1972 Auburn Tigers football team
{{Short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1972
| team = Auburn Tigers
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Southeastern Conference
| short_conf = SEC
| record = 10–1
| conf_record = 6–1
| CoachRank = 7
| APRank = 5
| head_coach = Ralph Jordan
| hc_year = 22nd
| captain =
| stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium
Legion Field
| champion = Gator Bowl champion
| bowl = Gator Bowl
| bowl_result = W 24–3 vs. Colorado
}}
{{1972 Southeastern Conference football standings}}
The 1972 Auburn Tigers football team under the leadership of coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan completed the regular season with a record of 9–1, earning them an invitation to the Gator Bowl against Colorado, which they won by a score of 24–3. They completed the season with a record of 10–1 and ranked #5 in the AP poll and #7 in the UPI.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121111193306/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/2011-fbguide.pdf 2011 Auburn Tigers Football Media Guide], Auburn University Athletic Department, Auburn, Alabama, p. 184 (2011). Retrieved August 19, 2011
Five players were named all-SEC first team for 1972: defensive back Dave Beck, tail back Terry Henley, offensive tackle Mac Lorendo, defensive end Danny Sanspree, and defensive tackle Benny Sivley.[https://web.archive.org/web/20051106040156/http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/fbmg_history_072805 2005 Auburn Tigers Football Media Guide], Auburn University Athletic Department, Auburn, Alabama, p. 142 (2005). Retrieved August 19, 2011
The famous Punt Bama Punt game took place during the 1972 season, where Auburn, trailing Alabama 16–0 with 10 minutes left in the game, came back to win 17–16 after scoring a field goal followed by two blocked punts that were returned for touchdowns.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1972
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 9
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Mississippi State
| site_stadium = Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Jackson, MS
| score = 14–3
| attend = 40,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dothan-eagle-qb-walls-directs-auburn/133905240/|work=The Dothan Eagle|title=QB Walls directs Auburn over M-State in opener|date=September 10, 1972|accessdate=October 22, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 23
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Chattanooga
| site_stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium
| site_cityst = Auburn, AL
| score = 14–7
| attend = 42,000–43,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85349174/auburn-offense-sputters-in-win-over-mocs/|work=The Atlanta Constitution|title=Auburn offense sputters in win over Mocs, 14–7|date=September 24, 1972|accessdate=September 14, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite web |author= |title=Final 1972 Cumulative Football Statistics Report |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/693/stats/13168 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=December 15, 2022 }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 30
| w/l = w
| opponent = Tennessee
| opprank = 4
| site_stadium = Legion Field
| site_cityst = Birmingham, Alabama
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 10–6
| attend = 69,483
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101341643/auburn-does-it-to-tennessee-again-but-t/|work=The Courier-Journal|title=Auburn does it to Tennessee again, but this time it's an upset|date=October 1, 1972|accessdate=May 7, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 7
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 17
| opponent = Ole Miss
| opprank = 18
| site_stadium = Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Jackson, MS
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 19–13
| attend = 46,421
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-walls-guides-toug/133908026/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Walls guides tough Tigers past Mississippi, 19–13|date=October 8, 1972|accessdate=October 24, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 14
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 9
| opponent = LSU
| opprank = 8
| site_stadium = Tiger Stadium
| site_cityst = Baton Rouge, LA
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 7–35
| attend = 70,132
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-lsus-jones-passes-auburn-di/134030276/|work=Tulsa Daily World|title=LSU's Jones passes Auburn dizzy, 35–7|date=October 15, 1972|accessdate=October 24, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 21
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 14
| opponent = Georgia Tech
| site_stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium
| site_cityst = Auburn, AL
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 24–14
| attend = 60,261
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-auburn-passes-tech/134030706/|work=The News and Observer|title=Auburn passes Tech, 24–14|date=October 22, 1972|accessdate=October 24, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 28
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| homecoming = y
| rank = 12
| opponent = Florida State
| opprank = 17
| site_stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium
| site_cityst = Auburn, AL
| score = 27–14
| attend = 58,142
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-auburns-defense/134030795/|work=Pensacola News Journal|title=Auburn's defense handles Huff, Florida State, 27–14|date=October 29, 1972|accessdate=October 24, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 4
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 11
| opponent = Florida
| site_stadium = Florida Field
| site_cityst = Gainesville, FL
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 26–20
| attend = 57,551
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-auburn-escapes-upset-th/133969475/|work=The Miami Herald|title=Auburn escapes upset threat by Moore-led Gators, 26–20|date=November 5, 1972|accessdate=October 22, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 18
| w/l = w
| rank = 11
| opponent = Georgia
| site_stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium
| site_cityst = Auburn, AL
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 27–10
| attend = 61,348
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser-auburns-tigers-rol/133909537/|work=The Daily Advertiser|title=Auburn's Tigers roll over Georgia, 27–10|date=November 19, 1972|accessdate=October 22, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 2
| w/l = w
| neutral = y
| rank = 9
| opponent = Alabama
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Legion Field
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| gamename = Iron Bowl
| score = 17–16
| attend = 72,386
| source = {{cite news |first=Delbert |last=Reed |title=Tiger miracle men stop Alabama run |page=B1 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=XUmZziu-z7kC&dat=19721203&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News |date=December 3, 1972 |access-date=June 29, 2014}}{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=War Eagles upset No. 2 Bama, 17–16 |page=B3 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c2ssAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yMwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2467%2C320682 |newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal |date=December 3, 1972 |access-date=June 29, 2014}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 30
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| rank = 6
| opponent = Colorado
| opprank = 13
| site_stadium = Gator Bowl Stadium
| site_cityst = Jacksonville, FL
| gamename = Gator Bowl
| tv = ABC
| score = 24–3
| attend = 71,114
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-times-journal-auburns-tigers/134030933/|work=The Selma Times-Journal|title=Auburn's Tigers rip Colorado's Buffs 24–3|date=December 31, 1972|accessdate=October 22, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
Rankings
{{main|1972 NCAA University Division football rankings}}
{{Ranking movements
| poll1title = AP
| poll1firstweek = 0
| poll1lastweek = 14
| poll1_0=NR
| poll1_1=NR
| poll1_2=NR
| poll1_3=NR
| poll1_4=17
| poll1_5=9
| poll1_6=14 т
| poll1_7=12
| poll1_8=11
| poll1_9=11
| poll1_10=11
| poll1_11=10
| poll1_12=9
| poll1_13=6
| poll1_14=5
| poll1_15=
| poll1_16=
| poll1_17=
| poll1_18=
| poll1_19=
| poll2title = Coaches
| poll2firstweek =0
| poll2lastweek =13
| poll2_0=NR
| poll2_1=20
| poll2_2=NR
| poll2_3=NR
| poll2_4=14
| poll2_5=9
| poll2_6=15
| poll2_7=12
| poll2_8=10
| poll2_9=10
| poll2_10=10
| poll2_11=10
| poll2_12=9
| poll2_13=7
| poll2_14=
| poll2_15=
| poll2_16=
| poll2_17=
| poll2_18=
| poll2_19=
| poll2_20=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Auburn Tigers football navbox}}
Category:Auburn Tigers football seasons
Category:Gator Bowl champion seasons
Category:Southeastern Conference football champion seasons
{{collegefootball-1972-season-stub}}
{{Alabama-sport-team-stub}}