1971 Tampa Spartans football team

1971 Tampa Spartans football
Conference Independent
1971 record 6–5
Head coach Bill Fulcher (1st season)
Home stadium Tampa Stadium

The 1971 Tampa Spartans football team represented the University of Tampa in the 1971 college football season. It was the Spartans' 35th season and first as an NCAA University Division independent. The team was led by head coach Bill Fulcher, in his first year, and played their home games at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. They finished with a record of six wins and five losses (6–5). Fulcher was hired on January 7, 1971, to serve as the replacement for Fran Curci who resigned to become the head coach at Miami.[1]

After an upset loss against Louisiana Tech to open the season, the Spartans won four consecutive games against Chattanooga, Youngstown State, Dayton and Drake.[2] Ranked No. 2 as they entered their game against Villanova, Tampa was upset by the Wildcats 24–3.[3] After the loss, the Spartans would lose three of their next four games. A week after their loss at Louisville, Tampa returned home and lost to Ole Miss by a single point in a game that saw the Spartans score on touchdown passes of 93 and 49 yards.[4] Tampa then rebounded the next week with a 43–7 win over East Carolina.[5] The Spartans then closed the season with a loss at Vanderbilt and a victory over Florida A&M.[6] On January 21, 1972, Fulcher resigned as head coach of the Spartans to take the same position at Georgia Tech.[7]

Schedule

Date Opponent Site Result Attendance
September 18 Louisiana Tech* Tampa Stadium • Tampa, Florida L 20–28   27,333
September 25 at Chattanooga* Chamberlain Field • Chattanooga, Tennessee W 31–14    
October 2 Youngstown State* Tampa Stadium • Tampa, Florida W 49–0   15,152
October 9 Dayton* Tampa Stadium • Tampa, Florida W 47–14    
October 16 at Drake* Drake Stadium • Des Moines, Iowa W 36–2    
October 23 Villanova* Tampa Stadium • Tampa, Florida L 3–24    
October 30 at Louisville* Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, Kentucky L 10–21    
November 6 Ole Miss* Tampa Stadium • Tampa, Florida L 27–28   20,939
November 13 East Carolina* Tampa Stadium • Tampa, Florida W 43–7   17,092
November 20 at Vanderbilt* Dudley Field • Nashville, Tennessee L 7–10    
November 27 Florida A&M* Tampa Stadium • Tampa, Florida W 56–14   44,000
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

References

  1. ↑ "Tampa picks Florida aide". St. Petersburg Times. January 8, 1971. p. 1C. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
  2. ↑ Cardon, Mark (September 19, 1971). "Tampa loses debut 28–20". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 1C. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
  3. ↑ Cardon, Mark (October 24, 1971). "Villanova upsets Spartans". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 1C. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
  4. ↑ Barefield, Ron (November 7, 1971). "Tampa bid fails, Rebs win 28–27". Lakeland Ledger. p. 1B. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
  5. ↑ "Spartans crush Carolina eleven". Ocala Star-Banner. Associated Press. November 14, 1971. p. 2D. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
  6. ↑ "Tampa saves winning season against FAMU". Lakeland Ledger. November 28, 1971. p. 2B. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
  7. ↑ Duffy, Tom (January 22, 1972). "Prestige up, but Tampa coachless". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2C. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
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