1973 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team
American college football season
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The 1973 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team represented Louisiana Tech University during the 1973 NCAA Division II football season, and completed the 71st season of Bulldogs football and their first as members of the reorganized NCAA Division II. The Bulldogs played their home games in at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, Louisiana. The 1973 team came off an undefeated 12–0 record, and a College Division National Championship from the prior season.[1] The 1973 team was led by coach Maxie Lambright. The team finished the regular season with a 9–1 record and made the inaugural NCAA Division II playoffs. They made the first NCAA Division II Football Championship Game with a 38–34 win over Boise State in the Pioneer Bowl. The Bulldogs defeated the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 34–0 in the Camellia Bowl National Championship Game.[2]
- Maxie Lambright (7th season)
| 1973 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football | |
|---|---|
NCAA Division II champion Southland champion Pioneer Bowl champion Camellia Bowl champion | |
Camellia Bowl, W 34–0 vs. Western Kentucky | |
| Conference | Southland Conference |
| Ranking | |
| AP | No. 2 |
| Record | 12–1 (5–0 Southland) |
| Head coach |
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| Captains |
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| Home stadium | Joe Aillet Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 2 Louisiana Tech $^ | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 12 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arkansas State | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lamar | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| McNeese State | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UT Arlington | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SW Louisiana | 0 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 10 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Bulldog defense, led by future Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Fred Dean, posted three shutouts and allowed seven or fewer points in 10 of 13 games.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 15 | at Eastern Michigan* | L 19–21 | 9,300 | [3] | |||
| September 22 | Southwestern Louisiana | No. T–11 | W 23–0 | 16,200 | [4] | ||
| September 29 | at McNeese State | No. 9 | W 10–7 | 15,000 | [5] | ||
| October 6 | Northern Arizona* | No. 9 |
| W 37–7 | 15,600 | [6] | |
| October 13 | Arkansas State | No. 7 |
| W 23–7 | 13,800 | [7] | |
| October 20 | vs. Northwestern State* | No. 8 | W 26–7 | 33,000 | [8] | ||
| October 27 | at Southeastern Louisiana* | No. 8 | W 26–7 | 8,500 | [9] | ||
| November 3 | 2:00 p.m. | UT Arlington | No. 6 |
| W 44–0 | 16,200 | [10] |
| November 10 | at Lamar | No. 5 | W 17–3 | 10,200 | [11] | ||
| November 17 | Northeast Louisiana | No. 5 |
| W 40–0 | 16,840–16,850 | [12][13] | |
| December 1 | Western Illinois* | No. 3 |
| W 18–13 | 15,200 | [14] | |
| December 8 | vs. No. 7 Boise State* | No. 3 |
| W 38–34 | 13,000 | [15] | |
| December 15 | vs. No. 2 Western Kentucky* | No. 3 |
| W 34–0 | 12,016 | [16] | |
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