1973 Kansas Jayhawks football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1973
| team = Kansas Jayhawks
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Big Eight Conference
| short_conf = Big 8
| CoachRank = 15
| APRank = 18
| record = 7–4–1
| conf_record = 4–2–1
| head_coach = Don Fambrough
| hc_year = 3rd
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Jim Dickey
| dc_year = 1st
| def_scheme =
| captain = Don Goode
| captain2 = John Bryant
| stadium = Memorial Stadium
| bowl = Liberty Bowl
| bowl_result = L 18–31 vs. NC State
}}
{{1973 Big Eight Conference football standings}}
The 1973 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas in the Big Eight Conference during the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. In their third season under head coach Don Fambrough, the Jayhawks compiled a 7–4–1 record (4–2–1 against conference opponents), tied for second place in the conference, lost to NC State in the 1973 Liberty Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 253 to 220.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kansas/1973-schedule.html|title=1973 Kansas Jayhawks Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=September 20, 2017}} They played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.
The team's statistical leaders included David Jaynes with 2,349 passing yards, Delvin Williams with 788 rushing yards and Emmett Edwards with 840 receiving yards.{{cite web|title=1973 Kansas Jayhawks Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=September 20, 2017|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kansas/1973.html}} Jaynes set six conference passing records and was named the Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year.{{cite news|title=Sooners' Switzer Honored|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star|date=December 5, 1973|page=25|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13900092/sooners_switzer_honored/|via=Newspapers.com}} Don Goode and John Bryant were the team captains.2017 Kansas Football Media Guide, p. 185. Quarterback David Jaynes, became the first and as of the 2022 voting, the only Jayhawk to be a Heisman Trophy finalist, finishing in 4th place in the voting receiving 65 first place votes.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1973
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 15
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Washington State
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Lawrence, KS
| score = 29–8
| attend = 39,687–39,750
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 22
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Florida State
| site_stadium = Doak Campbell Stadium
| site_cityst = Tallahassee, FL
| score = 28–0
| attend = 19,240–19,934
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 29
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Minnesota
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Lawrence, KS
| score = 34–19
| attend = 30,205
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 6
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Tennessee
| opprank = 9
| site_stadium = Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Memphis, TN
| score = 27–28
| attend = 42,842–43,716
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101371703/jayhawks-gamble-and-lose/|work=The Kansas City Star|title=Jayhawks gamble and lose|date=October 7, 1973|accessdate=May 8, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 13
| time =
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| rank = 19
| opponent = Kansas State
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Lawrence, KS
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 25–18
| attend = 51,574
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 20
| time =
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 18
| opponent = Nebraska
| opprank = 11
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Lincoln, NE
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 9–10
| attend = 76,322–76,498
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 27
| time =
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 17
| opponent = Iowa State
| site_stadium = Clyde Williams Field
| site_cityst = Ames, IA
| score = 22–20
| attend = 32,662–33,440
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 3
| time =
| w/l = t
| opponent = Oklahoma State
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Lawrence, KS
| score = 10–10
| attend = 37,226
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 10
| time =
| w/l = w
| rank = 18
| opponent = Colorado
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Lawrence, KS
| tv = ABC
| score = 17–15
| attend = 31,717
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 17
| time =
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 18
| opponent = Oklahoma
| opprank = 3
| site_stadium = Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Norman, OK
| score = 20–48
| attend = 60,961–64,122
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 24
| time =
| w/l = w
| rank = 20
| opponent = Missouri
| opprank = 19
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Lawrence, KS
| gamename = Border War
| score = 14–13
| attend = 44,062
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{tooltip|December 17|Monday}}
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| rank = 19
| opponent = NC State
| opprank = 16
| site_stadium = Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Memphis, TN
| tv = ABC
| gamename = Liberty Bowl
| score = 18–31
| attend = 50,011
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-times-wolfpack-runs-thro/139563940/|work=The Kansas City Times|title=Wolfpack runs through Kansas, 31–18|date=December 18, 1973|accessdate=January 25, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
Roster
{{American football roster/Header
| year = 1973
| team = Kansas Jayhawks
| teamcolors = f
| offensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=25|class=Jr|first=Bruce|last=Adams|pos=WR}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=74|class=Sr|first=John|last=Bryant|pos=T}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=33|class=So|first=Steve|last=Elliott|pos=FB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=66|class=Jr|first=Mike|last=Englebrake|pos=G}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=84|class=So|first=Jerry|last=Gilmore|pos=TE}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=12|class=Sr|first=David|last=Jaynes|pos=QB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=10|class=So|first=Scott|last=McMichael|pos=QB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=11|class=So|first=Jud|last=Mitchell|pos=QB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=71|class=So|first=Leonard|last=Schmitz|pos=G}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=40|class=Sr|first=Delvin|last=Williams|pos=RB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=32|class=Jr|first=Robert|last=Miller|pos=FB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=17|class=Jr|first=Randy|last=Ross|pos=RB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=83|class=Jr|first=Ken|last=Saathoff|pos=WR}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=47|class=Jr|first=Emmett|last=Edwards|pos=WR|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=22|class=So|first=Paul|last=Bower|pos=WR}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=88|class=So|first=Gregg|last=Hosack|pos=TE}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=54|class=Sr|first=Mike|last=McDaniel|pos=C}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=65|class=So|first=John|last=Morgan|pos=G}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=76|class=So|first=Dave|last=Scott|pos=T}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=70|class=Jr|first=Gordon|last=Stockemer|pos=T}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=72|class=Sr|first=Jerone|last=Hodges|pos=G}}
| defensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=26|class=Sr|first=James|last=Browman|pos=CB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=9|class=Fr|first=Nolan|last=Cromwell|pos=DB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=30|class=So|first=Jim|last=David|pos=FS}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=Fr|first=Chris|last=Golub|pos=S|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=68|class=Jr|first=Don|last=Goode|pos=DE|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=18|class=So|first=Kurt|last=Knoff|pos=CB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=53|class=Jr|first=Randy|last=Robinson|pos=LB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=79|class=Sr|first=Bill|last=Skepnek|pos=DT}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=34|class=So|first=Steve|last=Taylor|dab=Steve Taylor (American football)|pos=CB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=87|class=Jr|first=Dean|last=Zook|pos=DE}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=45|class=Jr|first=Mike|last=Lemon|pos=DT}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=77|class=Sr|first=Mitch|last=Sutton|pos=DT|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=51|class=Jr|first=Dean|last=Baird|pos=LB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=50|class=Jr|first=Steve|last=Towle|pos=LB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=37|class=Sr|first=Mike|last=Gardner|pos=LB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=19|class=Sr|first=Rocky|last=Bron|pos=S}}
| special_teams_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=43|class=Sr|first=Marc|last=Harris|pos=P}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=31|class=So|first=Bob|last=Swift|pos=K}}
}}
{{American football roster/Footer
| head_coach = *Don Fambrough
| asst_coach =
| accessdate=
}}
Team players in the NFL
| class="wikitable" width="80%" | ||||
| align="center" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Kansas Jayhawks|color=white}};"
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| align="center" bgcolor="" | Linebacker | 1 | 15 | San Diego Chargers |
| align="center" bgcolor="" | Running Back | 2 | 49 | San Francisco 49ers |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
| Mitch Sutton | Defensive Tackle | 3 | 63 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| align="center" bgcolor="" | Quarterback | 3 | 66 | Kansas City Chiefs |