1971 Livingston Tigers football team

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1971 Livingston Tigers football
NAIA Division I national champion
GSC co-champion
Champion Bowl, W 14–12 vs. Arkansas Tech
Conference Gulf South Conference
Record11–1 (5–1 GSC)
Head coach
Home stadium Tiger Stadium
Seasons
 1970
1972 
1971 Gulf South Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Livingston +^ 5 1 011 1 0
Troy State + 5 1 06 3 0
Jacksonville State 3 2 06 3 0
Tennessee–Martin 3 3 05 5 0
Delta State 2 4 03 5 1
Florence State 0 6 01 10 0
Southeastern Louisiana 0 6 00 11 0
  • + Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

The 1971 Livingston Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Livingston University (later renamed the University of West Alabama) in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1971 NAIA Division I football season. In their second season under head coach Mickey Andrews, the Tigers compiled an 11–1 record (5–1 against conference opponents) and shared the GSC championship with Troy State. The Tigers advanced to the NAIA playoffs, defeating West Liberty State (25–2) in the semifinal and Arkansas Tech (14–12) in the Champion Bowl to win the NAIA Division I national football championship. [1] [2]

At the end of the season, Andrews was named GSC Coach of the Year, and quarterback Clemit Spruiell was named GSC Offensive Player of the Year. Four Livingston players were named to the All-GSC team: Spruiell; linebacker Nels Strickland; defensive tackle Herbie Malone; and defensive end Adrian Gant. [3]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11vs. Jacksonville State
W 10–9> 10,000 [4]
September 18at Southern State Arkansas * Magnolia, AR W 7–0 [5]
September 25vs. Troy State L 21–308,500 [6]
October 9at Samford *W 28–3 [7]
October 16vs. Quantico Marines *
W 17–13 [8]
October 23 Western Carolina *W 15–9
October 30at Florence State W 31–0 [9]
November 6 Delta State Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Livingston, AL
W 45–21 [10]
November 13at Mississippi College *
W 20–3 [11]
November 20 Tennessee–Martin
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Livingston, AL
W 28–7 [12]
November 27vs. West Liberty State * Steubenville, OH (NAIA Division I semifinal)W 25–2 [13]
December 11vs. Arkansas Tech *W 14–123,219 [14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming

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The 1971 Troy State Red Wave football team represented Troy State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1971 NAIA Division I football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Billy Atkins, the Red Wave compiled an overall record of 6–3 with a mark of 5–1 in conference play, sharing the GSC title with Livingston.

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The 1976 Troy State Trojans football team represented Troy State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. Led by first-year head coach Charlie Bradshaw, the Trojans compiled an overall record of 8–1–1 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, and finished as GSC champion.

The 1978 Troy State Trojans football team represented Troy State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1978 NCAA Division II football season. Led by third-year head coach Charlie Bradshaw, the Trojans compiled an overall record of 7–2 with a mark of 5–2 in conference play, and finished tied for third in the GSC.

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The 1983 Troy State Trojans football team represented Troy State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1983 NCAA Division II football season. Led by first-year head coach Chan Gailey, the Trojans compiled an overall record of 7–4, with a mark of 4–3 in conference play, and finished tied for second in the GSC.

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The 1974 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team represented Jacksonville State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1974 NCAA Division II football season. Led by first-year head coach Clarkie Mayfield, the Gamecocks compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, and finished as GSC champion.

The 1976 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team represented Jacksonville State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. Led by third-year head coach Clarkie Mayfield, the Gamecocks compiled an overall record of 6–4 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, and finished third in the GSC.

The 1979 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team represented Jacksonville State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1979 NCAA Division II football season. Led by third-year head coach Jim Fuller, the Gamecocks compiled an overall record of 4–6 with a mark of 1–5 in conference play, and finished tied for sixth in the GSC.

References

  1. "1971 Football Team to Be Inducted into the UWA Hall of Fame". University of West Alabama. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  2. Lindsey Hall (October 16, 2021). "1971 National Championship team honored in Livingston". WTOK-TV.
  3. "Spruiell, Wright, Sellers Head All-Gulf South Team". The Montgomery Advertiser. December 4, 1971. p. 10 via Newspapers.com.
  4. Jim Farrell (September 12, 1971). "Livingston upsets Gamecocks, 10-9: Jax' short-lived rating tumbles". The Anniston Star. pp. 1B, 5B via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Livingston Trips SSC". The Shreveport Times. September 19, 1971. p. 4D via Newspapers.com.
  6. Max Moseley (September 26, 1971). "Troy Upsets Tigers, 21-20". The Montgomery Advertiser-Journal. pp. 1C, 6C via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Livingston romps past Samford". The Anniston Star. Associated Press. October 10, 1971. p. 4C via Newspapers.com.
  8. Buzz Sawyer (October 17, 1971). "Livingston Halts Marine's Invasion With 17-13 Win". The Selma Times-Journal. p. 11 via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Tigers spill Lions, 31-0". The Anniston Star. October 31, 1971. p. 9B via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Livingston Romps Past Delta, 45-21". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 7, 1971. p. 3B via Newspapers.com.
  11. Nick Sabatini (November 14, 1971). "Choctaws Yield To Livingston St". Clarion-Ledger. p. 2B.
  12. "Livingston Drops T-Martin, 28-7". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 21, 1971. p. 8B via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Livingston Gains NAIA Final Tilt". The Selma Times-Journal. November 28, 1971. p. 15 via Newspapers.com.
  14. Alan Mitchell (December 12, 1971). "Livingston National Champ After 14-12 NAIA Victory". The Montgomery Avertiser. p. 1D, 3D via Newspapers.com.