1972 Florence State Lions football team
American college football season
The 1972 Florence State Lions football team represented Florence State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1972 NAIA Division I football season . Led by third-year head coach Durell Mock , the Lions compiled an overall record of 2–9 with a mark of 1–5 in conference play, tying for seventh place in the GSC. Florence State played home game at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama . Mock resigned after the conclusion of the season, having guided the Lions to an 8–24 record in his three-year tenure.[ 1]
Schedule
Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 9 7:30 p.m. at Middle Tennessee * L 10–3110,000 [ 2]
September 16 7:30 p.m. Samford * L 10–246,000 [ 3]
September 23 7:30 p.m. at Delta State W 17–75,000 [ 4]
September 30 7:30 p.m. at Livingston L 6–174,000 [ 5]
October 7 7:30 p.m. at Mississippi College * Clinton, MS L 6–144,000 [ 6]
October 14 7:30 p.m. Northwestern State Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL L 7–146,000 [ 7]
October 21 7:30 p.m. Troy State Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL L 0–333,500 [ 8]
October 28 2:00 p.m. Henderson State * Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL W 21–05,000 [ 9]
November 4 1:30 p.m. at Appaachian State * L 3–175,000 [ 10]
November 11 1:30 p.m. Tennessee–Martin Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL L 16–213,000 [ 11]
November 18 2:00 p.m. Jacksonville State L 20–398,000 [ 12]
*Non-conference game Homecoming
[ 15]
Offseason
Background
The offseason before the 1972 season was highlighted by major coaching additions. Harlon Hill returned to his alma mater to become the offensive coordinator. Hill, who in his time in the NFL had won both the Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player awards, made the move the full-time coaching after spending his post-playing days earning his graduate degree and becoming a principal at an elementary school in nearby Killen, Alabama .[ 16]
Bobby Johns , who played at Alabama from 1965 to 1969 and won a national championship in 1965, joined the coaching staff as a defensive secondary coach. The two-time All-American would also be responsible for recruiting in central Alabama and Georgia .[ 17]
Personnel
Roster
1972 Florence State Lions Football
Quarterbacks
Randy Elmore - Senior (6'1, 185)
David Elmore - Sophomore (6'1, 185)
Eddie Mitchell - Freshman (6'0, 170)
Tim Stewart - Freshman (6'2, 185)
Raymond Weaver - Sophomore (6'2, 190)
Tailbacks
Larry Brom - Junior (5'10, 185)
Tommy McMinn - Sophomore (6'0, 180)
Jim Satterfield - Freshman (6'2, 205)
Fullbacks
Mike Wilburn - Junior (5'8, 183)
Jerry Mizell - Freshman (5'11, 210)
Scotty King - Junior (6'0, 195)
Flankerbacks
Jim Trimble - Senior (6'1, 175)
Bobby Burcham - Senior (6'0, 175)
Tim Weigart - Freshman (5'10, 165)
Punters
Dave Mathis - Sophomore (6'2, 190)
Ends
Leroy Baker - Senior (6'1, 220)
Danny Kimble - Junior (5'10, 180)
Billy Hargrove - Sophomore (5'11, 185)
Bill Strain - Sophomore (6'2, 195)
Roger Ferrell - Freshman (6'2, 195)
Will Fuller - Freshman (6'2, 180)
David Gargis - Freshman (6'2, 185)
Larry Jackson - Freshman (6'2, 175)
Mike Knight - Freshman (6'0, 175)
Frankie Williams - Freshman (6'0, 190)
Tackles
Frankie Patterson - Senior (5'10, 215)
Wendell Hathorn - Junior (5'11, 225)
Larry Brown - Sophomore (6'0, 215)
Mike Nave - Sophomore (6'1, 225)
Tommy Baker - Freshman (6'1, 210)
Al Carter - Freshman (6'2, 250)
Barry Johnson - Freshman (6'3, 265)
Sony Mitchell - Junior (6'2, 210)
Tim Tortorice - Junior (6'2, 225)
Guards
Bill Morton - Junior (5'10, 220)
David Harbin - Sophomore (6'0, 245)
Barry Koehn - Freshman (5'11, 195)
Mike Mann - Freshman (5'11, 200)
Mike McDonald - Freshman (6'1, 245)
Terry Rhodes - Freshman (6'1, 210)
John Trotter - Sophomore (5'10, 210)
Mike Warren - Freshman (6'0, 215)
Centers
Paul Parvin - Sophomore (6'1, 230)
Guy Fry - Freshman (6'2, 190)
Linebackers
William McCormmack - Senior (6'2, 210)
Hezzie Morgan - Junior (6'0, 195)
Doyce Steele - Sophomore (6'1, 190)
Terry Buchanan - Junior (6'0, 190)
Ivan Richard - Freshman (5'11, 180)
Defensive backs
David Hines - Sophomore (5'11, 185)
Larry Jefferys - Sophomore (5'10, 175)
Jim Witt - Sophomore (5'11, 175)
Jim Ezell - Freshman (5'10, 167)
Bobby Gauntey - Freshman (6'0, 170)
Billy Miles - Freshman (6'2, 180)
Coaching staff
Florence State Lions coaches
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Harlon Hill - Offensive Coordinator
Wally Burnham - Defensive Coordinator
Bobby Johns - Defensive Secondary Coach
Ricky Lindsey - Graduate Assistant
Dale Hancock - Graduate Assistant
Bill Pike - Trainer
Johnny Long - Graduate Assistant/Trainer
References
^ "Mock Resigns FSU Grid Post" . Times Daily . Florence. November 14, 1972. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
^ Stout, Harold (September 10, 1972). "Florence State Bows 31-10 In '72 Opener" . Times Daily . Florence. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
^ Harris, Jack (September 17, 1972). "Clanton Paces 'Dogs Past FSU" . Times Daily . Florence. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
^ Harris, Jack (September 24, 1972). "FSU Shocks Delta State, 17-7" . Times Daily . Florence. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
^ "Florence Bows To Top-Ranked Tigers" . Times Daily . Florence. October 1, 1972. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
^ "FSU Tomahawked By Choctaws, 14-6" . Times Daily . Florence. October 8, 1972. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
^ Harris, Jack (October 15, 1972). "Opportunity Slips By Florence State In 14-7 Setback" . Times Daily . Florence. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
^ "Red Wave Overpowers Lions; Takes 33-0 Conference Victory" . Times Daily . Florence. October 22, 1972. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
^ Harris, Jack (October 29, 1972). "Florence State Molds 21-0 Victory Over Reddies" . Times Daily . Florence. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
^ "Loflin-led Apps upend Florence" . Asheville Citizen-Times . November 5, 1972. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Harris, Jack (November 12, 1972). "Early Bulge Too Much For Lions To Overcome" . Times Daily . Florence. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
^ "Jax Aerial Game Too Much For Lions" . Times Daily . Florence. November 19, 1972. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
^ Thomas, Ronnie (1973). "1973 Football Guide" (PDF) . RoarLions.com . North Alabama Athletics. Retrieved June 24, 2024 .
^ "Hill Is Returning To Florence State" . Gadsden Times . Gadsden. February 28, 1972. Retrieved July 12, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
^ "Bobby Johns To Join Lions Coaching Staff" . Times Daily . Florence. May 14, 1972. Retrieved July 12, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
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