1972 Tampa Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1972 Tampa Spartans football Independent 10–2 Earle Bruce 1st Tampa Stadium Tangerine Bowl champion Tangerine Bowl W 21–18 vs. Kent State The 1972 Tampa Spartans football team represented the University of Tampa in the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. It was the Spartans' 36th season and they competed as an NCAA College Division independent. The team was led by head coach Earle Bruce, in his first and only year, and played their home games at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. They finished with a record of ten wins and two losses (10–2) and with a victory in the Tangerine Bowl over Kent State, which featured future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert and future Missouri coach Gary Pinkel (future Alabama coach Nick Saban was injured earlier in the Golden Flashes' season and did not play in the bowl game). Bruce was hired on February 2, 1972, to serve as the replacement for Bill Fulcher who resigned to become the head coach at Georgia Tech. Bruce departed following the season to become head coach at Iowa State after Johnny Majors was named coach at Pittsburgh.Tampa hires coach https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gqM1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=ILcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3792%2C897958 Google News Archives Palm Beach Post February 3, 1972 D1 October 5, 2012 The Spartans' notable players included John Matuszak, who was selected first overall by the Houston Oilers in the 1973 NFL draft and later won two Super Bowls with the Oakland Raiders; Freddie Solomon, a receiver on two Super Bowl champion teams with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s; and Paul Orndorff, who went on to stardom in the World Wrestling Federation as "Mr. Wonderful". Schedule 1972 small college AP Eastern September 9 8:11 p.m. w Toledo Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 21–0 23,806 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bradenton-herald-tamps-topples-toled/181940178/ The Bradenton Herald Tampa topples Toledo with shocking 21–0 win September 10, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com September 16 1:30 p.m. w y 1972 Northern Michigan Wildcats Northern Michigan Memorial Stadium Marquette, MI 34–21 6,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saginaw-news-tamps-doesnt-need-suns/181940874/ The Saginaw News Tampa doesn't need sunshine September 17, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com September 22 8:04 p.m. w Eastern Michigan Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 42–0 14,407 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-tampa-is-inspired-b/181940947/ Tallahassee Democrat Tampa is inspired by key turnover September 24, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com September 30 2:33 p.m. l y Kansas State KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS 7–31 35,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/great-bend-tribune-kansas-state-tames-ta/181941051/ Great Bend Tribune Kansas State tames Tampa October 1, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com October 7 8:00 p.m. l Louisville Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 14–17 19,437 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun-louisville-miniback-howa/181935077/ The Paducah Sun-Democrat Louisville miniback Howard Stevens propels unbeaten Cards to 17–14 win October 8, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com October 14 8:05 p.m. w Southern Illinois Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 44–0 14,125 Final 1972 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Southern Illinois) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/659/stats/13168 National Collegiate Athletic Association June 4, 2022 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-tampa-rebounds/181941146/ The Orlando Sentinel Tampa rebounds October 15, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com October 21 8:02 p.m. w Drake 9 Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 24–7 15,240 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-behind-at-half-tam/181935796/ The Orlando Sentinel Behind at half, Tampa smashes past Drake, 24–7 October 22, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com November 4 8:00 p.m. w Florida A&M Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 28–9 31,350 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-tampa-overpowers-riv/181941244/ The Palm Beach Post-Times Tampa overpowers rival Rattlers November 5, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com November 11 7:02 p.m. w Miami (FL) Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 7–0 22,525 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-pierce-tribune-tampss-early-touchd/181875040/ Fort Pierce Tribune Tampa's early touchdown holds up, Miami falls November 12, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com November 18 8:00 p.m. w Bowling Green Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 29–22 15,111 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-dubose-sparks-tampa-pas/181938919/ The Miami Herald Dubose sparks Tampa past Bowling Green November 19, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com November 25 8:03 p.m. w Vanderbilt Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL 30–7 11,831 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-press-tampa-spartans-crush-vandy-30/133890914/ Fort Myers News-Press Tampa Spartans crush Vandy 30–7 November 26, 1972 October 22, 2023 Newspapers.com December 29 w y Kent State Tangerine Bowl Orlando, FL Tangerine Bowl 21–18 20,062 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-qbs-spark-tam/181938081/ The San Francisco Examiner QBs spark Tampa in Tangerine December 30, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1972 Tampa) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/251761 NCAA Statistics National Collegiate Athletic Association May 6, 2025 References Tampa Category:Tampa Spartans football seasons Category:Citrus Bowl champion seasons Tampa Spartans football