1971 Tampa Spartans football team

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1971 Tampa Spartans football
ConferenceIndependent
1971 record6–5
Head coach
Home stadiumTampa Stadium
Seasons
← 1970
1972 →
1971 NCAA College Division independents football records
  • v
  • t
 Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Delaware   –   10 – 1 – 0
No. 5 Tennessee State   –   9 – 1 – 0
Colorado College   –   7 – 1 – 0
No. 8 Akron   –   8 – 2 – 0
Samford   –   8 – 2 – 0
No. 3 Eastern Michigan   –   7 – 1 – 2
Arkansas AM&N   –   7 – 2 – 0
IUP   –   7 – 2 – 0
Appalachian State   –   7 – 3 – 1
Northern Michigan   –   7 – 3 – 0
Hawaii   –   7 – 4 – 0
Santa Clara   –   6 – 4 – 0
Southern Illinois   –   6 – 4 – 0
Tampa   –   6 – 5 – 0
UNLV   –   5 – 4 – 1
Bucknell   –   5 – 5 – 0
Central Michigan   –   5 – 5 – 0
Milwaukee   –   5 – 5 – 0
Nevada   –   5 – 5 – 0
Wayne State (MI)   –   4 – 4 – 0
Hofstra   –   5 – 6 – 0
Cortland   –   4 – 5 – 0
Northeastern   –   4 – 5 – 0
Portland State   –   4 – 5 – 0
Northeast Louisiana   –   4 – 6 – 1
Eastern Illinois   –   4 – 6 – 0
Indiana State   –   4 – 6 – 0
Saint Mary's   –   3 – 5 – 0
Rose-Hulman   –   3 – 6 – 0
Boston University   –   3 – 7 – 0
Drexel   –   2 – 6 – 0
Chattanooga   –   2 – 9 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1971 Tampa Spartans football team represented the University of Tampa in the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. It was the Spartans' 35th season. 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[]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 18Louisiana Tech
L 20–2827,333[8]
September 25at Chattanooga
W 31–14[9]
October 2Youngstown State
  • Tampa Stadium
  • Tampa, FL
W 49–015,152
October 9Dayton
  • Tampa Stadium
  • Tampa, FL
W 47–14
October 16at Drake
W 36–2
October 23Villanova
  • Tampa Stadium
  • Tampa, FL
L 3–24
October 30at Louisville
L 10–21
November 6Ole Miss
  • Tampa Stadium
  • Tampa, FL
L 27–2820,939
November 13East Carolina
  • Tampa Stadium
  • Tampa, FL
W 43–717,092[10]
November 20at Vanderbilt
L 7–10
November 27Florida A&M
  • Tampa Stadium
  • Tampa, FL
W 56–1444,000

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.
  8. ^ Cardon, Mark (September 19, 1971). "Tampa loses debut 28–20". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 1C. Retrieved March 23, 2021 – via Google News Archives.
  9. ^ "Spartans repent, blast Mocs 31–14". The Tampa Tribune. September 26, 1971. Retrieved September 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Spartans snap losing streak". The Tampa Tribune. November 14, 1971. Retrieved March 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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