1971 Tampa Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1971 Tampa Spartans football Independent 6–5 Bill Fulcher 1st Tampa Stadium 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.Tampa picks Florida aide https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WjtSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rnUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6485%2C6017417 Google News Archives St. Petersburg Times January 8, 1971 1C October 5, 2012 After an upset loss against Louisiana Tech to open the season, the Spartans won four consecutive games against Chattanooga, 1971 Youngstown State Penguins Youngstown State, Dayton and Drake.Tampa loses debut 28–20 Mark Cardon https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7bkqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=f2YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5940%2C1099855 Google News Archives Sarasota Herald-Tribune September 19, 1971 1C October 5, 2012 Ranked No. 2 as they entered their game against Villanova, Tampa was upset by the Wildcats 24–3.Villanova upsets Spartans Mark Cardon https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SJscAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dGYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3165%2C2709044 Google News Archives Sarasota Herald-Tribune October 24, 1971 1C October 5, 2012 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.Tampa bid fails, Rebs win 28–27 Ron Barefield https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iYNOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XPoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2910%2C1527077 Google News Archives Lakeland Ledger November 7, 1971 1B October 5, 2012 Tampa then rebounded the next week with a 43–7 win over East Carolina.Spartans crush Carolina eleven Associated Press https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G8owAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OwUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2873%2C2083723 Google News Archives Ocala Star-Banner November 14, 1971 2D October 5, 2012 The Spartans then closed the season with a loss at Vanderbilt and a victory over Florida A&M.Tampa saves winning season against FAMU https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=noNOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XPoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7308%2C7697461 Google News Archives Lakeland Ledger November 28, 1971 2B October 5, 2012 On January 21, 1972, Fulcher resigned as head coach of the Spartans to take the same position at Georgia Tech.Prestige up, but Tampa coachless Tom Duffy https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R99QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tGADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6828%2C1023108 Google News Archives St. Petersburg Times January 22, 1972 2C October 5, 2012 Schedule 1971 small college AP Eastern September 18 l Louisiana Tech Tampa Stadium Tampa, Fl 20–28 27,333 Tampa loses debut 28–20 Mark Cardon https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7bkqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=f2YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5940%2C1099855 Google News Archives Sarasota Herald-Tribune September 19, 1971 1C March 23, 2021 September 25 w y 13 Chattanooga Chamberlain Field Chattanooga, TN 31–14 10,000–10,205 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85347374/spartans-repent-blast-mocs-3114/ The Tampa Tribune Spartans repent, blast Mocs 31–14 September 26, 1971 September 14, 2021 Newspapers.com Final 1971 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Chattanooga) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/693/stats/12713 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 15, 2022 October 2 w 1971 Youngstown State Penguins Youngstown State Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 49–0 15,147 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-tampa-buries-ohioans-4/182091411/ The Miami Herald Tampa buries Ohioans, 49–0 October 3, 1971 September 30, 2025 Newspapers.com October 9 w Dayton Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 47–14 18,031 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pensacola-news-journal-tampa-4714/182091528/ The Pensacola News-Journal Tampa, 47–14 October 10, 1971 September 30, 2025 Newspapers.com October 16 w y 8 Drake Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA 36–2 15,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-swarming-spartans-bash/182039913/ The Tampa Tribune-Times Swarming Spartans bash Drake October 17, 1971 September 30, 2025 Newspapers.com October 23 8:00 p.m. l 6 Villanova Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 3–24 27,397 Villanova upsets Spartans Mark Cardon https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SJscAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dGYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3165%2C2709044 Google News Archives Sarasota Herald-Tribune October 24, 1971 1C October 5, 2012 October 30 7:30 p.m. l y 10 Louisville Fairgrounds Stadium Louisville, KY 10–21 17,341 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-louisville-rips-ta/182032816/ The Indianapolis Star Louisville rips Tampa, 21–10 October 31, 1971 September 30, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 l Ole Miss Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 27–28 20,559–20,959 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-2-point-try-fails/133883845/ The Orlando Sentinel 2-point try fails, Tampa falls to Ole Miss, 28–27 November 7, 1971 October 22, 2023 Newspapers.com November 13 w y East Carolina Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 43–7 17,092–17,902 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72591686/spartans-snap-losing-streak/ The Tampa Tribune Spartans snap losing streak November 14, 1971 March 3, 2021 Newspapers.com November 20 l y Vanderbilt Dudley Field Nashville, TN 7–10 9,977–12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-vandy-defeats-tampa/133882682/ The Miami Herald Vandy defeats Tampa November 21, 1971 October 22, 2023 Newspapers.com November 27 w Florida A&M Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 56–14 37,112 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-tampa-stuns-rattler/182091638/ Tallahassee Democrat Tampa stuns Rattlers November 28, 1971 September 30, 2025 Newspapers.com Final 1971 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Tampa) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/689/stats/12713 National Collegiate Athletic Association May 6, 2025 References Tampa Category:Tampa Spartans football seasons Tampa Spartans football