1972 Harding Bisons football team

American college football season February 2026 September 2024 1972 Harding Bisons football Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference AIC 10–1 5–1 John Prock 9th Multiple, Triple option Alumni Stadium AIC co-champion Cowboy Bowl W 30–27 vs. 1972 Langston Lions Langston The 1972 Harding Bisons football team represented Harding College as member of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) during the 1972 NAIA Division I football season. Led by ninth-year head coach John Prock, the Bisons compiled an overall record of 10–1 with mark of 5–1 in conference play, sharing the AIC title with 1972 Southern Arkansas Muleriders Southern Arkansas. Harding was invited to the Cowboy Bowl, where the Bisons defeated 1972 Langston Lions Langston. St. State, Harding Tie For AIC Championship https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91130488/the-camden-news/ The Camden News Camden, Arkansas Associated Press November 20, 1972 9 December 25, 2021 Newspapers.com Harding was ranked sixth in the final NAIA Division I poll. Final NAIA poll given https://www.newspapers.com/article/rapid-city-journal/125680210/ Rapid City Journal Rapid City, South Dakota December 24, 1972 42 June 1, 2023 Newspapers.com The Bison, August 25, 1972 https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/217379637.pdf core.ac.uk The 1972 team was the first in program history to win a conference championship. The AIC title was the first of two that Harding won during Prock's tenure, the other coming four years later, in 1976.https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/nov/04/huckeba-s-titles-cover-40-years-2016110/ Huckeba's titles cover 40 years | Arkansas Democrat Gazette November 4, 2016 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference https://www.arksportshalloffame.com/_files/ugd/790689_c47858d23ffd4e4ea150f50bac6e6a99.pdf www.arksportshalloffame.comhttps://hardingsports.com/honors/hall-of-fame/john-prock/4/kiosk#:~:text=His+1972+squad+finished+the,in+the+final+NAIA+poll John Prock (1989) - Hall of Fame Harding University Athletics Junior star running back Alan Dixon was selected in the 14th round of the 1974 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings and started against the Denver Broncos in an exhibition game. He later played for the expansion Seattle Seahawks. All-American quarterback Tom Ed Gooden was selected in the 11th round of the 1974 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns.https://www.vikings.com/team/legends/history The Official Site of the Minnesota Vikings www.vikings.comhttps://beckys-place.com/zorngames.html Seattle Seahawks Spirit of 1976 Page beckys-place.comhttps://www.beckys-place.com/dixon.html Seattle Seahawks Spirit of 1976 Page www.beckys-place.com Schedule Central September 9 w y 1972 Austin Kangaroos Austin Searcy, AR 58–10 September 16 2:00 p.m. w y y 1972 Millsaps Majors Millsaps Alumni Field Jackson, MS 47–7 Millsaps Out To Halt Skid https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger/156630959/ The Clarion-Ledger Jackson, Mississippi September 16, 1972 19 October 6, 2024 Newspapers.com Cash Blair Bisons Gobble Big Yardage In 47-7 Romp Over Majors https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger/156630920/ The Clarion-Ledger Jackson, Mississippi September 17, 1972 9C October 6, 2024 Newspapers.com September 23 w y y 1972 Northeast Missouri State Bulldogs Northeast Missouri State Kirksville, MO 31–20 September 30 w 1972 Henderson State Reddies Henderson State Searcy, AR 21–10 October 7 w y 1972 Ouachita Baptist Tigers Ouachita Baptist Arkadelphia, AR 27–19 October 14 l 1972 Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys Arkansas Tech Searcy, AR 9–13 October 28 w y 1972 Mississippi College Choctaws Mississippi College Searcy, AR 48–3 November 4 w y 1972 Southern Arkansas Muleriders Southern Arkansas Magnolia, AR 14–9 November 11 w y 1972 Arkansas–Monticello Boll Weevils Arkansas–Monticello Monticello, AR 56–7 November 18 w 1972 State College of Arkansas Bears State College of Arkansas Searcy, AR 14–0 December 9 1:30 p.m. w y y 1972 Langston Lions Langston Cameron Stadium Cameron, OK Cowboy Bowl 30–27 500 Colon Bob Ardmore, Lawton Host Bowls Today https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman/156630558/ The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City, Oklahoma December 9, 1972 27 October 6, 2024 Newspapers.com Thrasher Gene Tom Ed Gooden Freezes Langston, 30-27 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lawton-constitution-and-morning-pres/156629700/ The Lawton Constitution & Morning Press Lawton, Oklahoma December 10, 1972 1C October 6, 2024 Newspapers.com Harding Nudges Langston, 30-27 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world/156630462/ Tulsa World Tulsa, Oklahoma Associated Press December 10, 1972 2S October 6, 2024 Newspapers.com 1972 Football Schedule https://hardingsports.com/sports/football/schedule/1972 Harding University Athletics October 6, 2024 Personnel Roster 8 Jeff Smith QB 5-11 155 Fr. 0 Calhoun, Ga. 10 Roger Collins QB 5-7 165 Jr. 2 Columbus, Miss. 11 Terry Welch QB 6-1 165 Sr. 3 McGehee, Ark. 12 Gary Gregg DS 5-10 170 Sr. 3 Columbiana, Ohio 14 Jim Akins SE 5-9 170 Sr. 2 Sacramento, Calif. 732 15 Rock Long DB 5-11 165 So. 1 Pascagoula, Miss. 17 Rodney Echols DB 5-10 191 So. 1 Forrest City, Ark. 18 Terry Greenwood DB 5-9 155 So. 1 Little Rock, Ark. 20 Tom Ed Gooden QB 6-2 180 Jr. 2 Carlisle, Ark. 21 Ricky Sammons FLK 5-11 182 So. 1 McGehee, Ark. 22 Harry Starnes FLK 5-11 172 Sr. 3 McGehee, Ark. 23 David Lumpkin DB 5-11 178 Sr. 3 Alma, Ark. 24 Steve Hinds DB 5-10 165 Sr. 3 Pacifica, Calif. 25 Jack Barber SE 5-9 160 So. 2 Ft. Myers, Fla. 26 Perry Brown SE 5-11 170 Fr. 0 Maud, Texas 27 James Jamison S 6-1 155 Fr. 0 Nashville, Tenn. 28 Alec Petway TB 5-10 180 Jr. 1 Searcy, Ark. 30 Sam Fitzgerald DB 5-10 178 So. 0 Searcy, Ark. 31 Tim Walker E 6-1 171 So. 1 Searcy, Ark. 32 Steve Howell FB 5-10 172 Fr. 0 Union City, Tenn. 33 Randy Miller LB 5-10 205 Fr. 0 Atlanta, Texas 34 Lanny Davenport DB 5-10 185 Fr. 0 Yellville, Ark. 35 Jeff Blake FB 6-0 185 So. 1 Milan, Mich. 37 Jerry Joslin DS 5-8 165 Fr. 0 Gallatin, Tenn. 40 Jackie Alston TB 5-10 180 Fr. 0 Searcy, Ark. 41 Russell Beene LB 5-10 190 So. 1 West Monroe, La. 42 Gary Hunter DS 5-9 170 Sr. 3 Searcy, Ark. 43 Ken Lybrand OB 5-10 170 Fr. 0 Dallas, Texas 44 Ted Walters FB 5-10 190 Fr. 0 Dallas, Texas 45 Alan Dixon TB 5-11 190 Jr. 2 Fitzgerald, Ga. 46 Doug Owens TB 6-3 170 Fr. 0 Holly Springs, Miss. 51 Mike Clem C 6-4 255 Sr. 3 Lepanto, Ark. 52 Robert Shock LB 5-9 185 Jr. 2 Conway, Ark. 53 Richard Calhoun C 6-2 194 So. 1 Little Rock, Ark. 54 Carlon Lemmons G 5-11 188 So. 0 Lubbock, Texas 55 Steve Kellar LB 5-9 160 Fr. 0 Searcy, Ark. 60 Jerry Chism C 5-11 200 Fr. 0 Borger, Texas 61 Derrell Pepper NG 5-9 158 Fr. 0 Birmingham, Ala. 62 Rick Brown G 6-0 190 Sr. 3 Ocilla, Ga. 63 David Williams G 5-9 180 Sr. 3 North Little Rock, Ark. 64 Milton Hopkins LB 5-10 200 So. 1 Fitzgerald, Ga. 65 Clarence Hicks NG 5-7 210 Jr. 2 Forrest City, Ark. 66 Steve Sparks G 5-7 180 Fr. 0 Calhoun, Ga. 68 Kenneth Neller G 5-10 185 Fr. 0 Huntsville, Ala. 70 David Cooke DT 5-11 195 Fr. 0 Houston, Texas 71 Barney Crawford T 6-5 230 So. 1 Mountain Home, Ark. 72 Bob Mason T 6-1 200 So. 1 Fort Smith, Ark. 73 John Cooley G 6-5 195 Fr. 0 Memphis, Tenn. 74 Neil Thompson T 6-1 217 Jr. 2 Tucker, Ga. 75 Steve Watts T 6-0 248 So. 1 Atlanta, Ga. 76 Dwight Willett DT 6-1 210 Fr. 0 Saskatchewan, Canada 77 Edd Eason T 6-4 225 Sr. 3 Fort Worth, Texas 78 Tony Felker DT 6-3 220 Sr. 3 Memphis, Tenn. 80 James Pigg DE 6-2 190 Jr. 2 New Concord, Ky. 81 Ken Lawyer FLK 5-11 175 Jr. 0 Lamar, Ark. 83 Adrian Hickmon DE 6-4 200 Fr. 0 Searcy, Ark. 84 Barry Buckley DE 6-3 185 So. 1 Martin, Tenn. 85 Larry Richmond DE 5-11 180 Jr. 2 West Memphis, Ark. 86 Rance Reagan G 6-1 195 Jr. 2 Memphis, Tenn. 87 Dale Payne DT 5-10 208 Sr. 3 Newport, Ark. 88 Steve Clary TE 6-2 208 Jr. 2 Carbondale, Ill. 89 Lynn Chaffin TE 6-2 185 Fr. 0 North Little Rock, Ark. 1972 Football Roster https://hardingsports.com/sports/football/roster/1972 Harding University Athletics October 6, 2024 Coaching staff Head coach: John Prock Assistant coach: Dick Johnson Assistant coach: Jerry Mote Assistant coach: Cliff Sharp Petit Jean 1972-1973 https://scholarworks.harding.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1048&context=petit-jean scholarworks.harding.edu References Harding Category:Harding Bisons football seasons Category:Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference football champion seasons Harding Bisons football