, Melvin Marshall, Drew Masten, John May, Brian Mayo, Corte McGuffey, Don McLean, Josh Mettle, Jeff Miller, Dominic Mirenda, Ryan Mitchler, Hank Moody, Shad M
