1951 Tampa Spartans football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1951
| team = Tampa Spartans
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Independent
| record = 7–3–1
| head_coach = Frank Sinkwich
| hc_year = 2nd
| captain =
| stadium = Phillips Field
| champion = Brandeis Classic champion
| bowl = Brandeis Classic
| bowl_result = W 7–0 vs. {{cfb link|year=1951|team=Brandeis Judges|title=Brandeis}}
}}
{{1951 Southern college football independents records}}
The 1951 Tampa Spartans football team represented the University of Tampa in the 1951 college football season. It was the Spartans' 15th season. The team was led by head coach Frank Sinkwich, in his second year, and played their home games at Phillips Field in Tampa, Florida. They finished with a record of seven wins, three losses and one tie (7–3–1).
A week after they opened the season with a 72–0 victory over Patrick Air Force Base at home, the Spartans lost their first road game of the season at Bradley 32–6.{{cite news |title=Bradley trims Spartans 32–6 |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1HxaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ek8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5705%2C2993586 |publisher=Google News Archives |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=September 23, 1951 |page=26 |accessdate=March 3, 2013}} The next Friday, Tampa lost their second consecutive game on the road. This time, {{cfb link|year=1951|team=Wofford Terriers|title=Wofford}} overcame a 14–7 halftime deficit with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns in their 21–14 victory in Spartanburg.{{cite news |first=Irwin |last=Cribb |title=Wofford strikes twice in third quarter to upset Tampa, 21–14 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DzEsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P8sEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6839%2C3191869 |publisher=Google News Archives |newspaper=The Spartanburg Herald |date=September 29, 1951 |page=6 |accessdate=March 3, 2013}} The Spartans then returned home and won games over Jacksonville State and {{cfb link|year=1951|team=Lenoir–Rhyne Bears|title=Lenoir–Rhyne}} before they played Stetson to a 14–14 tie at DeLand after Tampa blocked a last-second field goal attempt by the Hatters.{{cite news |title=Spartans tie Hatters 14–14 |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2J5aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G08DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2190%2C1995347 |publisher=Google News Archives |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=October 21, 1951 |page=28 |accessdate=March 3, 2013}} After a road loss at Appalachian State and a pair of road victories at {{cfb link|year=1951|team=Livingston State Tigers|title=Livingston State}} and South Georgia College, the Spartans returned home and played Florida State in the final home game of the season. Against the Seminoles, Tampa won in a 14–6 upset at Phillips Field before 12,500 fans.{{cite news |first=Lonnie |last=Blount |title=Surprising Spartans score 14–6 upset over Seminoles |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f4paAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FE8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5293%2C1107512 |publisher=Google News Archives |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=November 18, 1951 |page=32 |accessdate=March 3, 2013}}
In mid-November, Tampa accepted an invitation to compete in their first postseason game against {{cfb link|year=1951|team=Brandeis Judges|title=Brandeis}} in the first Brandeis Classic at Miami Beach.{{cite news |title=Spartans to play post-season game |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I31aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FU8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5732%2C6390364 |publisher=Google News Archives |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=November 15, 1951 |page=22 |accessdate=March 3, 2013}} Against the Judges, the Spartans won 7–0 after they scored their only points on an 18-yard John Lahosky touchdown pass to H. L. Hiers on their opening drive.{{cite news |first=Dick |last=Kumble |title=Tampa blanks Brandeis on Lahosky's TD pass |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aJ4yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uukFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5691%2C5787620 |publisher=Google News Archives |newspaper=Miami Daily News |date=December 10, 1951 |page=11A |accessdate=March 3, 2013}} In February 1952, Sinkwich resigned as head coach of the Spartans after only two seasons and entered private business.{{cite news |title=Frank Sinkwich quits Tampa coaching job |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4IpaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ME8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1646%2C1427079 |publisher=Google News Archives |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=February 18, 1952 |page=14 |accessdate=March 3, 2013}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| timezone = Eastern
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 15
| w/l = w
| opponent = Patrick Field
| site_stadium = Phillips Field
| site_cityst = Tampa, FL
| score = 72–0
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 22
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Bradley
| site_stadium = Peoria Stadium
| site_cityst = Peoria, IL
| score = 6–32
| attend = 8,000
| source = {{cite news |last=Seibel |first=Max |title=Bradley Scores 32-6 Win Over Spartans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91695763/the-tampa-tribune/ |newspaper=The Tampa Tribune |location=Tampa, Florida |date=September 23, 1951 |page=1B |access-date=January 2, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |last=Seibel |first=Max |title=Bradley Scores 32-6 Win Over Spartans (continued) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91696092/the-tampa-tribune/ |newspaper=The Tampa Tribune |location=Tampa, Florida |date=September 23, 1951 |page=3B |access-date=January 2, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 28
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1951|team=Wofford Terriers|title=Wofford}}
| site_stadium = Snyder Field
| site_cityst = Spartanburg, SC
| score = 14–21
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 6
| w/l = w
| opponent = Jacksonville State
| site_stadium = Phillips Field
| site_cityst = Tampa, FL
| score = 40–0
| attend = 7,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114164610/tampa-runs-wild-over-gamecocks/|work=Tampa Sunday Tribune|title=Tampa runs wild over Gamecocks|date=October 7, 1951|accessdate=December 6, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 13
| time = 8:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| opponent = Lenoir Rhyne
| site_stadium = Phillips Field
| site_cityst = Tampa, FL
| score = 27–14
| attend = 8,500
| source = {{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Bobby |title=Spartans Play Unbeaten Beats Tonight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/142526975/ |newspaper=Tampa Morning Tribune |location=Tampa, Florida |date=October 13, 1951 |page=11 |access-date=March 2, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Bobby |title=Spartans Will Play Unbeaten Beats At Stadium Tonight (continued) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/142527067/ |newspaper=Tampa Morning Tribune |location=Tampa, Florida |date=October 13, 1951 |page=13 |access-date=March 2, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Bobby |title=Spartans Upset Lenoir Rhyne By 27 to 14 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/142526667/ |newspaper=Tampa Sunday Tribune |location=Tampa, Florida |date=October 14, 1951 |page=1B |access-date=March 2, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Bobby |title=Spartans Trounce Lenoir Rhyne Team By Margin of 27-14 (continued) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/142526850/ |newspaper=Tampa Sunday Tribune |location=Tampa, Florida |date=October 14, 1951 |page=3B |access-date=March 2, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 20
| time = 8:00 p.m.
| w/l = t
| away = y
| opponent = Stetson
| site_stadium = DeLand Municipal Stadium
| site_cityst = DeLand, FL
| score = 14–14
| source = {{cite news |author= |title=University Of Tampa Battles Stetson At DeLand Tonight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91617403/the-tampa-times/ |newspaper=The Tampa Daily Times |location=Tampa, Florida |agency=Associated Press |date=October 20, 1951 |page=9 |access-date=January 1, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |last=Ledoux |first=Jack |title=Stetson Battle Tampa to 14-14 Deadlock |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91617202/the-orlando-sentinel/ |newspaper=Orlando Sunday Sentinel-Star |location=Orlando, Florida |date=October 21, 1951 |page=15 |access-date=January 1, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 27
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Appalachian State
| site_stadium = College Field
| site_cityst = Boone, NC
| score = 13–14
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90342307/appalachian-defeats-tampa-on-extra-point/|work=The Tampa Tribune|title=Appalachian defeats Tampa on extra point|date=October 27, 1951|accessdate=December 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 3
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1951|team=Livingston State Tigers|title=Livingston State}}
| site_stadium = Livingston H. S. Stadium
| site_cityst = Livingston, AL
| score = 28–13
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 9
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = South Georgia College
| site_stadium =
| site_cityst = Douglas, GA
| score = 54–13
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 17
| time = 8:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| opponent = Florida State
| site_stadium = Phillips Field
| site_cityst = Tampa, FL
| score = 14–6
| attend = 12,000
| source = {{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Bobby |title=Spartans To Meet FSU Eleven Tonight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/143221698/ |newspaper=Tampa Morning Tribune |location=Tampa, Florida |date=November 17, 1951 |page=11 |access-date=March 12, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Bobby |title=Spartans To Meet Florida State At Philips Field (continued) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/143221808/ |newspaper=Tampa Morning Tribune |location=Tampa, Florida |date=November 17, 1951 |page=14 |access-date=March 12, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Bobby |title=Spartans Grind Out 14-6 Victory Over Seminoles In Rugged Grid Battle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/143221511/ |newspaper=Tampa Sunday Tribune |location=Tampa, Florida |date=November 18, 1951 |page=1B |access-date=March 12, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Bobby |title=Tampa Turns In 14-6 Win Over Florida State Team (continued) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/143221606/ |newspaper=Tampa Sunday Tribune |location=Tampa, Florida |date=November 18, 1951 |page=3B |access-date=March 12, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 8
| w/l = w
| neutral = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1951|team=Brandeis Judges|title=Brandeis}}
| gamename = Brandeis Classic
| site_stadium = Memorial Field
| site_cityst = Miami Beach, FL
| score = 7–0
}}
}}