1973 NCAA Division III football season

American college football season August 2023 NCAA Division III 1973 NCAA College Division August – November 1973 November – December 1973 Garrett–Harrison StadiumPhenix City, AL Wittenberg The 1973 NCAA Division III football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division III level, began in August 1973, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship in December 1973 at Garrett–Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama. This was the first season for Division III (and Division II) football, which were formerly in the College Division in 1972 and prior. Wittenberg won their first Division III championship, defeating 1973 Juniata Indians Juniata in the championship game by a score of 41−0.All-Time Division III Football Championship Records http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_champs_records/2013/d3/champ.pdf NCAA NCAA.org October 23, 2014 4–15 Conference changes and new programs School 1972 conference 1973 conference Albany New program NCAA Division III independentSeton HallNew programMetropolitan Interscholastic ConferenceSalisbury StateNew programNCAA Division III independent Conference standings Conference champions Conference Champion(s) College Athletic Conference Southwestern at Memphis College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Carthage Independent College Athletic Conference Champion unknown Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Buena Vista Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Hope Middle Atlantic Conference North: JuniataSouth: Franklin & Marshall Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference Coe Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Minnesota–DuluthSt. Thomas (MN) New England Football Conference Nichols New Jersey State Athletic Conference Montclair State Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division III) Fisk Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Redlands Postseason The 1973 NCAA Division III Football Championship playoffs were the first single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division III college football. The inaugural edition had only four teams (in comparison with the 40 teams competing as of 2024). The championship game was held at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama. The Wittenberg Tigers defeated the Juniata College Eagles, 41−0, to win their first national title.1973 NCAA Division III National Football Championship Bracket http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_champs_records/2013/d3/champ.pdf NCAA NCAA.org October 23, 2014 14 Playoff bracket SemifinalsCampus sites National Championship GameGarrett–Harrison StadiumPhenix City, AL 1973 Juniata Eagles Juniata 35 1973 Bridgeport Purple Knights Bridgeport 14 Wittenberg 21 San Diego 14 Juniata 0 Wittenberg 41 Coaching changes In-season This is restricted to coaching changes that took place during the season. School Outgoing coach Reason Replacement Previous positionRiponJohn StorzerDiedNovember 2, 1973 Storzer, Ripon College Coach, Dies at 53 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times/64766609/ June 20, 2024 The Capital Times 16Bill ConnorNovember 2, 1973 Storzer Let Time Decide https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-storzer-let-time/149740107/ June 20, 2024 Green Bay Press-Gazette 18 (interim, named full-time in December 1973)December 28, 1973 Name Connor Ripon coach https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald/23011732/ June 20, 2024 Wausau Daily Herald 17Ripon defensive coordinator (1967–1973) End of season This list includes all head coaching changes announced during or after the season. School Outgoing coach Reason Replacement Previous positionBridgeportEd FarrellHired as head coach for DavidsonFebruary 24, 1974 Ed Farrell Gets Davidson Post https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-ed-farrell-gets-davidson/149407612/ June 15, 2024 The Daily Times 13Ray MurphyMay 1, 1974 Ray Murphy Named Head Football Coach at Bridgeport https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bridgeport-telegram-ray-murphy-named/149407412/ June 15, 2024 The Bridgeport Telegram 19East Stroudsburg offensive coordinator (1973)BrockportGerry D'AgostinoResignedDave HutterDecember 7, 1973 Hutter named at Brockport https://www.newspapers.com/article/tucson-daily-citizen-hutter-named-at-bro/149408249/ June 15, 2024 Tucson Daily Citizen 59Brockport assistant coach (1971–1973)East StroudsburgCharles ReeseLeave of absenceFebruary 9, 1974 Stroudsburg's Reese On Leave of Absence https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-leader-stroudsburgs-reese-on/149406378/ June 15, 2024 The Times Leader 12Dennis Douds (full-season interim, hired full-time on January 29, 1975)Rednar Rudy January 30, 1975 Douds gets promoted at East Stroudsburg https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-douds-gets-promoted-at/149406632/ June 15, 2024 The Morning Call 52East Stroudsburg defensive coordinator (1968–1973)ElmhurstWendell HarrisResignedAl HankeForester Athletic Hall of Fame https://campus.lakeforest.edu/foresters/ahanke.htm 2024-06-15 campus.lakeforest.eduLake Forest assistant coach (1954–1973)HamlineDick MulkernResignedResigned to devote more time as Hamline's athletic director.November 15, 1973 Mulkern resigns as Hamline coach https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-mulkern-resigns/149403735/ June 15, 2024 The Austin Daily Herald 11Jim SessionsFebruary 22, 1974 Jim Sessions Hamline coach https://www.newspapers.com/article/gazette-news-current-jim-sessions-hamlin/149404022/ June 15, 2024 Gazette News-Current 7Marietta assistant coach (1973)Jersey City StateJack StephansResignedRakowski Cas April 29, 1974 Stephans quits JCSC grid post https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jersey-journal-stephans-quits-jcsc-g/149404567/ June 15, 2024 The Jersey Journal 23Bill McKeownJuly 31, 1974 McKeown Coach at Jersey City https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-mckeown-coach-at-jerse/149404482/ June 15, 2024 Asbury Park Press 49Northeastern offensive coordinator (1972–1973)Maryville (TN)Boydson Baird (full-season interim)Permanent replacement hiredJim JordanJanuary 12, 1974 C-N's Jordan At Maryville https://www.newspapers.com/article/bristol-herald-courier-c-ns-jordan-at-m/149408549/ June 15, 2024 Bristol Herald Courier 14Carson–Newman defensive backs coach (1973)RITTom CoughlinHired as quarterbacks coach for SyracuseFebruary 27, 1974 Coughlin named Syracuse assistant https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-coughlin-named-sy/149400781/ June 15, 2024 Democrat and Chronicle 37Lou SpiottiCortland defensive coordinator Dick Wheaton from 1971 to 1973 was originally hired, but resigned after three weeks.Smith Curt July 31, 1974 Spiotti takes RIT post after all https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-spiotti-takes-rit/149401203/ June 15, 2024 Democrat and Chronicle 43Rochester defensive backs coach (1972–1973)Saint Mary's (CA)Leo McKillipHired as defensive coordinator for the Edmonton EskimosJones Terry March 8, 1974 McKillip lines up as defensive coach https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-mckillip-lines-up-as-de/149408882/ June 15, 2024 Edmonton Journal 65Jim McDonaldApril 24, 1974 Leo McKillip's Job Given to McDonald https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-leo-mckillips-job-gi/149408944/ June 15, 2024 Omaha World-Herald 51Saint Mary's (CA) offensive line coach (1971–1973)Saint Peter'sVinnie CarlesimoResignedSaint Peter's canceled their football season with five games remaining.Joe CovielloJanuary 30, 1974 Coviello will coach St. Peter's eleven https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-coviello-will-coach-st-peter/149745909/ June 20, 2024 The Record 46North Bergen HS (NJ) (1960–1972)San DiegoAndy VinciHired as head coach by Cal Poly PomonaDecember 28, 1973 Andy Vinci Lands Job At Cal Poly https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser-andy-vinci-lands-jo/149407883/ June 15, 2024 The Daily Advertiser 8Dick LoganFebruary 7, 1974 Logan hired as USD grid coach https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-telegram-logan-hired-as-usd-grid-c/149407792/ June 15, 2024 Press-Telegram 29San Francisco State offensive coordinator (1970–1973)SimpsonAl PaoneResignedLarry Johnson (full-season interim)Moackler Jim August 27, 1974 Football One More Job For Simpson's Johnson https://www.newspapers.com/article/des-moines-tribune-football-one-more-job/149402406/ June 15, 2024 Des Moines Tribune 15Simpson head baseball coach (1970–1974)SwarthmoreMillard Robinson (full-season interim)Not retainedOlsen Eddie September 18, 1973 There's Still a Swarthmore in Millard Robinson's Future https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer/28570521/ June 15, 2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer 33Lew ElversonSwarthmore head coach (1946–1972)Trenton StatePete CarmichaelHired as defensive coordinator for ColumbiaJanuary 16, 1974 Carmichael gets grid job at Columbia U. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-carmichael-gets-grid-jo/149405196/ June 15, 2024 The Courier-News 48Dick CurlVillanova offensive coordinator Fred O'Connor was initially hired but was replaced by Curl due to backlash from the football players.May 1, 1974 Trenton St. names Curl https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jersey-journal-trenton-st-names-cur/149404918/ June 15, 2024 The Jersey Journal 15Trenton State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (1973)WabashDick BowmanMarch 1, 1974 Football https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sun-football/149401633/ June 15, 2024 The Sun 13Hired as defensive line coach for ArmyFrank NavarroBansch John May 1, 1974 Giants Obtain Columbia Boss https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-giants-obtain-colu/149401757/ June 15, 2024 The Indianapolis Star 48Columbia head coach (1968–1973)William PatersonPhil ZofreaResignedMarch 8, 1974 William Paterson's Grid Coach Zofrea Resigns https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-william-patersons-grid-coach-z/149405466/ June 15, 2024 The News 26Bob TrocolorJune 5, 1974 Trocolor Named WPC Grid Coach https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-trocolor-named-wpc-grid-coach/149406053/ June 15, 2024 The News 40Manchester Regional HS (NJ) freshmen coach (1963)Wisconsin–PlattevilleGil KruegerHired as head coach for Northern MichiganJanuary 16, 1974 Gil Krueger Moves https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-times-gil-krueger-moves/149407023/ June 15, 2024 The Journal Times 24Bob SeamansJanuary 17, 1974 Seamans Takes Krueger's Job https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-seamans-takes-krueger/149407104/ June 15, 2024 The Capital Times 18Wisconsin–Platteville defensive coordinator (1969–1973) See also 1973 NCAA Division I football season 1973 NCAA Division II football season 1973 NAIA Division I football season 1973 NAIA Division II football season References