1970 Tampa Spartans football team

The 1970 Tampa Spartans football team represented the University of Tampa in the 1970 NCAA College Division football season. It was the Spartans' 34th season and competed as a College Division Independent. The team was led by head coach Fran Curci, in his third year, and played their home games at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. They finished with a record of ten wins and one loss (10–1).

1970 Tampa Spartans football
Conference	Independent
Record	10–1
Head coach	Fran Curci (3rd season)
Home stadium	Tampa Stadium
Seasons ← 1969 1971 →

1970 NCAA College Division independents football records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 4 Tampa			–					10	–	1	–	0
No. 5 Tennessee State			–					10	–	0	–	0
No. 11 Delaware			–					9	–	2	–	0
Hawaii			–					9	–	2	–	0
Northern Michigan			–					8	–	2	–	0
No. 19 Eastern Michigan			–					7	–	2	–	1
Akron			–					7	–	3	–	0
Central Michigan			–					7	–	3	–	0
Temple			–					7	–	3	–	0
Drake			–					7	–	4	–	0
Wayne State (MI)			–					6	–	2	–	0
Arkansas AM&N			–					6	–	3	–	0
Southern Illinois			–					6	–	3	–	0
Nevada			–					6	–	3	–	1
Portland State			–					6	–	4	–	0
UNLV			–					6	–	4	–	0
Boston University			–					5	–	4	–	0
Cortland			–					5	–	4	–	0
Indiana (PA)			–					5	–	4	–	0
Santa Clara			–					5	–	4	–	1
Lafayette			–					6	–	5	–	0
Colorado College			–					4	–	4	–	0
Drexel			–					4	–	4	–	0
Hofstra			–					5	–	5	–	0
Indiana State			–					5	–	5	–	0
Samford			–					5	–	5	–	0
Wabash			–					3	–	3	–	2
Saint Mary's			–					3	–	4	–	0
Bucknell			–					4	–	6	–	0
Lehigh			–					4	–	6	–	0
Rose Poly			–					3	–	5	–	1
Northeastern			–					3	–	5	–	0
Indiana Central			–					3	–	6	–	0
Lake Forest			–					3	–	6	–	0
Chattanooga			–					3	–	8	–	0
Parsons			–					2	–	7	–	0
Eastern Illinois			–					2	–	8	–	0
Milwaukee			–					1	–	9	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

Three Tampa players were recognized on the 1970 Little All-America college football team. Running back Leon McQuay received first-team honors, tackle John Morring received second-team honors, and defensive tackle Sammy Gellerstedt received third-team honors.^[1]

The Spartans opened the season with a 45–12 victory Delta State, and in the win Leon McQuay ran for 177 yards for Tampa in the win.^[2] In their second game, Tampa shutout New Mexico Highlands 20–0 in what was the Cowboys' first loss since 1966.^[3] After victories at Youngstown State and against North Texas State, the Spartans traveled to play at Miami on a Friday evening in their fifth game of the season. Against the Hurricanes, Tampa had one of the bigger upsets of the season with their 31–14 win.^[4] Former Miami quarterback Lew Pytel started for the Spartans, and the upset was considered unlikely to happen as Miami played in the University Division and the Spartans played in the lower College Division.^[4]

After their upset at Miami, Tampa was ranked as the No. 1 team in the College Division, returned home and defeated Xavier 33–10 to remain undefeated.^[5] The Spartans then won a pair of games in Louisiana against Louisiana Tech and Southwestern Louisiana before they returned home for the final three games of the season.^[6][7] In their 68–7 blowout victory over Idaho State, McQuay was the star as he rushed for 213 yards and had three touchdowns.^[8] Against Vanderbilt, Tampa was required to suspend five players, that included three starters on the defense, to comply with Southeastern Conference rules for transfer players as the Spartans played as an Independent.^[9] Without several of their defensive starters, Tampa lost their lone game of the season against the Commodores 28–36 before 35,893 fans.^[10] The Spartans then closed the season with a 49–7 win over Florida A&M and claimed the final No. 2 ranking.^[11] After the end of the season, on December 19, Curci was hired by Miami to serve as their new head coach.^[12]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 12	Delta State		Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL	W 45–12
September 26	New Mexico Highlands	No. T–16	Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL	W 20–0
October 3	at Youngstown State	No. 9	Campbell Memorial Stadium Youngstown, OH	W 35–13
October 10	North Texas State	No. 8	Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL	W 18–7	15,200
October 16	at Miami (FL)	No. 5	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL	W 31–14	30,000
October 24	Xavier	No. 3	Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL	W 33–10	19,132	^[13]
October 31	at Louisiana Tech	No. 3	Louisiana Tech Stadium Ruston, LA	W 14–10
November 7	at No. 7 Southwestern Louisiana	No. 4	McNaspy Stadium Lafayette, LA	W 50–38
November 14	Idaho State	No. 3	Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL	W 68–7
November 21	Vanderbilt	No. 4	Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL	L 28–36	35,897	^[14]
November 28	Florida A&M	No. 5	Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL	W 49–7	45,253
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "A.P.'s Little All-American". The Morning News. December 10, 1970. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
2. Duffy, Tom (September 14, 1970). "Curci pleased, partly, over 45–12 victory". St. Petersburg Times. p. 3C. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
3. Robinson, Bill (September 28, 1970). "Levra: Tampa good as the best". Evening Independent. p. 2C. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
4. Duffy, Tom (October 17, 1970). "Incredible: Tampa 31, Miami 14". St. Petersburg Times. p. 1C. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
5. Robinson, Bill (September 26, 1970). "Tampa half safe". Evening Independent. p. 1C. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
6. "Carter saves Tampa, 14–10". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. November 1, 1970. p. 1C. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
7. Duffy, Tom (November 9, 1970). "Tampa: 8 down, 3 left". St. Petersburg Times. p. 3C. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
8. "Point hungry Spartans rewrite stadium, school record books". St. Petersburg Times. November 16, 1970. p. 2C. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
9. "SEC rules bench 5 Spartans". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. November 18, 1970. p. 18. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
10. Robinson, Bill (November 23, 1970). "Curci: We didn't lose face". Evening Independent. p. 2C. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
11. Robinson, Bill (November 30, 1970). "Spartans claim state college title". Evening Independent. p. 1C. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
12. "Curci takes Miami job". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. December 20, 1970. p. 13. Retrieved October 5, 2012 – via Google News Archives.
13. "Tampa rambles by Xavier, 33–10". The Miami Herald. October 25, 1970. Retrieved May 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Vandy clips stubborn Tamps, 36–28". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. November 22, 1970. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.