A Century of Pride: The History of University of Central Oklahoma Football

Since 1902, the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) football team, known as the Bronchos, has been a source of pride and tradition for the Edmond, Oklahoma, community. With over 600 wins, two national championships, and 28 conference titles, the Bronchos have cemented their place in NCAA Division II history. As of 2022, they are ranked fifth in NCAA Division II for all-time wins. This article explores the rich and storied history of the UCO football program, from its humble beginnings to its championship triumphs and the challenges it has overcome.

Early Years and the Wantland Era (1902-1930)

UCO's football program began five years before Oklahoma became a state. In 1902, UCO played its first game of football. They were shutout in that season's lone contest. The Oklahoma A&M Aggies defeated coach-less Central by a score of 40-0. The Bronchos did not field a team in 1903, but they resumed play the following year in 1904 after securing their first head coach, Boyd Hill.

After ten years of inconsistent play, the school, then known as Central State, landed coach Charles W. Wantland. Wantland took over as the head coach in 1912, and guided the program to 102 victories, six conference championships, and Central State's first undefeated season in 1915, during his 18 years at the helm. Central State's first conference championship came in 1914, when they posted a 7-1-1 record. In 1922, Wantland's wife suggested the term Bronchos for the school's athletic programs. That same year, the Bronchos defeated Iowa State. The third Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference championship came in 1923. The Bronchos were impressive that season, beating its opponents by a combined score of 184-25, including a 14-6 victory over Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater. Wantland's teams continued their success by winning their fifth conference championship the following season in which Central defeated the likes of Oklahoma, eventual Southwest Conference champions Baylor, and Tulsa, all on the road. 1924 was the year of the program's sole victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. This is notable because the coaches for both schools, Charles W.

Reeds and Hamilton: Building a Legacy (1931-1963)

Claude Reeds, a former Oklahoma All-American fullback, left West Texas State and took over the CSTC program in 1931. After Reeds' departure, Central State hired Dale E. Hamilton to lead the Bronchos. In 1942, the Bronchos completed their second undefeated season with a 7-0 record. Due to World War II the Bronchos did not play again until the 1946 season. During this time Hamilton spent two tours of duty in the armed forces, and Gene Smith filled in during the Korean War in 1950 and 1951, winning an OCC title. Hamilton posted a 73-25-3 (.738) record and won eight conference championships in his 12-years as coach. After coaching, Hamilton served as the institution's athletic director.

Following Hamilton's tough act, Coach Al Blevins managed to take the program to new heights. The Bronchos had three players, Ray Hayes, Bob Sams, and Jerry Perry drafted in the 1961 NFL draft. In 1961, Central State finished 9-1 and won its 20th conference championship. Their only blemish was a loss in the season finale to Panhandle A&M. Central won its first national championship in 1962. 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. Central made its first-ever playoff appearance in 1962 following an 9-0 regular season campaign and a conference championship. Central trailed 6-0 early in the national title game, but took a 14-6 lead into halftime. Lenoir-Rhyne cut it to 14-13 in the second half, but the Bronchos pulled away late. The Bronchos went 6-2, 7-2, and 7-3 respectively during those campaigns. Hamilton returned to the head coaching post in 1952 and would win three more conference titles. Like the 8-1 squad of 1955, Blevins put together a pair of one-loss Broncho battalions in his tenure. Central went 8-1 in 1959, winning the final seven games of the season. UCO, which of course was Central State College at the time, won the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference title in 1948, 1949, and 1950.

The Ball and Howard Years: Transition and Triumph (1964-1988)

In 1964, Phil Ball replaced Blevins as the Bronchos head coach. After a few rough seasons, including a 3-6-1 record in 1967 the Bronchos rebounded over the next few seasons and won the OCC championship in 1972, and made the NAIA playoffs. Ball did see Central through a crucial transition during his tenure. In 1965, the Bronchos began playing their home football games at Wantland Stadium, where they still play today. The Bronchos have an 176-103 all-time record at Wantland Stadium including nine seasons with an undefeated home record. Central's record crowd of 10,000 at Wantland Stadium was that first season, Oct. Ball did see Central through a crucial transition during his tenure. In 1965, the Bronchos began playing their home football games at Wantland Stadium, where they still play today. The Bronchos have an 176-103 all-time record at Wantland Stadium including nine seasons with an undefeated home record. Central's record crowd of 10,000 at Wantland Stadium was that first season, Oct. R.L. Phil Ball took over for Blevins in 1964 and he would go on to win 82 games, third-most in school history, over the next 12 years.

In 1977, Gary Howard succeeded Phil Ball as the head coach. He oversaw the program's transition from a brief period in NCAA Division II back to NAIA competition, as an independent. During the first two seasons Howard's Bronchos went 12-8-1. In 1979, he led CSU to the program's third NAIA playoff appearance and an 11-2 record. In 1979, just Howard's third season, the Bronchos opened the season with three consecutive shutouts by a combined 132-0. Central finished the regular season 9-1, then beat Nebraska Kearney and Presbyterian College in the first and second round of the NAIA playoffs. UCO met up with Texas A&M Kingsville in the national championship game, but came up short 20-14. The Bronchos lost the NAIA National Championship Game to Texas A&I 20-14. Three years later he returned to the playoffs this time winning the NAIA National Championship over Mesa State (now Colorado Mesa) 14-11. 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. Central had to go to Pueblo, Colo. in the first round but the fifth-ranked Bornchos had no problem winning 61-20. In a game at Wantland Stadium, aired on the USA Network, the Bronchos may have had their worst offensive game of the season. But the defense was there. Central beat Colorado Mesa 14-11 to win its second national championship. Howard also won the NAIA Coach of the Year award. The following season the Bronchos returned to the playoffs but lost to Saginaw Valley State in the first round. Howard led Central back to the playoffs in 1983 and 1985. Gary Howard, commended for his efforts in the transition of UCO to an NCAA school in Part I of our history on the football program, took over for Ball in 1976.

In 1988, the Bronchos re-joined the NCAA where they joined the Lone Star Conference.

Transition and Challenges in NCAA Division II (1989-2011)

The Bronchos struggled for several seasons including a 0-10-1 record in 1989. The institution was renamed to the University of Central Oklahoma in 1991. In 1996, Central Oklahoma posted a 9-3 record, finished second in the Lone Star Conference, and made the program's first appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs. The first game against Chadron State ended in a Broncho victory. UCO lost in the second round against UC Davis. The next season the Lone Star Conference underwent conference expansion, adding schools from Arkansas and Oklahoma, including many former OIC schools, and split into two divisions. The first year of the new format the Bronchos captured the North Division title, and Howard won the North Division coach of the year award. In 1998 the Bronchos finished the regular season undefeated, won their first Lone Star Conference Championship, and was the number one ranked team going into the playoffs. However, in the NCAA playoffs UCO lost in the second round to conference foe Texas A&M-Kingsville. In 2000, Texas A&M-Kingsville forfeited their entire 1998 season following NCAA infractions. In 1999, the Bronchos also won the conference title. The final three years experienced a decline with 5-5, 3-8, and 5-6 records. Howard was fired after the 2002 season.

In 2003, UCO hired former Oklahoma Sooners center Chuck Langston as the head coach. In his first year, the Bronchos finished 9-3, and made another playoff appearance. The Bronchos defeated Mesa State 20-15, but lost to Texas A&M-Kingsville the following week. However, Langston's time at UCO would be marred with NCAA violations, including paying for a recruits surgery, and funding a player's remedial classes at Rose State. From 2003 to 2007 Langston had a record of 29-24 (.547) as the Bronchos' coach.

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In 2008, the Bronchos hired Tracy Holland as their head coach. In his first year as head coach the Bronchos had a 7-4 record and won the LSCs South Division Championship. However, the program's record declined every year under Holland. 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 from the infractions that occurred under Langston. As a result of penalties, UCO's roster was reduced from 100 players to 90 players each season during the probation.

Recent History and a Return to Glory (2012-Present)

With the Bronchos off probation from the NCAA, Navarro Junior College coach, and former UCO fullback Nick Bobeck, took over as head coach in 2012. The Bronchos began play in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. That season's campaign began with three straight losses before an upset win over top-ten ranked Washburn. The Bronchos finished with a 2-8 record. The following season the Bronchos began 0-7 before winning two straight. However, they lost to Northeastern State in the President's Cup game to finish with their second straight 2-8 record. In the first game of the 2014 season, the Bronchos won their 600th game. At the time this placed UCO as the fourth highest win total in Division II history. During that season the Bronchos were as high as 22nd in the D2football.com rankings before finishing third in the MIAA with an 8-3 record and a Mineral Water Bowl appearance. In 2015, the Bronchos, began slowly with an 0-4 record, but won seven out of their final eight games to finish with a 7-5 record and a victory over in-state rival Southwestern Oklahoma State in the Live United Texarkana Bowl. In 2016 UCO finished with a 3-8 record. In 2017, the Bronchos began the season 2-4 with all four losses by seven points or less. UCO finished the regular season with five straight victories and a 7-4 record, and a tie for fourth in the MIAA. The Bronchos went on to win the inaugural Corsicana Bowl over Tarleton State 38-31. Heart of Texas Bowl. The Bronchos abstained from the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite its rich history in football, Central Oklahoma has struggled beginning in the late 2000s. In 2024, the program broke on a 21 year playoff drought.

In December 2021, UCO hired former Northwest Missouri State and Abilene Christian head coach Adam Dorrel to the same position. Dorrel had previously won three NCAA Division II championships as the head coach of the Bearcats. In 2022, the Bronchos finished the season with a 6-5 record.

Wantland Stadium: Home of the Bronchos

The Bronchos have played their home football games at Chad Richison Stadium, located on the north side of the UCO campus, since 1965. The Bronchos play their home games at Chad Richison Stadium, a 12,000-seat football stadium built in 1965, and remodeled in 2022. The stadium was originally named Wantland Stadium after former coach Charles W. Wantland. The stadium underwent renovations in 2005 with the addition of a three-level press box that includes club seating and new stands on both sides of the field. In 2017, the university began construction of a 45,000 square foot sports performance center located along the north end zone. During the 2021 season after a $10 million donation from Paycom CEO and former Broncho wrestler Chad Richison, the university renamed the structure Chad Richison Stadium. The 2022 renovation expanded the visitors grandstand and replaced a staircase behind the south end zone with a waterfall. The current capacity is 12,000.

The President's Cup: A Storied Rivalry

Central Oklahoma and the Northeastern State RiverHawks first played each other in 1912 and have since played in 81 contests with Central Oklahoma holding a 52-27-2 advantage. Both teams are members of the MIAA. The two teams have combined for four NAIA national championships, with NSU winning in 1958 and 1994, and UCO winning in 1962 and 1982. The teams also played in an NAIA playoff game in 1982. Except for 2020, this game has been played annually since 1997, when Northeastern State became NCAA Division II members. That year, NSU joined the Bronchos in the Lone Star Conference. Beginning in 1998, the two programs have competed for the President's Cup. In 2010, UCO and Northeastern State both left the LSC and joined the MIAA in 2012.

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Conference Affiliations

From its inaugural season in 1902 until 1913, the program played as an independent. In 1914, Central State joined the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference. The league reorganized twice, first as the Oklahoma Collegiate Conference in 1929, in which the school won 22 conference championships, and in 1974 as the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference. The Bronchos played in the second OIC for two seasons before leaving to play as an NCAA Division II independent in 1976. CSU returned to the NAIA in 1979. In 1988, the Bronchos returned to NCAA Division II play and joined the Lone Star Conference in which it won two conference championships. The Lone Star Conference was split into two divisions from the 1997 to the 2010 season with Central Oklahoma competing in the LSC North. Central Oklahoma has won or shared 5 divisional titles. Their last division title was in the 2008 season.

Coaches and Postseason Appearances

The team has had 14 head coaches since organized football began in 1902. The current head coach is Adam Dorrel. The Bronchos have played in more than 1,000 games in its 116 seasons. In those seasons, four coaches have led the Bronchos to postseason playoff appearances: Al Blevins, Phil Ball, Gary Howard, and Chuck Langston. Nick Bobeck has led the Bronchos to three Division II bowl games. Eight coaches have won conference championships with the Bronchos: Charles W. Wantland, Claude Reeds, Dale E. Hamilton, Gene Smith, Blevins, Ball, Howard, and Adam Dorrel. Blevins, and Howard have also won national championships with the Bronchos. Howard is the all-time leader in games coached and years coached, while Blevins is the all-time leader in wins and winning percentage.

Central Oklahoma football teams have been invited to participate in six NAIA playoffs, five NCAA Division II playoffs, and three bowl games. They have garnered a record of 11-9 in the playoffs. The Bronchos made six appearances in the NAIA playoffs and won the national championship twice. The Bronchos has made five appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs. NCAA Division II bowl games invitations are for teams that do not qualify for the playoffs.

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