1976 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1976 Los Angeles Dodgers finished the season in second place in the Western Division of the National League. The big news was when long-time manager of two decades Walter Alston resigned abruptly near the end of the season and was replaced by Tommy Lasorda who would manage the team for two decades himself.


1976 Los Angeles Dodgers season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1976 Los Angeles Dodgers season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1976 Los Angeles Dodgers season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1976 Los Angeles Dodgers season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1976 Los Angeles Dodgers season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1976 Los Angeles Dodgers season, 1976 Major League Baseball draft
The Dodgers drafted 41 players in the June draft and 14 in the January draft. Of those, ten players would eventually play in the Major Leagues.


1976 Los Angeles Dodgers season, 1976 Major League Baseball draft
The top draft pick in the June draft was catcher Mike Scioscia from Springfield High School in Pennsylvania. He would be the Dodgers starting catcher from 1980–1992 and was a 2-time All-Star and two-time World Series Champion with the Dodgers (1981 and 1988). After his playing career ended he became the manager of the Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels and would win another World Series as their manager in 2002.


1976 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
The 2nd Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, given by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association on December 21, 1976, honored the best in film for 1976.


1976 Los Angeles Rams season
The 1976 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 39th year with the National Football League and the 31st season in Los Angeles. The Rams continued their dominance of the NFC West, winning their 4th straight division title as well as their 4th straight playoff berth. After a record setting 1975 season in which their defense was nearly untouchable, the Rams were picked by many to win the Super Bowl. Despite not improving on its 12-2 record from 1975, the team continued to be one of the best in the NFL.


1976 Los Angeles Rams season
This Rams team is quite notable for setting many records during the season. One good notable record was breaking the franchise record for points scored in a game with 59 in a 59-0 winning against the Atlanta Falcons. The Rams would ultimately have another year of success, finishing 10-3-1. In the playoffs, they would beat Dallas 14-12 in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. However, the Rams would lose the NFC Championship game to the Minnesota Vikings 24-13.


1976 Los Angeles Times 500
The 1976 Los Angeles Times 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on November 21, 1976, at Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California. Each copy of the souvenir program was $2 ($9.1 when adjusted for inflation).


1976 Los Angeles Times 500
The five drivers that dominated the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season were David Pearson (average finish of 7th place), Cale Yarborough (average finish of 8th place), Richard Petty (average finish of 9th place), Benny Parsons (average finish of 10th place), and Bobby Allison (average finish 12th place).


1976 Los Angeles Times 500, Background
Ontario Motor Speedway was a motorsport venue located in Ontario, California. It was the first and only automobile racing facility built to accommodate major races sanctioned by all of the four dominant racing sanctioning bodies: USAC (and now IndyCar Series) for open-wheel oval car races; NASCAR for a 500-mile (800 km) oval stock car races; NHRA for drag races; and FIA for Formula One road course races. Constructed in less than two years, the track opened in August 1970 and was considered state of the art at the time.


1976 Los Angeles Times 500, Background
The first full year of racing included the Indy-style open-wheel Inaugural California 500 on September 6, 1970; the Miller High Life 500 stock car race on February 28, 1971, the Super Nationals drag race on November 21, 1970 and the Questor Grand Prix on March 28, 1971. Each of these inaugural races drew attendance second only to their established counterparts, the USAC Indianapolis 500, the NASCAR Daytona 500, the NHRA U.S. Nationals, and the U.S. Formula One race at Watkins Glen.


1976 Los Angeles Times 500, Race report
There were 40 drivers on the grid; 39 of them were born in the United States of America while Roy Smith was born in Canada. Darrell Waltrip would earn the last-place finish of the race due to an engine issue on lap 10 of 200. A grand total of $155,639 was awarded for this race ($707,839 in when adjusted for inflation); Pearson received $27,715 ($126,047 when adjusted for inflation) while Waltrip won $3,660 ($16,646 when adjusted for inflation).


1976 Los Angeles Times 500, Race report
David Pearson defeated Lennie Pond by one lap in front of 44,702 people; giving Pearson at least one win at each of the 16 tracks in use at that time. Petty lacked only Ontario (where he would never win). There were four lead changes and two cautions for 19 laps in this three-hour-and-thirty-eight-minute race. Pearson would earn the pole position with a top speed of 153.964 miles per hour (247.781 km/h) while the average speed of the race was 137.101 miles per hour (220.643 km/h).


1976 Los Angeles Times 500, Race report
Former IndyCar driver Mike Hiss would make his only NASCAR start here. This race saw the rare occurrence of both a husband and wife being entered in the same NASCAR race looking to race as IndyCar competitors Mike and Arlene Hiss both attempted to qualify for the race. Arlene Hiss failed to qualify although the late Mike Hiss, as mentioned above, did both qualify for and finish the race.


1976 Los Angeles Times 500, Race report
There was a brutal level of attrition due to mechanical problems in this race, even by 1976 standards. Blown engines in addition to transmission failures and clutch failures forced a lot of the star drivers out of the race; allowing a lot of independent drivers to have decent finishes.


1976 Los Angeles Times 500, Race report
Notable crew chiefs for this race included Billy Hagan, Junie Donlavey, Jake Elder, Harry Hyde, Dale Inman, Bud Moore among many others.


1976 Los Angeles Times 500, Race report, Qualifying
Failed to qualify: Bill Osborne (#94), Hugh Pearson (#76), Buddy Arrington (#67), Tom Williams (#52), Don Graham (#52), Jimmy Means (#52), Travis Tiller (#46), Gary Johnson (#44), Marty Robbins (#42), John Weibel (#80), Sumner McKnight (#82), Jack Simpson (#53), Perry Cottingham (#99), Jerry Barnett (#99), Harry Jefferson (#95), Norm Palmer (#93), Chris Monoleos (#92), Don Reynolds (#89), Dick Whalen (#86), Ernie Stierly (#41), Terry Wood (#39), Arlene Hiss (#38), Coo Coo Marlin (#14), Leon Fox (#10), Eddie Bradshaw (#09), Dean Dalton (#7), Doc Faustina (#5), Ross Kusah (#4), Richard White (#2), Earle Canavan (#01), Dennis Wilson (#16), John Dineen (#18), Bruce Jacobi (#37), Chuck Wahl (#37), Ray Elder (#32), Walter Ballard (#30), Sue Williams (#25), Bryce Mann (#24), John Hamson (#22), Ron Esau (#20), and Steve Pfeifer (#0).


1976 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team
The 1976 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Louisiana Tech University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In their tenth year under head coach Maxie Lambright, the team compiled a 6–5 record.


1976 Louisville Cardinals football team
The 1976 Louisville Cardinals football team was an American football team that represented the University of Louisville as an independent during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In their second season under head coach Vince Gibson, the Cardinals compiled a 4–7 record and were outscored by a total of 234 to 177.


1976 Louisville Cardinals football team
The team's statistical leaders included Stu Stram with 394 passing yards, Calvin Prince with 1,028 rushing yards and 60 points scored, and Ebb Williams with 165 receiving yards.


1976 Louisville Open
The 1976 Louisville Open, also known as the Louisville International Tennis Classic, was a men's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Louisville Tennis Center in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. It was the seventh edition of the tournament and was held from 26 July through 2 August 1976. The tournament was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit and categorized as Four Star. The singles final was won by Harold Solomon who received $20,000 first prize money.


1976 Louisville Open, Finals, Doubles
Byron Bertram /  Pat Cramer defeated  Stan Smith /  Erik van Dillen 6–3, 6–4


1976 Macdonald Brier
The 1976 Macdonald Brier was held March 7–13  in Regina, Saskatchewan at the Regina Exhibition Stadium. The total attendance for the week was 61,110. This Brier would see the first victory for Newfoundland in the Brier's history. At this time, there was no playoffs in the Brier.


1976 Macdonald Brier, Teams
Skip : Rick LangThird: Bob NicolSecond: Al Fiskar Jr. Lead: Warren Butters


1976 Macdonald Brier, Teams
Skip : Howie BrazeauThird: Jim SchaeferSecond: Charles SchaeferLead: Paul Kaeser Jr.


1976 Macdonald Lassies Championship
The 1976 Canadian Ladies Curling Championship, known as the Macdonald Lassie for sponsorship reasons, Canada's national women's curling championship was held February 28 to March 5, 1976, at Winnipeg Arena in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Team British Columbia, skipped by Lindsay Sparkes (then Davie) won the event, after having beaten Alberta in a tie breaker match after the two teams finished the round robin with identical 7-2 records.


1976 Macdonald Lassies Championship
Attendance for the round robin event exceeded 17,000, despite a transit strike.


1976 Macdonald Lassies Championship, Teams
Derrick CC, Edmonton Skip: Gail LeeThird: Jackie SpencerSecond: Anne McGarveyLead: Liz Gemmell


1976 Macdonald Lassies Championship, Teams
Skip : Joan Mogk Third: Jean MoffattSecond: Betty DevineLead: Karen Anderson


1976 Macdonald Lassies Championship, Teams
Skip : Sue-Anne Bartlett Third: Patricia DwyerSecond: Frances HiscockLead: Mavis Pike


1976 Macdonald Lassies Championship, Teams
Skip : Gwen OsborneThird: Liz YoungSecond: Nancy Margeson Lead: Barbara McKenzie


1976 Mahoran Comoros referendum
A referendum on remaining in the Comoros was held in Mayotte on 8 February 1976. The proposal was rejected by 99.42% of voters.


1976 Mahoran Comoros referendum, Background
The French National Assembly passed a law on 31 December 1975 allowing for the independence of the Comoros without Mayotte. A referendum was subsequently organised in Mayotte for February 1976 to determine whether residents of the territory wished to remain part of the Comoros or stay under French control.


1976 Mahoran status referendum
A referendum on becoming an overseas Territory was held in Mayotte on 11 April 1976, after the proposal of remaining part of the Comoros was rejected in a referendum in February. The proposal was rejected by 97.46% of voters, with almost 14,000 of the 17,384 votes being cast as invalid.


1976 Maine Black Bears football team
The 1976 Maine Black Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of Maine as a member of the Yankee Conference during the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. In its first season under head coach Jack Bicknell, the team compiled a 6–5 record (2–3 against conference opponents) and finished in a four-way tie for last place in the Yankee Conference. Scott E. Shulman, Jack Leggett, and Gerard Tautkus were the team captains.


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 47th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 13, 1976, at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, home of the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League. The game resulted in a 7–1 victory for the NL.


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
This was the third time that the All-Star Game had been played in Philadelphia, though the first to be played in Veteran's Stadium. Both the 1943 and 1952 games were played in Philadelphia's Shibe Park with the then Philadelphia Athletics hosting in 1943 and the Phillies hosting in 1952. The All-Star Game would return to Veterans Stadium in 1996.


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The honorary captains were Robin Roberts (for the NL) and Bob Lemon (for the AL).


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Starting with this All-Star Game, both "O Canada" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" would be sung as part of the annual pregame ceremonies.


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, American League roster
The American League roster included 7 future Hall of Fame players, denoted in italics.


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, National League roster
The National League roster included 5 future Hall of Fame players, denoted in italics.


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Starting lineups
While the starters were elected by the fans, the batting orders and starting pitchers were selected by the managers.


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Scoring summary
Following the pattern of many of the previous All-Star Games, the NL scored first and early, putting up two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Pete Rose led off with a single, and scored when the next batter, Steve Garvey, tripled. After Joe Morgan flew out, George Foster grounded out, allowing Garvey to score from third base.


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Scoring summary
The National League added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning, with Catfish Hunter pitching in relief. With one out, Joe Morgan singled. George Foster then hit a home run, scoring Morgan to bring the NL lead to 4–0.


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Scoring summary
The lone AL run came in the top of the third inning, with Tom Seaver pitching for the NL in relief of Randy Jones. With two outs, Fred Lynn hit a home run to reduce the NL lead to 4–1.


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Scoring summary
The game's scoring was closed out in the bottom of the eighth, as the NL scored three runs off of AL relief pitcher Frank Tanana. Dave Cash led off with a single, and went to second base when Tony Pérez walked. Bill Russell grounded into a 5–4–3 double play, with Pérez out at second base, Russell out at first base, but Cash advancing to third base. Ken Griffey singled, scoring Cash. César Cedeño then hit a home run, scoring Griffey, and giving the NL a 7–1 lead that would hold up as the final score.


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Game notes and records
Randy Jones was credited with the win. Mark Fidrych was credited with the loss.


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Game notes and records
Mark Fidrych was only the second rookie to ever start as a pitcher in an All-Star Game (Dave Stenhouse had started the second All-Star Game of 1962).


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Game notes and records
The five Cincinnati Reds selected by the fans to start the game, and the two reserves selected by manager Sparky Anderson combined for seven hits, four runs scored, and four runs batted in.


1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Game notes and records
As part of the United States Bicentennial observances, the city of Philadelphia – site of the Continental Congress and the signing of the Declaration of Independence – was selected to host the 1976 NBA All-Star Game, the 1976 National Hockey League All-Star Game, and the 1976 NCAA Final Four in addition to the 1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.


1976 Major League Baseball draft, First round selections
The following are the first round picks in the 1976 Major League Baseball draft.


1976 Major League Baseball draft, Background
The 1976 Arizona State University team, considered by many to be the best collegiate team ever, played a major role in the draft. Floyd Bannister was picked number one by the Astros while Ken Landreaux was selected sixth by the Angels. In all, 12 players from that team went on to play in the majors.


1976 Major League Baseball draft, Background
Bannister and Landreaux anchored a June draft that was one of the most talented ever. The first 10 selections went on to play in the big leagues. Among those picked in the June draft were Rickey Henderson (Oakland), Alan Trammell, Jack Morris and Dan Petry (Detroit), Wade Boggs and Bruce Hurst (Boston), Steve Trout (Chicago White Sox), Leon Durham (St. Louis), and Pat Tabler (New York Yankees).


1976 Major League Baseball draft, Background
Willie McGee (Chicago White Sox) and Ozzie Smith (Detroit) were selected in the seventh round but did not sign. In the January phase, Steve Kemp of Southern California was picked first by the Tigers and Jody Davis was picked third by the Mets.


1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft
The 1976 MLB Expansion Draft was held November 5, 1976. This expansion draft was conducted by Major League Baseball to stock the major league rosters of the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners, new major league expansion franchises established via the 1977 Major League Baseball expansion that were set to start play in the 1977 season.


1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft, Background
Seattle was promised a franchise by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. During the summer of 1975, there was speculation that the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, or San Francisco Giants could move to Seattle. When none of these plans proved successful, the American League added a team in Seattle. With thirteen teams in a league creating a scheduling nightmare, the league awarded a franchise to Toronto over Washington, D.C. in March 1976.


1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft, Background
Players were selected only from American League teams, in keeping with the practices of the A.L. 's expansion of 1961, the National League's expansion of 1962, and the expansion of both leagues in 1969. Beginning with the next expansion in 1993, the new teams would select players from teams in both the American and National Leagues.


1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft, Background
Danny Kaye, part-owner of the Mariners, announced the club's first selection.


1976 Major League Baseball season
The 1976 Major League Baseball season was the last season of the expansion era (dating back to 1961) until 1993 in which the American League (AL) and the National League (NL) had the same number of teams. The season ended with the Cincinnati Reds taking the World Series Championship for the second consecutive season by sweeping the New York Yankees in four games; they are the only team to go undefeated in the postseason since the advent of the divisional era in 1969. It would be the Reds' last title until Lou Piniella guided the club in 1990, and the second time that the Yankees were swept in World Series history. The only team to do it before was the 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers.


1976 Malawian general election
General elections were due to be held in Malawi on 24 May 1976. The Malawi Congress Party had been the only legally permitted party since 1966. Each of the 70 constituencies had a maximum of five candidates proposed by at least two registered voters. These candidates were then submitted to President-for-life Hastings Banda, who selected a single candidate for each seat. As a result, all 70 candidates were returned unopposed.


1976 Malawian general election
Following the election, Banda nominated another 15 members to the National Assembly.


1976 Maltese general election
General elections were held in Malta on 17 and 18 September 1976. The Malta Labour Party remained the largest party, winning 34 of the 65 seats.


1976 Maltese general election, Electoral system
The elections were held using the single transferable vote system. The number of seats was increased from 55 to 65, whilst the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18.


1976 Manchester City Council election
Elections to Manchester Council were held on Thursday, 6 May 1976. One third of the council was up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a four-year term of office, expiring in 1980. The Labour Party retained overall control of the Council.


1976 Manchester City Council election, Election result
After the election, the composition of the council was as follows:


1976 Manfredonia accidental release of arsenic
The Manfredonia accidental release of arsenic took place near the Italian town Manfredonia in September 1976 at the Enichem petrochemical plant, which produced fertilizers and caprolactam, a precursor in the manufacture of nylon. A scrubbing tower for the synthesis of ammoniagases blew up, releasing into the atmosphere several tons of potassium carbonate and bicarbonate solution containing arsenic trioxide. One hundred and fifty people were admitted to the local hospital for arsenic poisoning.


1976 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season
The 1976 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 30th in the club's history since their entry into the then New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1947.


1976 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season
The 1976 Sea Eagles were coached by 1963–64 Kangaroo tourist Frank Stanton. Captaining the side was brilliant centre Bob Fulton. The club competed in the New South Wales Rugby Football League's 1976 Premiership season and played its home games at the 27,000 capacity Brookvale Oval.


1976 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season, Finals, Grand Final
In 1976, after 30 years of competition, Parramatta reached their first grand final since their admission into the NSWRFL premiership in 1947. Their opponents were Manly-Warringah who had also joined the premiership in 1947, but were playing in their 8th Grand Final, having previously won in 1972 and 1973 with captain Bob Fulton, fullback Graham Eadie, prop forward Terry Randall and lock Ian Martin having played in those two premiership teams.


1976 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season, Finals, Grand Final
Eels winger Jim Porter scored first after his opposite Tom Mooney spilled a John Peard bomb in his own in goal to give Parramatta to a 5-0 lead. A penalty goal to Graham Eadie closed the score to 5-2 before Alan Thompson sidestepped through the Parramatta defence to send Phil Lowe in for Manly's first and only try in the Paddington Hill corner. Scores were locked 7-7 at half time.


1976 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season, Finals, Grand Final
Geoff Gerard scored a try in the Members corner, though Mark Levy missed the difficult conversion giving the Eels a 10-7 lead early in the second half. Two penalty goals for Eadie then gave Manly back the lead 11-10.


1976 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season, Finals, Grand Final
Parramatta missed a critical opportunity to win the game and their first ever premiership with ten minutes of the match remaining: 15 metres out from a wide-open try line, Eels winger Neville Glover dropped the pass from John Moran which would have given the Eels the match-winning try in the Paddington Hill corner.


1976 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season, Finals, Grand Final
Another penalty gave Manly a 13-10 lead. In the frantic dying minutes Parramatta threw everything they had at the Manly defence including the infamous "flying wedge" of dubious legality which had Ron Hilditch at the apex of a phalanx of players driving him towards the line. The wedge was stopped by the Manly defence less than a foot short of the try line. Hilditch would later say that his head came down on the try line with the ball trapped underneath him.


1976 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season, Finals, Grand Final
The Manly defence held and the Sea Eagles secured their third premiership in five seasons, while the Eels would have to wait five more years for their first.


1976 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season, Finals, Grand Final
It was Bob Fulton's 213th and final match for Manly after a brilliant ten-year career with the club and the grand final victory was largely credited to his experience and brilliance. He was full of emotion as he accepted the J J Giltinan Shield and was able to end his playing career at Manly on the highest note.


1976 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season, Finals, Grand Final
He would later return to the club as a successful coach in the 1980s but first he would finish his playing years and then commence coaching at the Eastern Suburbs Roosters (Fulton would join Easts in 1977, unable to resist a big money offer from the club that was backed by one of Australia's richest men and a big supporter of the future rugby league Immortal, Kerry Packer).


1976 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season, Finals, Grand Final
Manly's win was a triumph for the powerful triumvirate of Fulton, coach Frank Stanton and Secretary Ken Arthurson who would all go on to higher honours in the game. For Stanton, it was his first success in a coaching career which was to bring two premierships and two Ashes-winning Kangaroo tours. Arthurson had brought to the club players of a calibre to enable five Grand Final appearances in the 1970s for four victories. He would go on to become the Chairman of the New South Wales Rugby League and later the Australian Rugby League.


1976 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season, Player statistics
Note: Games and (sub) show total games played, e.g. 1 (1) is 2 games played.


1976 Marlboro NSW Open
The 1976 New South Wales Open, also known by its sponsored name Marlboro New South Wales Open, was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament played on outdoor grass courts at the White City Stadium in Sydney, Australia. The men's was part of the 1977 Colgate-Palmolive Grand Prix circuit. It was the 84th edition of the event and was held from 26 December 1976 through 1 January 1977. The singles titles were won by Kerry Reid and 33-year-old Tony Roche. It was Roche's fourth singles title after 1967, 1969 and 1974. Roche won AUS$13,500 first-prize money while Reid's title was rewarded with AUS$5,000 prize money.


1976 Marlboro NSW Open, Finals, Men's Doubles
Syd Ball /  Kim Warwick defeated  Mark Edmondson /  John Marks 6–3, 6–4


1976 Marlboro NSW Open, Finals, Women's Doubles
Helen Gourlay Cawley /  Betsy Nagelsen defeated  Dianne Fromholtz /  Renáta Tomanová 6–4, 6–1


1976 Marshall Thundering Herd football team
The 1976 Marshall Thundering Herd football team was an American football team that represented Marshall University as an independent during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In its second season under head coach Frank Ellwood, the team compiled a 5–6 record and was outscored by a total of 222 to 137. John "Fuzzy" Filliez and Billy Yanossy were the team captains. The team played its home games at Fairfield Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia.


1976 Marshallese Constitutional Convention election
Constitutional Convention elections were held in the Marshall Islands in November 1976.


1976 Marshallese Constitutional Convention election, Background
The calling of a convention was approved by a bill in the District Legislature in August 1976. The 48-member body was to draft a constitution in both English and Marshallese, and consisted of three Marshallese representatives in the Congress of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (one senator and two representatives), the eight Iroij members of the District Legislature, the Iroijs of Arno, Mejit and Ujelang/Enewetak, a representative from Likiep and 33 elected members.


1976 Marshallese Constitutional Convention election, Aftermath
Following the elections, the convention was opened in Majuro on 8 August 1977. Ruben Zackhras was elected president of the body.


1976 Marshallese Constitutional Convention election, Aftermath
After work had finished, a ceremony was held at Uliga Protestant Church in Majuro on 4 January 1979 for the formal signing of the constitution. Zackhras then presented the constitution to District Administrator Oscar DeBrum and Legislature Speaker Atlan Anien. The convention was then dissolved on  A referendum on the draft constitution was organised for March 1979, with 64% of voters approving the document.


1976 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 1976 Maryland Terrapins football team represented University of Maryland in the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. The Terrapins offense scored 294 points while the defense allowed 115 points. Led by head coach Jerry Claiborne, the Terrapins appeared in the Cotton Bowl Classic.


1976 Maryland Terrapins football team, 1977 NFL Draft
The following players were selected in the 1977 NFL Draft.


1976 Mason-Dixon 500
The 1976 Mason-Dixon 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series event that took place on May 16, 1976, at Dover Downs International Speedway (now called Dover International Speedway) in Dover, Delaware.


1976 Mason-Dixon 500
Only manual transmission vehicles were allowed to participate in this race; a policy that NASCAR has retained to the present day.


1976 Mason-Dixon 500, Background
Dower Downs International Speedway, now called Dover International Speedway, is one of  five short tracks to hold NASCAR races; the others are Bristol Motor Speedway, Richmond International Raceway, Martinsville Speedway, and Phoenix International Raceway. The NASCAR race makes use of the track's standard configuration, a four-turn short track oval that is 1 mile (1.6 km) long. The track's turns are banked at twenty-four degrees, and both the front stretch (the location of the finish line) and the backstretch are banked at nine degrees.


1976 Mason-Dixon 500, Race report
The total time of the race was four hours, nineteen minutes, and fifty-three seconds. Six cautions were given for thirty-eight laps while thirty-two thousand and eight hundred fans were in attendance for the race. The average speed in the race was 115.436 miles per hour (185.776 km/h) with the pole winning speed being 136.013 miles per hour (218.892 km/h). From lap 115 to lap 227, Cale Yarborough would get into a run of good luck and lead for a duration of 163 laps. He would never regain the lead after losing it to David Pearson on lap 278.


1976 Mason-Dixon 500, Race report
Benny Parsons defeated second place driver David Pearson by a time of 25½ seconds. Other notable racers who competed includes: Darrell Waltrip, Ricky Rudd, and Cale Yarborough (who would lose the points lead after this race). Bruce Hill finished in last place due to an engine problem on lap 2.


1976 Mason-Dixon 500, Race report
This race would be Neil Castles' final race in his NASCAR Cup Series career. It would also be the last race for Doc Faustina before his retirement. Total winnings for this race would be $108,140 ($491,816 when adjusted for inflation).


1976 Masters (snooker)
The 1976 Benson & Hedges Masters was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament that took place from Monday 26th to Friday 30 January 1976 at the New London Theatre in London, England. 10 players were invited for the competition.


1976 Masters (snooker)
1975 runner-up Ray Reardon beat Graham Miles 7–3 in the final. At the age of 43 years and 114 days he was the oldest winner of the event until Stuart Bingham broke the record winning the title in 2020 aged 43 years and 243 days.


1976 Masters Tournament
The 1976 Masters Tournament was the 40th Masters Tournament, held April 8–11 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.


1976 Masters Tournament
Raymond Floyd won his only Masters title, eight strokes ahead of runner-up Ben Crenshaw. He shot a 131 (−13) over the first two rounds, then posted two rounds of 70 on the weekend to tie Jack Nicklaus' record  of 271 (−17), set in 1965. In the first three rounds, Floyd was under-par on every par-5, with eleven birdies and an eagle, and his 54-hole total of 201 (−15) was the lowest ever. Defending champion Nicklaus was the nearest pursuer, eight shots back at 209. It was the second of Floyd's four major titles. Tiger Woods broke the 72-hole record by a stroke 21 years later in 1997 with 270 (−18), which was  tied by Jordan Spieth in 2015.


1976 Masters Tournament
Beginning with this Masters, a sudden-death playoff format was introduced, and originally planned to start at the first hole. After three years without use, it was changed to begin on the 10th hole in 1979; used for the first time that year, it ended on the eleventh green. In 2004, the playoff was changed to start on the 18th hole and then alternate with the adjacent 10th hole. Prior to 1976, playoffs were full 18-hole rounds on Monday, and the last was won by Billy Casper in 1970. The first playoff in 1935 was the exception at 36 holes.


1976 Masters Tournament
Floyd was the fourth wire-to-wire winner in Masters history, following Craig Wood  in 1941, Arnold Palmer in 1960, and Nicklaus in 1972. The next was  Jordan Spieth, 39 years later, in 2015.


1976 Masters Tournament, Field
Tommy Aaron, George Archer, Gay Brewer, Billy Casper (8,10,11,12), Charles Coody, Doug Ford, Bob Goalby, Jack Nicklaus (2,4,8,9,10,11,12), Arnold Palmer (8,9), Gary Player (3,4), Sam Snead, Art Wall Jr. (8,11)


1976 Masters Tournament, Field
Lou Graham (9,12), Hale Irwin (8,9,10,11,12), Johnny Miller (8,11,12), Lee Trevino (3,4,8,12)


1976 Masters Tournament, Field
William C. Campbell (a), John Grace (a), Jay Haas (a), Dick Siderowf (a), Curtis Strange (a)


1976 Masters Tournament, Field
Buddy Allin, Rod Curl, Pat Fitzsimons (9), Hubert Green (11), Dave Hill (10,11), Ralph Johnston, Tom Kite, Gene Littler (10,11,12), Allen Miller, Bobby Nichols, J. C. Snead (11,12), Larry Ziegler


1976 Masters Tournament, Field
Frank Beard, Ben Crenshaw (11), Joe Inman, John Mahaffey, Rik Massengale (11), Bob Murphy (12), Eddie Pearce, Jim Wiechers


1976 Masters Tournament, Field
Don Bies, Jim Colbert, Raymond Floyd (12), Al Geiberger (12), Bob Gilder, Don Iverson, Don January, Tom Jenkins, Roger Maltbie, Jerry McGee, Dean Refram


1976 Masters Tournament, Field
Hugh Baiocchi (8), Maurice Bembridge, Bobby Cole (8), Bruce Crampton (10,11), Bruce Devlin (8), Priscillo Diniz (a), Dale Hayes, Graham Marsh (8), Takashi Murakami, Jack Newton, Peter Oosterhuis (9), Masashi Ozaki, Bob Shearer


1976 Mauritanian general election
General elections were held in Mauritania on 8 August 1976 to elect a President and National Assembly. At the time, the country was a one-party state with the Mauritanian People's Party (PPM) as the sole legal party. Its leader, incumbent President Moktar Ould Daddah, was the only candidate in the presidential election, and was re-elected unopposed, whilst the PPM won all the seats in the National Assembly election. Voter turnout was 97.9%. They were the last elections held until the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1992.


1976 Mauritanian general election
The elections were held during a time when Mauritania along with Morocco held a treaty to partition provinces of Western Sahara during 1975 while independence was fought in the province by Polisario Front. Daddah claimed that the winning the elections was a mandate for annexing the provinces of Western Sahara.


1976 Mauritanian general election, Background
Mauritania came under the direct control of the French Colonial Empire during 1933. After independence on 28 November 1960, the country declared itself the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, with Ould Daddah becoming its first President . He declared the country a one-party state in 1964, and in 1965 all parties merged into the ruling Mauritanian Assembly Party to form the Mauritanian People's Party (MPP).


1976 Mauritanian general election, Background
Daddah changed his stance from pro-French to nationalist during the early 1970s. He terminated the defense treaty with France in 1972, discontinued French currency bloc and nationalized French property. He also showed interest in annexing oil rich regions of Western Sahara, which was contested by Morocco and Algeria. A war erupted between Morocco and the Sahrawi national liberation movement, the Polisario Front, which proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) with a government in exile in Tindouf, Algeria. Although Daddah initially allied with Algeria in opposing Morocco, during 1974, he realigned his position and is believed to have made a secret agreement with the king of Morocco. This eventually led to an agreement in 1975 that partitioned Spanish Sahara between Mauritania and Morocco.


1976 Mauritian general election
General elections were held in Mauritius on 20 December 1976. They were the first general elections to be held since independence on 12 March 1968 and came nine years after the previous elections in 1967. Although elections had been scheduled for 1972, they were cancelled by the Labour–PMSD–CAM coalition government due to political unrest. The year prior to these elections was marked by the May 1975 Students protest riots.


1976 Mauritian general election
The Mauritian Militant Movement won the most seats, but a coalition government was formed by the Independence Party and the Mauritian Social Democrat Party. Around 400 candidates representing thirty-one parties contested the election, but only three parties won seats.


1976 Mauritian general election, Electoral system
The voting system involved twenty constituencies on Mauritius, which each elected three members. Two seats were elected by residents of Rodrigues, and eight seats were filled by the "best losers". Voter turnout was 88%.


1976 Meath Intermediate Football Championship
The 1976 Meath Intermediate Football Championship is the 50th edition of the Meath GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for intermediate graded teams in County Meath, Ireland. The tournament consists of 17 teams. The championship starts with a group stage and then progresses to a knock out stage.


1976 Meath Intermediate Football Championship
Summerhill 'B's' and Drumbaragh Emmets were promoted after claiming the 1975 Meath Junior Football Championship title and runners-up spot respectively.


1976 Meath Intermediate Football Championship
This was Martinstown/Athboy's first year in existence after Intermediate club Martinstown (established in 1964) and Junior club Athboy joined forces in early 1976. I


1976 Meath Intermediate Football Championship
On 3 October 1976, Castletown claimed their 3rd Intermediate championship title when they defeated Kilmainhamwood 2-5 to 0–7 in the final in Pairc Tailteann.


1976 Meath Intermediate Football Championship
St. Colmcille's were relegated to the 1977 J.F.C. after failing to win a match this season. The club were relegated to the Junior ranks for the first time since its formation in 1971 when forming from Intermediate club Star of the Sea and Junior club Shallon.


1976 Meath Intermediate Football Championship, Team changes
The following teams have changed division since the 1975 championship season.


1976 Meath Intermediate Football Championship, Group stage
There are 2 groups called Group A and B. The top two finishers in Group A and B will qualify for the semi finals.


1976 Meath Intermediate Football Championship, Knock-out Stages, Finals
The teams in the semi-finals are the first and second placed teams from each group.


1976 Meath Senior Football Championship
The 1976 Meath Senior Football Championship is the 84th edition of the Meath GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior graded teams in County Meath, Ireland. The tournament consists of 16 teams, with the winner going on to represent Meath in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship starts with a group stage and then progresses to a knock out stage.


1976 Meath Senior Football Championship
Summerhill were the defending champions after they defeated Navan O'Mahonys in the previous years final and they completed a 3 in a row of titles when beating Walterstown 3-9 to 0-2 in the final in Pairc Tailteann on 19 September 1976. Mattie Kerrigan raised the Keegan Cup for the 'Hill.


1976 Meath Senior Football Championship
This was Moylagh's debut in the senior grade after claiming the 1975 Meath Intermediate Football Championship title.


1976 Meath Senior Football Championship
Duleek were regraded to the 1977 I.F.C. at the end of the campaign after 10 years as a senior club.


1976 Meath Senior Football Championship, Team Changes
The following teams have changed division since the 1975 championship season.


1976 Meath Senior Football Championship, Knock-out Stages
The winners and runners up of each group qualify for the semi finals.


1976 Memorial Cup
The 1976 Memorial Cup occurred from May 9 to 16 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. It was the 58th annual Memorial Cup competition and determined the major junior ice hockey champion of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Participating teams were the winners of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League which were the Hamilton Fincups, Quebec Remparts and New Westminster Bruins. Hamilton won their second Memorial Cup, and first since changing their name to Fincups, defeating New Westminster in the final game.


1976 Memorial Cup, Teams, Hamilton Fincups
The Hamilton Fincups represented the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League at the 1976 Memorial Cup. The Fincups finished the 1975-76 season as the top team in the West Division, as they had a record of 43-15-8, earning 94 points. The Fincups had a high-scoring offense, scoring 378 goals, which ranked second in the league. Hamilton's 232 goals against ranked as the second fewest in the OMJHL. In the West Division semi-finals, the Fincups swept the Kitchener Rangers in four games.


1976 Memorial Cup, Teams, Hamilton Fincups
In the West Division finals, Hamilton defeated the defending OMJHL champions, the Toronto Marlboros four games to zero, as well as the teams playing to a tie. The Fincups faced the top team in the league, the Sudbury Wolves, in the final round. Hamilton defeated the Wolves four games to two to capture the J. Ross Robertson Cup and a berth into the 1976 Memorial Cup.


1976 Memorial Cup, Teams, Hamilton Fincups
The Fincups offense was led by Dale McCourt, who became a top prospect for the 1977 NHL Entry Draft during this season. McCourt scored 55 goals and 139 points in 66 games to lead the Fincups in scoring, and finished in fourth place in the league scoring race. McCourt followed up by scoring 20 goals and 28 points in 14 post-season games. McCourt was awarded the William Hanley Trophy, given to the Most Sportsmanlike Player in the league.


1976 Memorial Cup, Teams, Hamilton Fincups
Overager Ted Long scored 27 goals and 91 points in 62 games, while Ric Seiling was another emerging top prospect for the 1977 NHL Entry Draft, scoring 35 goals and 86 points in 59 games. Joe Contini scored 28 goals and 80 points in 54 games, and then led the Fincups in post-season scoring with nine goals and 29 points in 14 games. Goaltender Mark Locken was the Fincups starter, as he earned a 3.14 GAA in 44 games during the regular season. Locken was awarded the F.W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy for having the lowest goals against average by a first year goaltender in the OMJHL.


1976 Memorial Cup, Teams, Hamilton Fincups
The 1976 Memorial Cup was the first since the franchise was renamed the Fincups in 1974. The Hamilton Red Wings won the 1962 Memorial Cup when they defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings in their only Memorial Cup appearance.


1976 Memorial Cup, Teams, New Westminster Bruins
The New Westminster Bruins coached by Punch McLean, represented the Western Canada Hockey League at the 1976 Memorial Cup. This was the Bruins second consecutive appearance at the tournament. New Westminster was the best regular season team in the WCHL during the 1975-76 season, earning a record of 54-14-4, registering 112 points. The Bruins were the highest scoring team in the league, recording 463 goals, while they allowed the fewest goals in the WCHL, allowing 247 goals. In the WCHL quarter-finals, the Bruins swept the Brandon Wheat Kings five games to zero.


1976 Memorial Cup, Teams, New Westminster Bruins
In the WCHL semi-finals, the Bruins remained undefeated, as they beat the Victoria Cougars with four wins and a tie in their five game series. New Westminster defeated the Saskatoon Blades four games to two, with a tie, to capture the President's Cup for the second straight season, earning a berth in the 1976 Memorial Cup.


1976 Memorial Cup, Teams, New Westminster Bruins
Fred Berry led the Bruins in scoring, as he scored 59 goals and 146 points in 72 games. He ranked fifth in overall league scoring. Rick Shinske ranked fifth in league scoring, as he had 52 goals and 143 points in 70 games. Shinske led the club in post-season scoring with seven goals and 30 points in 17 games. Steve Clippingdale scored 51 goals and 117 points in 72 games to rank third in team scoring. In the post-season, Clippingdale scored a team high 15 goals and had 29 points in 17 games.


1976 Memorial Cup, Teams, New Westminster Bruins
Mark Lofthouse scored a team high 68 goals during the regular season, while adding 48 assists for 116 points in 72 games. On defense, Barry Beck emerged as a force, as he scored 19 goals and 99 points in 68 games, while accumulating 325 penalty minutes. Beck was recognized as one of the top prospects for the 1977 NHL Entry Draft. Fellow defenseman Brad Maxwell also scored 19 goals and 99 points in 72 games played as he also emerged as a top pick for the 1977 NHL Entry Draft.


1976 Memorial Cup, Teams, New Westminster Bruins
Clayton Pachal scored 41 goals and 98 points in 65 games, as the Bruins had seven players with 98 or more points during the season. In goal, Carey Walker had the majority of playing time, earning a record of 28-6-2 with a 3.21 GAA and .900 save percentage in 38 games. Walker was named as the Top Goaltender in the league. Bruins head coach Punch McLean was named Coach of the Year.


1976 Memorial Cup, Teams, New Westminster Bruins
The 1976 Memorial Cup was the second berth in Bruins franchise history. New Westminster lost to the Toronto Marlboros 7-3 in the final game of the 1975 Memorial Cup.


1976 Memorial Cup, Teams, Quebec Remparts
The Quebec Remparts represented the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League at the 1976 Memorial Cup. The Remparts had the best record in the East Division during the 1975-76 with a record of 39-25-8, earning 86 points. Quebec scored 336 goals, ranking them fifth in the ten team league, while the Remparts allowed the third fewest goals against at 288. In the QMJHL quarter-finals, the Remparts defeated the Sorel Éperviers four games to one. In the QMJHL semi-finals, Quebec swept the Cornwall Royals in four games, advancing to the President's Cup. In the final round, the Remparts defeated the defending champions, the Sherbrooke Castors four games to two to clinch the championship and a berth into the 1976 Memorial Cup.


1976 Memorial Cup, Teams, Quebec Remparts
The Remparts leading scorer was Denis Turcotte, who scored 54 goals and 113 points in 72 games. Turcotte also led the Remparts in post-season scoring with nine goals and 26 points in 15 games. Eddy Godin scored 38 goals and 100 points in 72 games as the club had two players with at least 100 points. Defenseman Jean Gagnon scored 21 goals and 73 points in 66 games to rank third in team scoring. Gagnon was awarded the Emile Bouchard Trophy, awarded to the Top Defenseman in the league. In goal, Maurice Barrette appeared in 58 games, earning a record of 34-19-4 with a 3.81 GAA and a .870 save percentage.


1976 Memorial Cup, Teams, Quebec Remparts
The 1976 Memorial Cup was the Remparts fourth appearance in club history. Quebec won the 1971 Memorial Cup when they defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings. The club then lost in the final game at the 1973 Memorial Cup to the Toronto Marlboros, and then once again lost in the final game at the 1974 Memorial Cup against the Regina Pats.


1976 Memorial Cup, Winning roster
Joe Contini, Mike Fedorko, Steve Hazlett, Cal Herd, Denis Houle, Willie Huber, Al Jensen, Mike Keating, Archie King, Joe Kowal, Mark Locken, Ted Long, Dale McCourt, Bob Mierkalns, Mark Perras, Bill Reilly, Ron Roscoe, Al Secord, Ric Seiling, Danny Shearer, Ed Smith, Rob Street, Sean Sullivan. Coach: Bert Templeton


1976 Memphis State Tigers football team
The 1976 Memphis State Tigers football team represented Memphis State University (now known as the University of Memphis) as an independent during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In its second season under head coach Richard Williamson, the team compiled an 7–4 record and outscored opponents by a total of 241 to 182. The team played its home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.


1976 Memphis State Tigers football team
The team's statistical leaders included Lloyd Patterson with 1,563 passing yards and 42 points scored, Terdell Middleton with 919 rushing yards, Ricky Rivas with 529 receiving yards.


1976 Men's African Volleyball Championship
The 1976 Men's African Volleyball Championship was in Tunis, Tunisia, with 7 teams participating in the continental championship.


1976 Men's British Open Squash Championship
The 1976 Lucas Industries British Open Squash Championship was unique in that it doubled as the men's edition of the 1976 World Open, which serves as the individual world championship for squash players. The event took place in London in England from 31 January to 7 February 1976. Geoff Hunt won his third British Open title, defeating Mohibullah Khan in the final. Held at Wembley a record prize fund of £10,000 was put forward for this first professional World Open and 38th British Open.


1976 Men's World Open Squash Championship
The 1976 Lucas Industries Men's World Open Squash Championship was the inaugural men's edition of the 1976 World Open, which serves as the individual world championship for squash players. The event took place in London in England from 31 January to 7 February 1976. Geoff Hunt won his first World Open title, defeating Mohibullah Khan in the final. The championship of 1976 also served as the British Open for that year.


1976 Men's World Open Squash Championship, Semi-finals & Final, Notes
This was the inaugural World Open that doubled up as the British Open.Held at Wembley a record prize fund of £10,000 was put forward for this first professional World Open.


1976 Men's World Team Squash Championships
The 1976 Men's World Team Amateur Squash Championships were held at thirteen Midlands Clubs in England and took place from May 4 to May 13, 1976. South Africa were barred from the competition.


1976 Mestaruussarja, Overview
It was contested by 12 teams, and KuPS Kuopio won the championship.


1976 Metro Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1976 Metro Conference Men's Basketball Tournament was held March 4–6 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. This was the first edition of the tournament.


1976 Metro Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
Cincinnati defeated Memphis State in the championship game, 103–95, to win their first Metro men's basketball tournament.


1976 Metro Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The Bearcats, in turn, received a bid to the 1976 NCAA Tournament. They were joined by fellow Metro member, and tournament runner-up, Memphis State, who earned an at-large bid.


1976 Metro Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Format
All six of the conference's members participated in the tournament field. They were seeded based on regular season conference records, with the top two teams earning byes into the semifinal round. The other four teams entered into the preliminary first round.


1976 Metro Manila Film Festival
The 2nd Metro Manila Film Festival was held in the year 1976. It was known as 1976 Filipino Film Festival at that time.


1976 Metro Manila Film Festival
Eddie Romero's Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon received most of the awards with a total of six including the Best Film and Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Actor for Christopher de Leon. Lino Brocka's Insiang received four including Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Actress for Hilda Koronel.


1976 Metro Manila Film Festival
A total of 10 movies were exhibited during the 10-day festival which opened for the first time on Christmas Day (December 25). JE Productions' Dateline Chicago: Arrest The Nurse Killer emerged as the Top Grosser.


1976 Mexican general election
General elections were held in Mexico on 4 July 1976. José López Portillo was the only candidate in the presidential election, and was elected unopposed. In the Chamber of Deputies election, the Institutional Revolutionary Party won 195 of the 237 seats, as well as winning all 64 seats in the Senate election. Voter turnout was 64.6% in the Senate election and 62.0% in the Chamber election.


1976 Mexican general election, Background
Amidst a social and economic crisis, president Luis Echeverría appointed his finance minister, José López Portillo, as the candidate for the ruling PRI in the 1976 presidential elections. Before the electoral reform of 1977, only four political parties were allowed to participate in the elections: the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the Popular Socialist Party (PPS), the Authentic Party of the Mexican Revolution (PARM) and the right-wing National Action Party (PAN), which was practically the only real opposition party at the time.


1976 Mexican general election, Background
The elections took place during a tense period: the economic crisis, the leftist guerrilla sublevations in some parts of the country and the Dirty War the government took against them, were some of many factors that jeopardized the power of the ruling PRI.


1976 Mexican general election, Campaign
The PPS and the PARM supported López Portillo's candidacy, as they had traditionally done with previous candidates for the PRI.


1976 Mexican general election, Campaign
At the time, the opposition party PAN was going through internal conflicts and, for the first time upon its foundation, was unable to nominate a candidate for the 1976 presidential elections.


1976 Mexican general election, Campaign
On the other hand, the Mexican Communist Party nominated Valentín Campa as their presidential candidate. At the time, however, this party had no official registry and was not allowed to participate in elections, so Campa's candidacy was not officially recognized and he didn't have access to the media. He had to run as a write-in candidate, as he would not appear in the ballots.


1976 Mexican general election, Campaign
These factors led to López Portillo effectively running unopposed. His campaign echoed this "unanimous" support for him, and his slogan was "La solución somos todos" ("All of us are the solution"). López Portillo later joked that, due to running without opposition, it would have been enough for "his mother's vote for him" to win the election.


1976 Mexican general election, Campaign
Popular Cuban singer Celia Cruz recorded a jingle for the López Portillo campaign, titled "¿Dónde estás, José?" ("Where are you, José"?). Other entertainers such as Enrique Guzmán and María Elena Velasco performed on an LP issued by the López Portillo campaign.


1976 Mexican general election, Results, Senate
Jorge Cruickshank García from the Popular Socialist Party was elected Senator for the state of Oaxaca. Although he ran in coalition with the PRI and therefore was not an opposition senator, he was the first Senator not to come from the PRI since 1929.


1976 Mexican general election, Aftermath
There were many rumours that outgoing president Luis Echeverría was planning to carry out a coup d'état against his own candidate, López Portillo, to perpetuate himself in power. A month after the elections, a diplomatic cable sent by then American ambassador in Mexico, Joseph J. Jova, to the U.S. Department of State echoed those rumours, and detailed a hypothetical scenario in which Echeverría would order the assassination of president-elect López Portillo after September 1, using the leftist guerrilla Liga Comunista 23 de Septiembre and the CIA as scapegoats. On August 13, the Liga tried to kidnap Margarita López Portillo, sister of the president elect; the attempt failed and the Liga's leader, David Jiménez Sarmiento, was killed by security forces during the incident.


1976 Mexican general election, Aftermath
In the end, López Portillo took office as scheduled on December 1 without further incidents.


1976 Mexican general election, Aftermath, Legitimacy in dispute
Although the results ensured the PRI remained in power, the lack of opposition to José López Portillo raised concerns about the lack of legitimacy of the Mexican political system. As a result, an electoral reform law was enacted in 1977, introducing partial proportional representation for the Congressional and Senate elections in order to ensure better representation of opposition parties – something extremely difficult under the first-past-the-post system that had been in force. However, the PRI retained its position as the dominant party, retaining the presidency until Vicente Fox of the National Action Party was elected in 2000.


1976 Mexican general election, Aftermath, Legitimacy in dispute
These have been the last Mexican presidential elections in which a candidate has run unopposed.


1976 Mexico City WCT
The 1976 Mexico City WCT was a men's tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts in Mexico City, Mexico. The event was part of the 1976 World Championship Tennis circuit. It was the inaugural edition of the tournament and was held from 9 March until 14 March 1976. Fourth-seeded Raúl Ramírez won the singles title.


1976 Mexico City WCT, Finals, Doubles
Brian Gottfried /  Raúl Ramírez defeated  Ismail El Shafei /  Brian Fairlie, 6–4, 7–6(7–4)


1976 Miami Dolphins season
The 1976 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 11th, and seventh as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The Dolphins failed to improve on their previous season's output of 10–4, winning only six games. One of these wins came over their new in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — who proceeded to lose all 14 games that year. The 6–8 finish marked the first losing record of head coach Don Shula's career.


1976 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 1976 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami as an independent during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. Led by Carl Selmer in his second and final year as head coach, the Hurricanes played their home games at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Miami finished the season with a record of 3–8.


1976 Miami Redskins football team
The 1976 Miami Redskins football team was an American football team that represented Miami University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In their third season under head coach Dick Crum, Miami finished in seventh place in the MAC with a 3–8 record (2–4 against MAC opponents) and were outscored by all opponents by a combined total of 208 to 160.


1976 Miami Redskins football team
The team's statistical leaders included Larry Fortner with 1,219 passing yards and 1,002 rushing yards, Rob Carpenter with 1,064 rushing yards, and Steve Joecken with 404 receiving yards.


1976 Miami Toros indoor season
The 1976 Miami Toros indoor season was the second season of the team in the North American Soccer League indoor tournament. It was part of the club's tenth season in professional soccer. This year, the team finished in third place in the Eastern Regional. They did not make the playoffs as only the top team in each of the four regions were selected. This was the last season of the indoor team and the tournament, as the NASL organized a new indoor league three years later in 1979.


1976 Miami Toros season
The 1976 Miami Toros season was the fourth season of the team, and the club's tenth season in professional soccer. This year, the team finished in fifth place of the Eastern Division and did not qualify for the North American Soccer League playoffs. At the end of the year, the club folded the team and moved to Fort Lauderdale, fielding a new team known as the Fort Lauderdale Strikers for the 1977 season.


1976 Miami Toros season, Regular season
W = Wins, L = Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PT= point system


1976 Miami Toros season, Regular season
6 points for a win,1 point for a shootout win,0 points for a loss,1 point for each regulation goal scored up to three per game.


1976 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 1976 Michigan State Spartans football team is an American football team that represented Michigan State University in the 1976 Big Ten Conference football season. In their first season under head coach Darryl Rogers, the Spartans compiled a 4–6–1 overall record (3–5 against Big Ten opponents) and finished in a three-way tie for seventh place in the Big Ten Conference.


1976 Michigan State Spartans football team
Seven Spartans were selected by either the Associated Press (AP) or the United Press International (UPI) for the 1976 All-Big Ten Conference football teams: tight end Mike Cobb (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive back Tom Hannon (AP-1, UPI-1); flanker Kirk Gibson (AP-2, UPI-2); center Al Pitts (AP-2, UPI-2); defensive tackle Larry Bethea (AP-2, UPI-2); offensive tackle Tony Bruggenthies (AP-2); and defensive end Otto Smith (UPI-2).


1976 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
On October 9, 1976, Michigan State played its cross-state rival Michigan in the annual battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The Wolverines had won six straight games with the last victory for the Spartans dating back to 1969. Michigan extended the streak to seven games with a 42-10 victory at Michigan Stadium. Michigan's 42 points was the most it had scored against Michigan State since 1947.


1976 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
Fullback Rob Lytle rushed for 180 yards on 10 carries, including a 45-yard gain on a fake punt and a 75-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. After the game, Bo Schembechler said of Lytle, "If that guy isn't an All-American, I don't know who is." Lytle added, "All backs like to break away on a long one like that. It was the longest run I've had at Michigan. In fact, I think this was my biggest day ever." Harlan Huckleby rushed for 126 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. Russell Davis added 91 yards on 13 carries. In all, the Wolverines rushed for 442 yards on 62 carries against the Spartans. Quarterback Rick Leach completed five of seven passes for 93 yards and rushed for 36 yards on 11 carries. Wolfman Jerry Zuver scored Michigan's final touchdown on a 60-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.


1976 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
In the AP Poll released on the Monday after the game, Michigan retained its #1 ranking with 57 out of 60 first-place votes and 1,194 points out of a possible 1,200 points. Pittsburgh was ranked #2 with the remaining three first-place votes.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1976 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1976 Big Ten Conference football season. In their eighth year under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines finished the season with a 10–2 record, won the Big Ten Conference championship, and played in the 1977 Rose Bowl. The Wolverines outscored their opponents 432 to 95 and ranked first in the country in total offense (448.1 yards per game), scoring offense (38.7 points per game), and scoring defense (7.2 points per game). In the final AP and UPI Polls, Michigan was ranked #3.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team
Highlights of the season included a 51–0 victory over Stanford in which three Michigan running backs rushed for over 100 yards. Michigan's 70–14 victory over Navy was the worst defeat in the history of the Naval Academy's football program. Michigan spent most of the season ranked #1 in the polls, but a 16–14 loss to Purdue in the ninth game of the season dropped the Wolverines out of the top spot. In the final game of the regular season, Michigan defeated Ohio State, 22–0, to win the Big Ten championship. The game marked the first time the Buckeyes had been held scoreless since 1964. In the 1977 Rose Bowl, Michigan lost to USC, 14–6, as the Wolverines completed only four passes and were held to 155 rushing yards.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team
On offense, senior running back Rob Lytle was selected as the team's most valuable player, finished third in voting for the Heisman Trophy, and led the Wolverines with 1,469 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. Lytle finished the season as Michigan's all-time career rushing leader with 3,307 rushing yards gained from 1974 to 1976. Quarterback Rick Leach passed for 973 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for another 638 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 13 touchdown passes tied a team record set by Bob Chappuis in 1947. Harlan Huckleby added 912 rushing yards, and wing back Jim Smith caught 26 passes for 714 yards and six touchdowns.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team
Lytle, Smith, offensive right guard Mark Donahue, and offensive right tackle Bill Dufek were selected as first-team All-Americans. On defense, Calvin O'Neal started all 12 games at middle linebacker, led the team with 139 tackles, and was a consensus first-team All-American. Nine Michigan players were selected as first-team All-Big Ten Conference players. Twenty-one players from the 1976 team went on to play in the National Football League, and another (Rick Leach) was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 1979 NFL Draft, but opted instead to play Major League Baseball.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 1: Wisconsin
Michigan opened the season on September 11, 1976, with a 40–27 victory over Wisconsin. Michigan scored two points on a safety on the second play from scrimmage as Wisconsin running back Mike Morgan fumbled the handoff on a reverse play and the ball rolled out of the end zone. Harlan Huckleby then extended the lead to 9-0 with a 56-yard touchdown run on Michigan's third play from scrimmage. Michigan led the game 23–0 at the end of the first quarter and held on for a 40-27 win.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 1: Wisconsin
Michigan's offense was led by tailback Harlan Huckleby who rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. Rick Leach completed six of eight passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Leach also rushed for 84 yards on nine carries. Wing back Jim Smith scored two touchdowns and netted 174 yards in the game, including gains on kickoff and punt returns, receptions, and reverse plays. Team captain Rob Lytle gained 76 yards on 16 attempts, but also fumbled three times. Mike Kenn and Gerry Szara were credited with leading an offensive line that "completely controlled the line of scrimmage."


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 1: Wisconsin
Defensively, the game was a disappointment for Michigan. Wisconsin's 27 points was the most allowed by a Michigan team since 1969, and Wisconsin's 426 yards of offense was the most allowed by Michigan since before Bo Schembechler took over as head coach. After the game, Schembechler told the press: "Twenty seven points that's what we usually give up in the first half of the season. I wasn't happy with the movement, I wasn't happy with the pursuit, I wasn't happy with the tackling, I wasn't happy with the playing of the ball in the secondary and I wasn't happy with the heat we put on the passer."


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 1: Wisconsin
In the AP Poll released after the game, Michigan was ranked #1 with Ohio State at #2. Michigan's move to #1 was aided by upsets of Alabama and Texas and a tie between Nebraska and LSU.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 2: Stanford
On September 18, 1976, Michigan played Stanford at Michigan Stadium. Michigan and Stanford had played to a 19-19 tie in 1975, and the Associated Press picked the rematch as its "Upset Special of the Week", predicting a Stanford win by a 24-20 score. Instead, Michigan defeated Stanford by a score of 51–0.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 2: Stanford
Three Michigan running backs rushed for at least 100 yards in the game. Harlan Huckleby led the group with 160 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Russell Davis added 115 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries, including an 85-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Rob Lytle had 101 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Rick Leach completed only two of eight passes for 15 yards, but added 70 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven carries. One of Leach's completions went three yards to tight end Gene Johnson for a touchdown in the third quarter.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 2: Stanford
In total, the Wolverines gained 531 rushing yards against the Cardinal. On defense, Michigan intercepted three Stanford passes. Calvin O'Neal led the team with 11 total tackles. Place-kicker Bob Wood converted on six of seven extra point attempts and kicked a 49-yard field goal in the second quarter. The game marked the first time a Stanford team had been shut out since 1967.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 2: Stanford
On the Wednesday before the Stanford game, the #1-ranked Michigan team received a visit from President Gerald Ford. Ford, who was the most valuable player of the 1934 Michigan Wolverines football team, spent time with team during a practice session and later ate with the team. Ford noted, "They're an awful lot bigger today. Not only are they bigger but they're better." Split end Curt Stephenson later recalled the dinner:


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 2: Stanford
"A tray appeared with a big New York steak in front of the President. . . . What happened next is kind of a blur. President Ford started to choke and the secret service started to circle the table. I don't know why, but in one immediate action, I reached back and gave him a good whack on the back. A hunk of beef flew out and across the table. The President turned to me and said, 'Thanks'. . . . From that point on, there were about six agents who were giving me eagle eyes."


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 2: Stanford
Later that day, Ford formally opened his reelection campaign with a speech to a boisterous crowd of 14,000 at Crisler Arena.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 3: Navy
On September 25, 1976, Michigan faced Navy at Michigan Stadium. Two days before the game, the schools' most famous alumni (Gerald Ford of Michigan and Jimmy Carter of the Naval Academy) faced off in a presidential debate. The Associated Press reported that a survey of registered voters gave Ford a slight edge over Carter in the debate, but noted that things were "not expected to be that close" when the two schools met on the football field. In fact, Michigan defeated Navy by a 70-14 score. The game marked the worst defeat in the history of the Naval Academy's football program. The point total was also the highest by a Michigan team since an 85-0 win over the University of Chicago in 1939.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 3: Navy
Navy took an early lead on a touchdown by quarterback John Kurowski and led 14-12 halfway through the second quarter. Michigan tied the score with its second safety of the second quarter and outscored 49-0 in the second half to put the game out of reach.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 3: Navy
Quarterback Rick Leach completed 8 of 12 passes for 179 yards and led the scoring with two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns. A total of nine players scored for the Wolverines. On offense, touchdowns were scored by Leach, Rob Lytle, Lawrence Reid, Kevin King, Stacy Johson, Jim Smith, and Gene Johnson. Middle linebacker Calvin O'Neal also scored a touchdown on a 29-yard return after intercepting a Navy pass. Place-kicker Bob Wood tied a Michigan record with a 41-yard field goal, his third of the season, and converted all nine extra point kicks. Jim Smith caught four passes for 147 yards and added another 55 yards on kickoff and punt returns. Harlan Huckleby rushed for 79 yards on 11 carries but did not score and left the game early after sustaining a shoulder injury.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 3: Navy
After the game, Bo Schembechler denied running up the score, having used 53 players in the game. Schembechler told the press told the press that his squad was not a great team and that he would prefer not to be ranked #1.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 4: Wake Forest
On October 2, 1976, Michigan faced the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the team's fourth consecutive home game at Michigan Stadium. In the week before the game, Wake Forest head coach Chuck Mills noted that he had heard that Bear Bryant endorsed Gerald Ford and joked, "I'm withholding my endorsement until after the Michigan game to see what kind of hosts they are." The Wolverines shut out the Demon Deacons by a score of 31-0.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 4: Wake Forest
Rob Lytle rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries and also caught two passes for 21 yards. With the total, Lytle moved past Tom Harmon for fourth place on Michigan's all-time career rushing list. Harlan Huckleby added 89 yards, and quarterback Rick Leach completed only three of 14 passes and threw three interceptions. Commenting on Leach's passing, one sportswriter noted: "[W]hen the Wolverines are rolling up a shutout, and 340 yards rushing, hardly anybody notices the passing. Maybe that's a good thing. ... [ Leach] was wild high, and wild low, but in games like these it really doesn't matter." Bo Schembechler told the press after the game: "You people like passing and there it is. That's how we keep the score down."


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 5: Michigan State
On October 9, 1976, Michigan played its cross-state rival Michigan State in the annual battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The Wolverines had won six straight games with the last victory for the Spartans dating back to 1969. Michigan extended the streak to seven games with a 42-10 victory at Michigan Stadium. Michigan's 42 points was the most it had scored against Michigan State since 1947.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 5: Michigan State
Fullback Rob Lytle rushed for 180 yards on 10 carries, including a 45-yard gain on a fake punt and a 75-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. After the game, Bo Schembechler said of Lytle, "If that guy isn't an All-American, I don't know who is." Lytle added, "All backs like to break away on a long one like that. It was the longest run I've had at Michigan. In fact, I think this was my biggest day ever." Harlan Huckleby rushed for 126 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. Russell Davis added 91 yards on 13 carries. In all, the Wolverines rushed for 442 yards on 62 carries against the Spartans. Quarterback Rick Leach completed five of seven passes for 93 yards and rushed for 36 yards on 11 carries. Wolfman Jerry Zuver scored Michigan's final touchdown on a 60-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 5: Michigan State
In the AP Poll released on the Monday after the game, Michigan retained its #1 ranking with 57 out of 60 first-place votes and 1,194 points out of a possible 1,200 points. Pittsburgh was ranked #2 with the remaining three first-place votes.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 6: at Northwestern
On October 16, 1976, Michigan faced Northwestern for its first game on the road. Playing at Dyche Stadium, the Wolverines scored 28 points in the second quarter, compiled 346 yard of total offense in the first half, and led 31-0 at halftime. Michigan applied the brakes in the second half, and both teams scored single touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Michigan won by a final score of 38-7.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 6: at Northwestern
Rob Lytle, who moved from fullback to tailback in the game, rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. With his performance against Northwestern, Lytle moved past Ron Johnson and into third place on Michigan's all-time rushing yardage list. Harlan Huckleby gained 80 yards and scored a touchdown on 17 carries, while Russell Davis rushed for 58 yards on 13 carries. Rick Leach completed only three of seven passes and threw two interceptions. One of Leach's passes went 57 yards for a touchdown to Jim Smith. Bob Wood kicked a field goal in the first quarter and converted on all four extra point attempts.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 6: at Northwestern
Michigan remained ranked #1 in both polls after its victory over Northwestern. It captured 40 out of 42 first place votes from the UPI Board of Coaches.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 7: at Indiana
For its seventh game of the year, Michigan defeated Indiana by a 35-0 score in cold, wet conditions at Bloomington. Rick Leach completed all four of his passes for 102 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown pass to Gene Johnson in the second quarter and a 15-yard touchdown pass to Russell Davis and the third period. Rob Lytle rushed for 175 yards on 25 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of 14 yards and one yard. Russell Davis also rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown, while Harlan Huckleby rushed for 67 yards, including a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 7: at Indiana
While Michigan defeated Indiana, Tony Dorsett of #2 Pitt rushed for 180 yards in Pitt's 45-0 victory over Navy, breaking the all-time NCAA rushing record previously held by Archie Griffin.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 8: Minnesota
On October 30, 1976, Michigan defeated Minnesota 45-0 in the annual battle for the Little Brown Jug. The game was played in steady rain and cold conditions before a homecoming crowd of 104,426, at that time the fifth largest crowd to watch a game at Michigan Stadium.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 8: Minnesota
Quarterback Rick Leach accounted for four touchdowns, two rushing and two passing. He rushed for a career-high 114 yards on 10 carries, including a 28-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and a six-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Leach also completed all four of his passes for 40 passing yards, including a 13-yard touchdown pass to Rob Lytle in the second quarter and a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jim Smith in the third quarter.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 8: Minnesota
Lytle alternated at the tailback and fullback positions and rushed for 129 rushing yards (107 in the first half), including a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Harlan Huckleby gained 55 yards on 12 carries, including a six-yard touchdown run on an option pitch from Leach in the first quarter. In the Toledo Blade, John Hannen wrote after the game that "Leach handles the option with the light fingers of a pick pocket" and opined that Michigan's combination of Lytle, Huckleby, Smith and Davis "may be the fastest backfield in collegiate history." Place-kicker Bob Wood also kicked a 46-yard field goal in the third quarter and converted on all six extra point kicks.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 8: Minnesota
Defensively, Michigan held Minnesota to 80 rushing yards. Minnesota quarterback Tony Dungy completed 12 of 20 passes for 85 yards, but Dwight Hicks intercepted a Dungy pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 51 yards. Freshman Ron Simpkins intercepted another Dungy pass with a minute left in the game.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 8: Minnesota
After the game, Bo Schembechler told the press, "If we can keep improving, we will be very difficult to beat. We are playing with more confidence now and our defense is getting better. It seems to be improving every week." Schembechler also praised Lytle: "There is no back in the United States of America who does more for his team than Rob Lytle does for Michigan."


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 8: Minnesota
With a convincing victory over Minnesota, Michigan, solidified its #1 ranking. The Wolverines received 40 of 41 first place votes from the UPI Board of Coaches.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 9: at Purdue
Michigan traveled to West Lafayette, Indiana, to play Purdue on November 6, 1976. Michigan was heavily favored and had not lost a game to Purdue since 1966. The Boilermakers came into the game with a 3-4 record, but proceeded to stun the college football world with a 16-14 upset victory over the Wolverines. It was the first time Michigan had lost to a Big Ten Conference team other than Ohio State since its loss to Michigan State in 1969.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 9: at Purdue
Michigan took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on an eight-yard touchdown run by Rick Leach. Leach's score was set up by linebacker Jerry Vogele's recovery of a fumble at the Michigan 42-yard line. Purdue's Scott Dierking responded with two touchdown runs, one each in the first and second quarters. Purdue held a 13-7 lead at halftime. Early in the third quarter, Michigan drove to Purdue's one-yard line, but Leach fumbled and the ball was turned over to Purdue.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 9: at Purdue
Later in the third quarter, Leach threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to Jim Smith, and Bob Wood kicked the extra point to give Michigan a 14-13 lead. On the next drive, Jerry Zuver intercepted a pass to stop a Purdue drive at Michigan's 22-yard line. However, Rob Lytle fumbled on the next drive, and Purdue recovered the ball at its own 29-yard line. Purdue drove to the Michigan six-yard line. While Michigan's defense held, Rock Supan kicked a field goal on fourth down with four minutes remaining in the game. With nine second left in the game, Bob Wood's attempt at a 37-yard field goal went wide to the left.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 9: at Purdue
Rob Lytle rushed for 153 yards in the game to pass Gordon Bell at the number two position on Michigan's career rushing yardage list. Purdue rushed for 251 yards in the game, including 162 yards by Dierking. After the game, Bo Schembechler told reporters, "It hurts a lot. We don't accept it. . . . We shouldn't accept it . . . because we should have won. No defeat is good. we got down there at the end and we should have scored. But when you depend on winning on a forward pass or a field goal, you're in trouble."


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 9: at Purdue
In a post-game account, the UPI dubbed Purdue the "Spoilermakers", noting that Purdue had upset a #1 ranked Notre Dame team in 1974 before upsetting #1 ranked Michigan.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 9: at Purdue
Four days before the Wolverines lost to Purdue, the team's most famous alumnus lost the 1976 presidential election to Jimmy Carter. After losing a close election, Ford harkened back to his days as a football player, "We lost, in the last quarter."


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 10: Illinois
After the loss to Purdue, Michigan returned to Ann Arbor and played Illinois on November 13, 1976. Prior to the game, Associated Press writer Fred Rothenberg noted that Illinois was in the unenviable position of playing Michigan on the heels of the Purdue game. Rothenberg wrote: "The University of Michigan and its most famous alumnus both lost their No. 1 positions last week. President Ford immediately went on vacation; the Wolverines went back to work. Pity poor Illinois." Michigan defeated the Illini by a score of 38-7.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 10: Illinois
Rob Lytle rushed for 89 yards on 21 carries and scored three touchdowns, a five-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter and a pair of touchdown runs in the third quarter. With his rushing yards against Illinois, Lytle became Michigan's all-time career rushing leader. Lytle totaled 3,085 career rushing yards after the Illinois game, surpassing Billy Taylor's school record by 13 yards.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 10: Illinois
Rick Leach rushed for 65 yards and completed 9 of 15 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. With Illinois putting seven or eight men on the line at times, no Michigan player was able to rush for 100 yards in the game. Accordingly, Michigan opened up the passing attack. Bo Schembechler said after the game, "When they put that many people on the line of scrimmage, you have to throw the ball over their heads." In addition to the touchdown pass to Lytle, Leach connected with tight end Mark Shmerge in the second quarter for a seven-yard touchdown pass.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 10: Illinois
Jim Smith also caught six passes for 127 yards. Leach's two touchdown passes gave him 13 for the season, tying the Michigan record set in 1947 by Bob Chappuis. After the game, Illinois coach Bob Blackman said, "Leach is not just a good quarterback, he is a great quarterback. We knew he could run the option, but he can also pass the ball."


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 10: Illinois
On defense, Michigan held Illinois to 101 rushing yards and 79 passing yards. Calvin O'Neal also intercepted a Kurt Steger pass late in the second quarter to set up Michigan's third touchdown of the half. Dom Tedesco also intercepted a Steger pass to set up Michigan's fifth touchdown in the third quarter. Tackle Greg Morton led the team with 15 tackles in the game.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 10: Illinois
Michigan concluded its home schedule with an average of 103,159 spectators per game, setting a new record for college football attendance. The prior record had been set by Michigan in 1975 with an average attendance of 98,449.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 11: at Ohio State
In the final game of the regular season, Michigan (ranked #4) traveled to Columbus, Ohio, for its annual rivalry game with Ohio State (ranked #8). Each team entered the game with one loss on its record, but Ohio State was undefeated in conference play. For the eighth time in nine years, the winner of the game would become the Big Ten Conference champion and earn the conference's berth in the Rose Bowl. The Wolverines had not beaten the Buckeyes since 1971, and Bo Schembechler had not won a game in Ohio Stadium. Stories ran about Schembechler being jinxed or hexed at Ohio Stadium, but Schembechler rejected the notion: "I don't look at it as a jinx." On learning that his team was favored by 5-1/2 points, Schembechler said, "Being the favorite doesn't put any points on the board."


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 11: at Ohio State
Michigan defeated Ohio State by a 22-0 score. The game drew a record crowd of 88,250 to Ohio Stadium and was broadcast to a national television audience. The game was the worst home loss for Ohio State since 1967, and it snapped Ohio State's streak of 122 games without being shut out. The last time an Ohio State team had been shut out was Michigan's 10-0 victory in 1964.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 11: at Ohio State
After a scoreless first half, Russell Davis scored two touchdowns for Michigan in the third quarter. Davis tallied 83 yards on 24 carries. After Davis's second touchdown, holder Jerry Zuver ran for a two-point conversion. Rob Lytle rushed for 165 yards on 29 carries, including a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Rick Leach completed none of his six passes and threw an interception. Bob Wood converted on both of his extra point kicks.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 11: at Ohio State
On defense, the Wolverines became the first team to hold the Buckeyes scoreless since 1964. They held Ohio State to 173 yards of total offense, including 101 rushing yards and only five pass receptions. Defensive tackle Greg Morton led the team with 14 tackles, and Jim Pickens and Jerry Zuver each had an interception. Late in the second quarter, with the game still scoreless, Ohio State drove the ball to the Michigan 10-yard line when Pickens intercepted a pass in the end zone.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 11: at Ohio State
After the game, Woody Hayes cited Pickens' interception as a turning point: "The interception at the end of the first half was a costly error on our part. It was my call all the way, and it was just a bad call. If we had scored then, it might have affected the second half outcome."


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Week 11: at Ohio State
Michigan ended the season ranked first in the country in total offense (448.1 yards per game), scoring offense (38.7 points per game), and scoring defense (7.2 points per game).


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Rose Bowl
With its victory over Ohio State, Michigan advanced to play the USC Trojans in the 1977 Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. Michigan came into the game ranked #2 in the AP Poll and #3 in the UPI coaches poll. USC was ranked #3 by the AP and #2 by the UPI. Michigan lost to the Trojans, 14-6.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Rose Bowl
In the first quarter, neither team scored, and USC's Heisman Trophy runner-up Ricky Bell was injured and unable to return to the game. Michigan took a 6-0 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by Rob Lytle in the second quarter, but Bob Wood's extra point kick was blocked. The Trojans moved down field on the next drive, and  quarterback Vince Evans put USC in the lead on a one-yard touchdown run with a minute-and-a-half left in the first half.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Rose Bowl
Neither team scored in the third quarter, and freshman tailback Charles White scored USC's second touchdown with three minutes left in the game. White rushed for 122 yards in the game. Michigan's offense was held to 155 rushing yards and 76 passing yards. Rob Lytle gained 67 yards on 18 carries, and Russell Davis was limited to 39 yards on 10 carries. Rick Leach completed only 4 of 12 passes and was held to 34 rushing yards on 13 carries.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Rose Bowl
Press coverage of the game focused on Michigan's conservative, run-oriented offense and USC's more versatile attack. Los Angeles Times columnist Jim Murray wrote: "Of course, it's possible Michigan doesn't know how to catch a pass. They never throw any, so may not know it's legal. The way they play the game you could hold it in a cave." An Associated Press story noted: "It was the same old story. The Big Ten's Rose Bowl representative, a stick-to-the-ground team ... just couldn't cope with the versatility of its Pacific-8 Conference opponent." Another writer noted that the Rose Bowl had become an annual "wake" for the Big 10: "It is rapidly becoming an annual event. Only the corpses are different."


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Post-season
Several Michigan players, led by Rob Lytle, received post-season honors and awards. Lytle, called "the greatest back I ever coached" by Bo Schembechler, was selected as a first-team All-American by both the AP, UPI, Walter Camp Foundation, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football News, and College Football News. In balloting for the Heisman Trophy, Lytle finished third with 35 first-place votes and 413 points, trailing Tony Dorsett (701 first-place votes, 2,357 points) and Ricky Bell (73 first-place votes, 1,346 points). Lytle also won the 1976 Wiseman Trophy, presented each year to person selected as "the nation's best football player."


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Post-season
Other Michigan players selected as All-Americans were Calvin O'Neal (UPI first team, Walter Camp Foundation first team, Sporting News first team, College Football News first team, AP second team), Jim Smith (AP first team, FWAA first team [returner], Sporting News first team, Football News first team, UPI second team), Mark Donahue (UPI first team, NEA first team, FWAA first team, Football News first team, Walter Camp Foundation first team), and Bill Dufek (College Football News first team).


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Season summary, Post-season
Nine Michigan players were selected for first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors. The Associated Press selected six offensive players (Jim Smith, Bill Dufek, Mark Donahue, Walt Downing, Rick Leach, and Rob Lytle) and two defensive players (Greg Morton Calvin O'Neal). The UPI selected the same eight players plus defensive end John Anderson.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Players, NFL
Twenty-one of the players from the 1976 Michigan team went on to play in the National Football League.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Players, NFL
They are John Anderson (Green Bay Packers, 1978–1989), Ralph Clayton (St. Louis Carinals, 1981), Russell Davis (Pittsburgh Steelers, 1980–1983), Walt Downing (San Francisco 49ers, 1978–1983), Jon Giesler (Miami Dolphins, 1979–1988), Chris Godfrey (New York Jets, 1980; New York Giants, 1984–1987; Seattle Seahawks, 1988); Curtis Greer (St. Louis Cardinals, 1980–1987), Mike Harden (Denver Broncos, 1980–1988; Los Angeles Raiders, 1989–1990); John Hennessy (New York Jets, 1977–1979), Dwight Hicks (San Francisco 49ers, 1979–1985, Indianapolis Colts, 1986), Harlan Huckleby (Green Bay Packers, 1980–1985), Mike Jolly (Green Bay Packers, 1980–1983), Mike Kenn (Atlanta Falcons, 1978–1994), Rob Lytle (Denver Broncos, 1977–1983), Doug Marsh (St. Louis Cardinals, 1980–1986), Greg Morton (Buffalo Bills, 1977), Calvin O'Neal (Baltimore Colts, 1978), Mel Owens (Los Angeles Rams, 1981–1989), Tom Seabron (San Francisco 49ers, 1979–1980), St. Louis Cardinals, 1980), and Ron Simpkins (Cincinnati Bengals, 1980–1986, Green Bay Packers, 1988), and Jim Smith (Pittsburgh Steelers, 1977–1982, Los Angeles Raiders, 1985).


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Players, NFL
A 22nd player, Rick Leach, was drafted by the Denver Broncos, but opted instead to play Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers. Leach went on to play for 10 years in the major leagues.


1976 Michigan Wolverines football team, Players, NFL
Another, Mark Donahue, spent two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, but did not appear in a regular season game.


1976 Mid Bedfordshire District Council election
Elections to Mid Bedfordshire District Council were held in May 1976. All 53 seats were up for election.


1976 Mid Bedfordshire District Council election, Result
Gains and losses in the results table are compared with the 1973 district council election.


1976 Mid Bedfordshire District Council election, Ward Results
Figures on turnout were taken from Plymouth University's Elections Centre, which gives the number of registered voters, and the percentage turnout for each ward. The number of ballots cast for each ward was calculated from these. Percentage change in turnout is compared with the same ward in the 1973 District Council election.


1976 Mid Bedfordshire District Council election, Ward Results
The percentage of the vote for each candidate was calculated compared with the number of ballots cast in the ward. Note that in a ward with more than one seat, voters were allowed to place as many crosses on the ballot paper as seats. The percentage change for each candidate is compared with the same candidate in the 1973 District Council election.


1976 Mid Bedfordshire District Council election, Ward Results
Candidates who were members of the council before the election are marked with an asterisk.


1976 Milan–San Remo
The 1976 Milan–San Remo was the 67th edition of the Milan–San Remo cycle race and was held on 19 March 1976. The race started in Milan and finished in San Remo. The race was won by Eddy Merckx of the Molteni team.


1976 Milwaukee Brewers season
The 1976 Milwaukee Brewers season involved the Brewers' finishing sixth in the American League East with 66 wins. It was the seventh consecutive losing season in Milwaukee and the eighth overall for the franchise since its inception.


1976 Milwaukee Brewers season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1976 Milwaukee Brewers season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1976 Milwaukee Brewers season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1976 Milwaukee Brewers season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1976 Milwaukee Brewers season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1976 Milwaukee Brewers season, Farm system
The Brewers' farm system consisted of four minor league affiliates in 1976.


1976 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
The 1976 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Minnesota in the 1976 Big Ten Conference football season. In their fifth year under head coach Cal Stoll, the Golden Gophers compiled a 6–5 record (4–4 against conference opponents), finished in a four-way tie for third place in the Big Ten Standings, and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 211 to 201.