Central Oklahoma Bronchos football | |||
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First season | 1902 | ||
Athletic director | Joe Muller | ||
Head coach |
Nick Bobeck 5th year, 22–33 (.400) |
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Stadium | Wantland Stadium | ||
Year built | 1964 | ||
Seating capacity | 10,000 | ||
Field surface | FieldTurf | ||
Location | Edmond, Oklahoma | ||
NCAA division | Division II | ||
Conference | MIAA | ||
Past conferences | Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference Lone Star Conference |
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All-time record | 619–395–46 (.606) | ||
Bowl record | 3–2 (.600) | ||
Playoff appearances | 10 | ||
Playoff record | 10–8 | ||
Claimed nat'l titles | 2 (1962, 1982) | ||
Conference titles | 27 | ||
Colors | Blue and Bronze |
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Fight song | UCO Fight Song | ||
Mascot | Buddy Broncho | ||
Marching band | UCO Stampede of Sound | ||
Outfitter | Nike | ||
Rivals | Northeastern State | ||
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 (MIAA), which is in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The UCO Bronchos football program began in 1902 and has since compiled 600 wins, two national championships, and 26 conference championships. 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. 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.
Despite its rich history in football, Central Oklahoma has struggled beginning in the late 2000s, posting a 29–58 record and attaining only two winning seasons since 2009. The program has not participated in the NCAA Division II playoffs since 2003. 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.Chuck Langston, the Bronchos' head coach during the period when the rules violations occurred, was fired and replaced by Tracy Holland. 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. 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.