Wikipedia

1972 Florence State Lions football team

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]

1972 Florence State Lions football
ConferenceGulf South Conference
Record2–9 (1–5 GSC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorHarlon Hill (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorWally Burnham (1st season)
Home stadiumBraly Municipal Stadium
Seasons
← 1971
1973 →
1972 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 5 Northwestern State $ 6 – 0 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
No. 3 Livingston ^ 5 – 1 – 0 8 – 1 – 2
No. 19 Jacksonville State 4 – 1 – 1 7 – 2 – 1
Delta State 5 – 2 – 0 7 – 3 – 1
Troy State 2 – 3 – 1 4 – 5 – 1
Southeastern Louisiana 2 – 4 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Nicholls State 1 – 5 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Florence State 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Tennessee–Martin 1 – 5 – 0 1 – 9 – 0
Mississippi College 0 – 0 – 0 4 – 5 – 1
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

Schedule

edit
DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 97:30 p.m.at Middle Tennessee*
L 10–3110,000[2]
September 167:30 p.m.Samford*
L 10–246,000[3]
September 237:30 p.m.at Delta State
W 17–75,000[4]
September 307:30 p.m.at Livingston
L 6–174,000[5]
October 77:30 p.m.at Mississippi College*Clinton, MSL 6–144,000[6]
October 147:30 p.m.Northwestern State
  • Braly Municipal Stadium
  • Florence, AL
L 7–146,000[7]
October 217:30 p.m.Troy State
  • Braly Municipal Stadium
  • Florence, AL
L 0–333,500[8]
October 282:00 p.m.Henderson State* 
  • Braly Municipal Stadium
  • Florence, AL
W 21–05,000[9]
November 41:30 p.m.at Appaachian State*
L 3–175,000[10]
November 111:30 p.m.Tennessee–Martin
  • Braly Municipal Stadium
  • Florence, AL
L 16–213,000[11]
November 182:00 p.m.Jacksonville State
L 20–398,000[12]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming

[13][14][15]

Offseason

edit

Background

edit

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

edit

Roster

edit
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)

[14]

Coaching staff

edit
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

[14]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Mock Resigns FSU Grid Post". Times Daily. Florence. November 14, 1972. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  2. ^ Stout, Harold (September 10, 1972). "Florence State Bows 31-10 In '72 Opener". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  3. ^ Harris, Jack (September 17, 1972). "Clanton Paces 'Dogs Past FSU". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  4. ^ Harris, Jack (September 24, 1972). "FSU Shocks Delta State, 17-7". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  5. ^ "Florence Bows To Top-Ranked Tigers". Times Daily. Florence. October 1, 1972. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  6. ^ "FSU Tomahawked By Choctaws, 14-6". Times Daily. Florence. October 8, 1972. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "Red Wave Overpowers Lions; Takes 33-0 Conference Victory". Times Daily. Florence. October 22, 1972. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  9. ^ Harris, Jack (October 29, 1972). "Florence State Molds 21-0 Victory Over Reddies". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  10. ^ "Loflin-led Apps upend Florence". Asheville Citizen-Times. November 5, 1972. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Harris, Jack (November 12, 1972). "Early Bulge Too Much For Lions To Overcome". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  12. ^ "Jax Aerial Game Too Much For Lions". Times Daily. Florence. November 19, 1972. Retrieved June 24, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  13. ^ "Florence State Final 1972 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". stats.NCAA.org. NCAA. 1972. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c Thomas, Ronnie (1972). "1972 Football Guide" (PDF). RoarLions.com. North Alabama Athletics. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  15. ^ Thomas, Ronnie (1973). "1973 Football Guide" (PDF). RoarLions.com. North Alabama Athletics. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  16. ^ "Hill Is Returning To Florence State". Gadsden Times. Gadsden. February 28, 1972. Retrieved July 12, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  17. ^ "Bobby Johns To Join Lions Coaching Staff". Times Daily. Florence. May 14, 1972. Retrieved July 12, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1972_Florence_State_Lions_football_team&oldid=1238675913"