1971 Florence State Lions football team
1971 Florence State Lions football | |
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Conference | Gulf South Conference |
Record | 1–10 (0–6 GSC) |
Head coach |
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Captains |
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Home stadium | Braly Municipal Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 1 Livingston +^ | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Troy State + | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jacksonville State | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tennessee–Martin | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Delta State | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florence State | 0 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 10 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Southeastern Louisiana | 0 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 11 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1971 Florence State Lions football team represented Florence State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1971 NAIA Division I football season. Led by returning head coach Durell Mock, the Lions compiled an overall record of 1–10 with a mark of 0–6 in conference play, tying for sixth place in the GSC. Florence State played home game at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama.
Schedule
[edit]The 1971 schedule for the Lions featured two neutral site games. On October 2, the Lions would face off against the Samford Bulldogs in Russellville, AL at the local stadium. It is reported to be the first ever college football game to ever take place in the town.[1] Florence State would also play its yearly game against Jacksonville State on November 20 at Legion Field in Birmingham. In an effort sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, the two teams would take the field the week before the Iron Bowl, which was played at same stadium.[2]
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
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September 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Middle Tennessee* | W 24–14 | 6,000–7,000 | [3] | |
September 18 | 7:30 p.m. | at State College of Arkansas* | L 13–14 | 1,500 | [4] | |
September 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Delta State |
| L 10–17 | 7,500 | [5] |
October 2 | 7:30 p.m. | vs. Samford* |
| L 10–17 | 8,000 | |
October 9 | 2:00 p.m. | Arkansas Tech*![]() |
| L 30–31 | 7,000 | [6] |
October 16 | 7:30 p.m. | at Henderson State* | L 7–21 | 1,500 | ||
October 23 | 2:00 p.m. | at Troy State | L 14–21 | 6,500 | [7][8][9] | |
October 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Livingston |
| L 0-31 | 7,000 | [10] |
November 6 | 1:30 p.m. | at Appalachian State* | L 6–59 | 6,000 | [11] | |
November 13 | 2:00 p.m. | at Tennessee–Martin | L 7–20 | 6,000 | [12] | |
November 20 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. Jacksonville State | L 7–60 | 12,000 | [13] | |
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Offseason
[edit]Background
[edit]The offseason before the 1971 season was highlighted by conference realignment. On June 28, the members of the existing Mid-South Athletic Conference and two members of the collapsed Gulf States Conference agreed to form a new conference: the Gulf South Conference.[17] This would have minimal impact on Florence State's football schedule as only Southeastern Louisiana joined the Gulf South Conference as a full member including football for the 1971 season.
The offseason was also marred by tragedy. On April 8, the 17-month old son of Lions star tailback Leonard "Rabbit" Thomas died in a house fire. Practices following the incident were cancelled and head coach Durell Mock was seen helping the clean up the damaged home the day following the fire. The Student Government Association also set up a clothes and furniture drive for the family.[18] Thomas would still go on to play in the 1971 season.[15]
Signees
[edit]Name | Pos. | High school |
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John Andrews | C | Columbia Military Academy |
Henry Cooper | TB | Columbia Military Academy |
Roger Ferrell | QB | Decatur High School |
Clinton League | LB | Haleyville High School |
Billy Legg | TB | Athens High School |
William Miles | QB | Columbia Military Academy |
Paul Parvin | C | Lee High School |
Wilmer Ray | TB | Cherokee High School |
Personnel
[edit]Roster
[edit]1971 Florence State Lions Football | ||||||||||
Quarterbacks
Tailbacks
Fullbacks
Flankers
Kickers
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Ends
Tackles
Guards
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Centers
Linebackers
Defensive backs
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Coaching staff
[edit]Florence State Lions coaches | ||||||||
Head coach Assistant coaches
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References
[edit]- ^ "FSU, Samford Contest Shifted To Russelville". Times Daily. Florence. August 20, 1971. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ Harris, Jack (June 30, 1971). "FSU Will Meet Jacksonville In Legion Field". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ Harris, Jack (September 12, 1971). "FSU Shocks Blue Raiders". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "Bears Nips Lions In 14-13 Contest". Times Daily. Florence. September 19, 1971. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ Harris, Jack (September 26, 1971). "FSU Falls Victim To Late Statesmen Rally". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "Florence State Falls During Tech Rally". Gadsden Times. Gadsden. October 10, 1971. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "Lions Brace For Gulf South Tilt With Red Wave". Times Daily. Florence. October 21, 1971. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "Troy State Rolls For Fourth Victory". Gadsden Times. Gadsden. October 24, 1971. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "Troy State drops Florence by 21–14". The Selma Times-Journal. October 24, 1971. Retrieved November 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Trimm, Mickey (November 5, 1971). "Title Talk At Livingston U, Too". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ Harris, Jack (November 7, 1971). "Appalachian Mauls FSU, 59-6". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "UTM Tops Florence In Conference Play". Gadsden News. Gadsden. November 14, 1971. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "Jax rolls to 60–7 triumph". Birmingham Post-Herald. November 20, 1971. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Florence State Final 1971 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". stats.NCAA.org. NCAA. 1971. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Thomas, Ronnie (1971). "1971 Football Guide" (PDF). RoarLions.com. North Alabama Athletics. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ Thomas, Ronnie (1971). "1972 Football Guide" (PDF). RoarLions.com. North Alabama Athletics. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ "Colleges To Ratify New Gulf South Conference". Times Daily. Florence. June 29, 1971. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ Newman, Mel (April 9, 1971). "Child Is Victim Of Blaze". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Google News Archive.