1970 Florence State Lions football team

The 1970 Florence State Lions football team represented Florence State University—now known as the University of North Alabama—as a member of the Mid-South Athletic Conference (MSAC) during the 1970 NAIA Division I football season. Led by first-year head coach Durell Mock, the Lions compiled an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 1–4 in conference play, placing fifth in the MSAC. Florence State played home game at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama.

1970 Florence State Lions football
ConferenceMid-South Athletic Conference
Record5–5 (1–4 MSAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumBraly Municipal Stadium
1970 Mid-South Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Jacksonville State $ 5 –0 –010 –0 –0
Tennessee–Martin 4 –1 –07 –3 –0
Troy State 3 –2 –06 –4 –1
Delta State 2 –3 –03 –6 –1
Florence State 1 –4 –05 –5 –0
Livingston 0 –5 –04 –5 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 127:30 p.m.at Northwestern State*
L 21–42[1][2]
September 197:30 p.m.State College of Arkansas*
W 28–17[3]
September 267:30 p.m.at Delta State
L 13–26[4][5]
October 32:00 p.m.at Livingston
W 21–14[6]
October 10at Arkansas Tech*
W 28–26[7][8]
October 17Henderson State*
  • Braly Stadium
  • Florence, AL
W 30–20[9]
October 247:30 p.m.Troy State
  • Braly Stadium
  • Florence, AL
L 23–28[10]
October 312:00 p.m.Samford*
  • Braly Stadium
  • Florence, AL
W 24–10
November 141:30 p.m.Tennessee–Martin
  • Braly Stadium
  • Florence, AL
L 7–35[11]
November 211:30 p.m.at No. 15 Jacksonville State
L 28–5513,000[12]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[13][14]

Offseason

After the 1969 season, head coach Hal Self resigned from the position to take over the school's athletic director position full-time. Self had served as both head coach and athletic director in 1969 after the resignation of H.A. Flowers. Durell Mock, who had played under Self at Florence State from 1949 to 1952, was selected to become the second-ever head coach of the Lions.[13]

In the summer before the 1970 season, Florence State would leave the Alabama Collegiate Conference with Jacksonville State, Troy State, and Livingston to become charter members of the new Mid-South Athletic Conference.[15] This football-only conference would become the Gulf South Conference.[16]

Personnel

Roster
1970 Florence State Lions Football

Quarterbacks

  • Steve Coates - Freshman (5'11, 185)
  • Allen Elkins - Sophomore (6'1, 195)
  • David Elmore - Freshman (6'2, 175)
  • Randy Elmore - Sophomore (6'1, 185)

Halfbacks

  • Lee Long - Freshman (6'2, 190)
  • Marvin Parks - Freshman (5'9, 190)
  • Leonard Thomas - Junior (5'9, 195)
  • Mike Wilburn - Freshman (5'8, 180)

Fullbacks

  • Cary Alexander - Freshman (5'9, 175)
  • Larry Brom - Freshman (5'11, 205)
  • Stanley Graham - Freshman (6'1, 190)
  • Carl McCulley - Senior (5'8, 185)

Flanker backs

  • Danny Kimble - Freshman (5'10, 170)
  • Bobby Joe Pride - Junior (5'9, 170)
  • Jim Trimble - Sophomore (6'1, 165)

Split ends

  • Bobby Burcham - Freshman (6'0, 168)
  • Jody Gamble - Senior (6'0, 185)

Tight ends

  • Jimmy Isbell - Junior (5'11, 185)
  • Roger Mathis - Senior (6'2, 215)
  • Dale Hancock - Senior (6'1, 225)
  

Defensive ends

  • Dale Burleson - Freshman (6'2, 190)
  • Doyle Steele - Freshman (5'11, 190)
  • Tommy Warhurst - Sophomore (6'0, 215)

Centers

  • Bob Griffith - Freshman (6'1, 215)
  • Gary Stapler - Junior (5'10, 205)

Offensive guards

  • Gary Counts - Senior (6'1, 230)
  • Bill Morton - Freshman (5'10, 215)
  • Frankie Patterson - Sophomore (5'11, 210)
  • Bill Strain - Freshman (6'2, 195)

Defensive guards

  • Steve Borden - Freshman (5'10, 185)
  • Wendell Hawthorne - Freshman (5'11, 215)
  • Richard Jaggers - Freshman (6'2, 250)
  • Ronnie McKinney - Junior (6'1, 195)
  • Wayne Owens - Sophomore (6'0, 200)
  

Offensive tackles

  • Howard Byars - Senior (6'1, 230)
  • Mike Naves - Freshman (6'2, 210)
  • Bobby Thomas - Junior (6'0, 205)

Defensive tackles

  • Bob Duvall - Freshman (6'5, 230)
  • Ed Franks - Senior (5'9, 235)
  • David Harbin - Freshman (5'11, 230)
  • Dennis Buffaloe - Freshman (6'0, 190)
  • Al Carter - Freshman (6'0, 220)

Linebackers

  • William McCormack - Junior (6'2, 210)
  • Hezzie Morgan - Freshman (6'1, 190)
  • Leroy Baker - Sophomore (6'1, 210)

Defensive halfbacks

  • Palmer Byrd - Junior (6'1, 180)
  • Selma Hill - Freshman (5'9, 185)
  • David Hines - Freshman (6'0, 165)
  • Wayne Oldham - Freshman (5'10, 185)
  • Ganum Smith - Senior (5'9, 175)
  • Ronnie Williamson - Senior (5'11, 190)
  • Stanley Steadman - Freshman (5'10, 165)
Source:[13]

Coaching staff
Florence State Lions coaches

Head coach

Assistant coaches

  • David Kirk - Defensive Secondary Coach
  • Billy Hill - Quarterback Coach
  • Henry Platter - End and Flanker Coach
  • Larry Marshall - Interior Line Coach
  • William Hamilton - Backfield Coach

Source: [13]

Statistics

Team
Florence StateOpp
Scoring223273
First Downs153193
  Rushing86130
  Passing4959
  Penalty184
Rushing yards18252689
  Avg per game182.5268.9
  Rushing touchdowns2228
Passing yards13371193
  Att-Comp-Int212-95-21201-91-21
  Avg per game133.7119.3
  Passing touchdowns2324
Total Offense31623882
  Avg per game316.2388.2
Fumbles-Lost28-1520-11
Penalties-Yards40-39045-504
Florence StateOpp
  Punt-Yards51-204537-1450
   Avg per punt40.039.2
  Punt Return-Yards11-15732-352
   Avg per punt return14.711.0
  Kickoff Return-Yards42-98634-745
   Avg per kickoff return23.521.9
  Interceptions-Yards21-18921-147
   Avg per play9.07.0
Touchdowns Scored3137
Field Goals-Attempts2-55-10
  PAT-Attempts29-3128-32

Source: [14]

Offense
Passing statistics
NAMEPOSCMPATTYDSCMP%TDINT
Randy ElmoreQB91205131844.3821
David ElmoreQB461966.600
Allen ElkinsQB010000
TOTALS95212133744.8%821
Rushing statistics
NAMEPOSATTGAINAVGTD
Carl McCulleyFB140591 yrds4.27 TDs
Leonard ThomasHB87499 yrds5.76 TDs
Randy ElmoreQB128438 yrds3.46 TDs
Bobby Joe PrideFL38177 yrds4.63 TDs
Larry BromFB2370 yrds3.41 TD
Mike WilburnHB1338 yrds2.90 TDs
Allen ElkinsQB11 yrd1.00 TDs
David ElmoreQB27 yrds3.50 TDs
TOTALS4321821 yrds4.223 TDs
Receiving statistics
NAMEPOSCTHYDSTD
Danny KimbleFL25470 yrds3 TDs
Leonard ThomasHB23267 yrds4 TDs
Bobby Joe PrideFL16254 yrds0 TDs
Jim TrimbleFL9102 yrds1 TD
Jody GambleSE784 yrds0 TDs
Dale HancockTE562 yrds0 TDs
Carl McCulleyFB460 yrds0 TDs
Mike WilburnHB119 yrds0 TDs
Larry BromFB411 yrds0 TDs
Jimmy IsbellTE18 yrds0 TDs
TOTALS951337 yrds8 TDs

Defense
Defense statistics
NAMEPOSINT
Palmer ByrdDHB6
Ronnie WilliamsonDHB5
William McCormackLB3
Ganum SmithDHB2
Leroy BakerLB2
Tommy WarhurstDE1
Others2
TOTAL21

Special teams
Punting statistics
NAMEPOSPUNTSYDSAVG
Jody GambleSE512045 yrds40.0
TOTALS512045 yrds40.0
Kick return statistics
NAMEPOSRTNSYDSAVGTD
Bobby Joe PrideFL1862334.51
Leonard ThomasHB1121419.40
Jimmy IsbellTE33411.30
Larry BromFB33411.30
Ganum SmithDHB12121.00
Allen ElkinsQB22210.40
Bobby BurchamSE2199.50
Ronnie WilliamsonDHB11616.00
Danny KimbleFL155.00
TOTALS42988 yrds23.51 TD
Punt return statistics
NAMEPOSRTNSYDSAVGTD
Leonard ThomasHB610517.50
Bobby Joe PrideFL55210.40
TOTALS11157 yrds14.30 TD's

Source: [14]

References
  1. "Demon Football History vs North Alabama". nsudemons.com. Northwestern State Athletics. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  2. Patterson, Greg (September 13, 1970). "Lions Lose To Northwestern". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  3. Kelley, Pete (September 20, 1970). "Florence State Wins 28-17". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  4. "1970 Football Schedule". gostatesmen.com. Delta State University Athletics. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  5. Harris, Jack (September 29, 1970). "Mistakes Kill Lion Chances". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  6. "Livingston Loses, 21-14". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa News. October 4, 1970. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  7. "1970 Football Schedule". arkansastechsports.com. Arkansas Tech University Athletics. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  8. Bannecke, Craig (October 11, 1970). "Lions Squeeze By Ark. Tech 28-26". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  9. Thomas, Ronnie (October 18, 1970). "Lions Come Alive In Last Half To Down Reddies". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  10. Kelley, Pete (October 25, 1970). "Troy Edges Battling Lions 28-23". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  11. Harris, Jack (October 25, 1970). "UTM Spanks Florence St. 35-7". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  12. Thomas, Ronnie (October 25, 1970). "Jacksonville Mauls Florence State 55-28". Times Daily. Florence. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  13. Burleson, Al (1970). "1970 Football Guide" (PDF). RoarLions.com. North Alabama Athletics. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  14. Thomas, Ronnie (1971). "1971 Football Guide" (PDF). RoarLions.com. North Alabama Athletics. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  15. "Conference Now Reality". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa. August 8, 1970. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Google News Achieve.
  16. "Gulf South Conference History". gscsports.org. Gulf South Conference. September 1, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2024.


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