1973 Florence State Lions football team

American college football season July 2024 February 2026 1973 Florence State Lions football Gulf South Conference GSC 4–6 3–6 Mickey Andrews 1st Richie Gaskell 1st Mike Dean 1st Braly Municipal Stadium 1974 The 1973 Florence State Lions football team represented Florence State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1973 NAIA Division I football season. Led by first-year head coach Mickey Andrews, the Lions compiled an overall record of 4–6 with a mark of 3–6 in conference play, tying for seventh place in the GSC. Florence State played home game at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama. Schedule September 8 7:30 p.m. l y Southeastern Louisiana Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA 0–26 7,000 September 9, 1973 Southeastern Shuts Out Florence State, 26-0 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n7gfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=utcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6914%2C1553320 Gadsden Times Gadsden 14 July 2024 Google News Archive September 22 7:30 p.m. w 1973 Delta State Statesmen Delta State Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL 21–18 5,500 September 24, 1973 Kimble Sets Two Passing Receiving Records In Florence State Win https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tCIsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=28YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2468%2C4220207 Times Daily Florence 14 July 2024 Google News Archive September 29 7:30 p.m. w 1973 Livingston Tigers Livingston Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL rivalry 13–12 6,200 Carpenter Gary September 30, 1973 Lions Win 13-12 Thriller https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wyIsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=28YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2580%2C5320853 Times Daily Florence 14 July 2024 Google News Archive October 2, 1973 Andrews Says Livingston Win 'Has To Rank Among Greatest' https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YgIsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4cYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2845%2C112456 Times Daily Florence 14 July 2024 Google News Archive October 6 2:00 p.m. l y 1973 Mississippi College Choctaws Mississippi College Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL 7–26 8,200 Stout Harold October 7, 1973 Sluggish Lions Defeated By Choctaws https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZAIsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4cYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2513%2C1069833 Times Daily Florence 14 July 2024 Google News Archive October 13 7:30 p.m. l y Northwestern State Demon Stadium Natchitoches, LA 14-27 6,000 October 7, 1973 Fumbles Costly In Lions' 27-14 Loss https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ie8Y0QrpMWAC&dat=19731007&printsec=frontpage&hl=en Times Daily Florence 118 15 July 2024 Google News Archive October 20 2:00 p.m. l y Troy State Veterans Memorial Stadium Troy, AL 7–36 8,300 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112869873/troy-state-dumps-fsu/ The Selma Times-Journal Troy State dumps FSU October 21, 1973 July 15, 2024 Newspapers.comCarpenter Gary October 21, 1973 Troy Trounces Lions https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZQIsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4cYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=774%2C3866399 Times Daily Florence 15 July 2024 Google News Archive October 27 7:30 p.m. w y Nicholls State John L. Guidry Stadium Natchitoches, LA 27–11 6,500 October 28, 1973 Florence State Whips NSU, 27-11 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZwIsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4cYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2380%2C5156268 Times Daily Florence 15 July 2024 Google News Archive November 3 7:30 p.m. w y Appalachian State Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL 21–7 5,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90071193/florence-st-beats-apps/ The News and Observer Florence St. beats Apps November 4, 1973 July 15, 2024 Newspapers.comHarris Gary November 4, 1973 Lions Upend Appalachian, 21-7 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uf0rAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r8YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=659%2C395435 Times Daily Florence 15 July 2024 Google News Archive November 10 2:00 p.m. l y 1973 Tennessee–Martin Pacers Tennessee–Martin Pacer Stadium Martin, TN 16–17 7,100 Stout Harold November 11, 1973 Late Mistakes Cost Lions Fifth Loss https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v_0rAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r8YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=742%2C1498019 Times Daily Florence 15 July 2024 Google News Archive November 17 7:30 p.m. l Jacksonville State Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL 12–42 6,500 Harris Jack November 18, 1973 Invading Gamecocks Rip Florence State, 42-12 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yf0rAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r8YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=787%2C3006581 Times Daily Florence 15 July 2024 Google News Archive https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113741570/jax-in-tune-as-florence-sings-blues/ The Anniston Star Jax in tune as Florence sings blues November 18, 1973 July 15, 2024 Newspapers.com https://stats.ncaa.org/team/487/stats/13634 Florence State Final 1973 Cumulative Football Statistics Report 1973 stats.NCAA.org NCAA July 15, 2024 https://www.roarlions.com/documents/2020/12/6//1973_Football_Guide.pdf?id=961 1973 Football Guide Thomas Ronnie 1973 RoarLions.com North Alabama Athletics July 15, 2024https://www.roarlions.com/documents/2020/12/6//1974_Football_Guide.pdf?id=962 1974 Football Guide Thomas Ronnie 1974 RoarLions.com North Alabama Athletics July 15, 2024 Offseason Coaching changes Preparation for the 1973 season began before the 1972 season concluded. Durell Mock, who had led the Lions to a 3–24 record in three seasons, announced that he would resign from the head coach position after the final game of the season at Jacksonville State. November 14, 1972 Mock Resigns FSU Grid Post https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PgksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6cYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=814%2C2862266 Times Daily Florence 15 July 2024 Google News Archive With the resignation, the search for a new head coach began. Unofficial reports suggested that four coaches had been chosen for final consideration. The list of coaches was made up of Southern Miss assistant coach Hamp Cook, Georgia assistant coach Byrd Whigham, and Auburn assistant coach Sam Mitchell. November 23, 1972 FSU Coaching Prospects Narrowed To Four https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SAksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6cYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=708%2C4644953 Times Daily Florence 15 July 2024 Google News Archive But, it would be the fourth man on the list who got the job: Mickey Andrews. Andrews, who had previously been coaching at Florence State rival Livingston, was announced as the new head coach and athletic director on November 30.Harris Jack November 30, 1972 Andrews New FSU Coach https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PQksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6cYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1488%2C6425392 Times Daily Florence 15 July 2024 Google News Archive In his three years at Livingston, he coached the Tigers to a NAIA National Championship and a Gulf South Conference championship in 1971. He also played defensive back for the Alabama Crimson Tide from 1962 to 1964. Andrews brought forth multiple changes during the offseason. He brought previous members of his coaching staff at Livingston to join him in Florence. Mike Dean, who Andrews had brought on to Livingston to become a defensive coach, was selected as defensive coordinator. Richie Gaskell, who had been head coach at Carson-Newman before joining Andrews' coaching staff, joined on as the new offensive coordinator. Spring practice Andrews and his new coaching staff quickly became dissatisfied with the state of the team. After the first spring practice, Andrews said in an interview, "We're about as far away from being a football team as any group I've ever seen on the first day of spring practice. The best thing we had was effort." April 3, 1973 Coach Unhappy With Initial Lion Workout https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XwMsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4sYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=958%2C673821 Times Daily Florence 15 July 2024 Google News Archive We're about as far away from being a football team as any group I've ever seen on the first day of spring practice. The best thing we had was effort. During the remaining spring practice sessions, the amount of players would drop from the initial seventy to only thirty-four remaining. This along with the record amount of freshman joining the team led to a very young Florence State Lions football team in 1973. New stadium proposal Off the gridiron, plans for a new stadium for the Lions were being drafted. Despite playing in Braly Stadium since 1949, it seemed that the Lions had outgrown the stadium. With the recent move to the Gulf South Conference and the construction of Flowers Hall, it seemed that Florence State athletics was about to grow. Along with this, issues were beginning to arise about sharing Braly with high school teams. There were several instances in the previous years where both Coffee High School and Bradshaw High School would play on Thursday and Friday and then, the Lions would play on Saturday. This would create poor field conditions by the time Florence State took the field on Saturday night.Kelley Pete February 28, 1973 New Stadium For FSU Is Badly Needed Now https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xforAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wsYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4450%2C5677585 Times Daily Florence 15 July 2024 Google News Archive With these sentiments, the FSU Alumni Association led by Harlon Hill began to create plans and fundraise for the stadium. By May, the proposal would gain support from the city and optimism for the stadium was high. The proposed stadium would be built west of the Florence State campus and have a capacity of 20,000. The stadium would also have artificial turf. With the optimism, it was believed that the stadium would break ground in 1974. May 20, 1973 DFU Pledges Support For Stadium Project https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=egIsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kMYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=962%2C3765184 Times Daily Florence 15 July 2024 Google News Archive However, it would not. It would be fifty years later in 2024 when the university broke ground on Braly's replacement, Bank Independent Stadium.https://roarlions.com/news/2024/6/14/general-una-breaks-ground-on-bank-independent-stadium.aspx UNA breaks ground on Bank Independent Stadium 14 June 2024 RoarLions.com North Alabama Athletics July 15, 2024 Roster 1973 North Alabama Lions Florence State Lions f John Anderson C Fr n Tony Ayah OT So n Richard Bagwell WR Fr n Harry Bowman OT Jr n Hal Breffle OT Fr n Cornelius Brown HB Fr n Dale Courington TE Fr n Paul Daniel C Fr n Raymond Dew HB Fr n Bob Dorcheck OG Fr n David Doverspike OT Fr n Jim Durden FB Fr n Jerry Elkins C Fr n Danny Everett QB Fr n Roger Ferrell QB So n Tony Gandy SE Fr n Bobby Gauntney QB Fr n Steve Grefseng TE So n Tim Harden OG Fr n Wendall Hawthorn OT Sr n Jerry Hodges OG Fr n Brad Holden OT Fr n Marvin Jarman HB Fr n Barry Johnson OG So n Danny Kimble SE Sr n Larry Klatt QB Fr n Mike Knight SE So n Barry Kohen OT So n Lonnie Luckerson WR Fr n Carlos Mejia FB Fr n Nick Martilli QB Fr n Bob McConnell OG Fr n Bill McGlincy HB So n Tony McMinn HB So n Rolando Medrano OT Fr n Chuck Medders QB Fr n Mark Merritt WR Fr n Greg Miller OG Fr n Jerry Mizell FB So n Terry Mizell HB Jr n Andy Morris OG So n Larry Parker HB Fr n Ben Parrish OT Fr n Paul Parvin C Jr n Jim Pillow OG Fr n Steve Pope HB Fr n Jeff Porterfield HB Fr n David Pruitt OG Fr n Roger Ralph FL So n Lee Robbs QB Fr n Greg Rorex HB Fr n Keith Bryant TE So n Ewing Sellers OG Fr n Kiney Sexton HB Fr n Mike Sheehan C Fr n Mike Shipp QB Fr n Larry Short C Fr n Norman Simms FB Fr n Ricky Smith WR Fr n David Stallcup OT Fr n William Steffey TE Fr n Troy Underwood OG Fr n Raymond Weaver QB Jr n Ricky Yates HB Fr n Ted Yoho OG Fr n Tony Yoho OT So n Calvin Bacon LB FR n Tommy Baker DT Fr n Joe Bowman DT Fr n Maurice Browley LB Fr n Larry Brown DT Jr n Eddie Burns DB Fr n John Calvert DB Fr n James Crawford DE Fr n Robert Crouch DB Fr n Frank Deliz LB Fr n Curtis Dixon DB Fr n Jud Driver DT Fr n Jim Ezell DB So n Danny Fromhold DE Fr n Joe Gabr DT Fr n Bruce Gentle DB Fr n Marty Gentle DB Fr n Terry Hanks DB Fr n Billy Hargrove S Sr n Robbie Hudson DB So nLarry Jefferys DB Jr n Jerome Jeffries DE Fr n Paul Jenkins DT Fr n Marty Johnson DB Fr n Charlie Kennedy OT So n James Laggis LB Fr n Curtis Lowery LB Fr n Sparks Luncheford DT Fr n Clayton Lundy DB Fr n Mike McCombs DB Fr n Spry Mitchell DE Sr n Mike Murray DE Fr n Mike Petty DB Fr n Ivan Richard LB So n Stan Romine DT Fr n Tim Searchy DT Fr n Tobin Sexton DE Fr n Elwin Smith LB Fr n Lawrence Stephens LB Fr n Steve Stewart LB So n Bill Strain LB Jr n Frank Strickland DT Fr n James Sullivan DB Fr n Ricky Swords LB Fr n John Trotter DT Jr n Terry Wray DB Fr n A.C. Wright LB Fr n Wade Yates LB Fr n Dale Mathis P Sr n Mark Turner K Fr n *Mickey Andrews Richie Gaskell – Offensive coordinator Mike Dean – Defensive coordinator Wally Burnham – Offensive line coach Bob Herring – Defensive line coach References Florence State Category:North Alabama Lions football seasons Florence State Lions football