1973 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1973
| team = Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Southland Conference
| short_conf = Southland
| record = 12–1
| conf_record = 5–0
| head_coach = Maxie Lambright
| hc_year = 7th
| captain = Denny Duron
| captain2 = Joe McNeely
| stadium = Joe Aillet Stadium
| champion = NCAA Division II champion
Southland champion
Pioneer Bowl champion
Camellia Bowl champion
| bowl = Camellia Bowl
| bowl_result = W 34–0 vs. Western Kentucky
}}
{{1973 Southland Conference football standings}}
The 1973 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team represented Louisiana Tech University during the 1973 NCAA Division II football season, and completed the 71st season of Bulldogs football and their first as members of the reorganized NCAA Division II. The Bulldogs played their home games in at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, Louisiana. The 1973 team came off an undefeated 12–0 record, and a College Division National Championship from the prior season.{{Cite web|url=http://college-football-results.com/f/louitech.htm|title = Louisiana Tech Bulldogs College Football Scores, Schedules, and Analytics}} The 1973 team was led by coach Maxie Lambright. The team finished the regular season with a 9–1 record and made the inaugural NCAA Division II playoffs. They made the first NCAA Division II Football Championship Game with a 38–34 win over Boise State in the Pioneer Bowl. The Bulldogs defeated the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 34–0 in the Camellia Bowl National Championship Game.{{cite web |last=DeLassus |first=David |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/l/louisiana_tech/1970-1974_yearly_results.php |title=Louisiana Tech Yearly Results |publisher=College Football Data Warehouse |year=2016 |access-date=June 10, 2016 |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905174748/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/l/louisiana_tech/1970-1974_yearly_results.php |url-status=dead }}
The Bulldog defense, led by future Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Fred Dean, posted three shutouts and allowed seven or fewer points in 10 of 13 games.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1973
| rankdivision = small college
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 15
| w/l = l
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Eastern Michigan
| site_stadium = Rynearson Stadium
| site_cityst = Ypsilanti, MI
| score = 19–21
| attend = 9,300
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80502723/hurons-hang-onbeat-louisiana-tech-21/|work=Detroit Free Press|title=Hurons hang on...beat Louisiana Tech, 21–19|date=September 16, 1973|accessdate=June 29, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 22
| w/l = w
| rank = T–11
| opponent = Southwestern Louisiana
| site_stadium = Joe Aillet Stadium
| site_cityst = Ruston, LA
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 23–0
| attend = 16,200
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80503139/cajuns-are-silenced-by-la-tech-230/|work=The Daily Advertiser|title=Cajuns are silenced by La. Tech, 23–0|date=September 23, 1973|accessdate=June 29, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 29
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 9
| opponent = McNeese State
| site_stadium = Cowboy Stadium
| site_cityst = Lake Charles, LA
| score = 10–7
| attend = 15,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80503401/louisiana-tech-beats-cowboys/|work=The Crowley Post Herald|title=Louisiana Tech beats Cowboys|date=September 30, 1973|accessdate=June 29, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 6
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 9
| opponent = Northern Arizona
| site_stadium = Joe Aillet Stadium
| site_cityst = Ruston, LA
| score = 37–7
| attend = 15,600
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80503553/la-tech-comes-to-life-to-pound-axers-3/|work=Arizona Republic|title=La. Tech comes to life to pound Axers, 37–7|date=October 7, 1973|accessdate=June 29, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 13
| w/l = w
| rank = 7
| opponent = Arkansas State
| site_stadium = Joe Aillet Stadium
| site_cityst = Ruston, LA
| score = 23–7
| attend = 13,800
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80503685/louisiana-tech-kicks-arkansas-st/|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|title=Louisiana Tech kicks Arkansas St.|date=October 14, 1973|accessdate=June 29, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 20
| w/l = w
| neutral = y
| nonconf = y
| rank = 8
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Northwestern State Demons|title=Northwestern State}}
| site_stadium = State Fair Stadium
| site_cityst = Shreveport, LA
| score = 26–7
| attend = 33,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80503831/tech-hammers-out-267-fair-victory-over/|work=The Shreveport Times|title=Tech hammers out 26–7 Fair victory over NSU|date=October 21, 1973|accessdate=June 29, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 27
| w/l = w
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| rank = 8
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Southeastern Louisiana Lions|title=Southeastern Louisiana}}
| site_stadium = Strawberry Stadium
| site_cityst = Hammond, LA
| score = 26–7
| attend = 8,500
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80503932/la-tech-tops-slu-by-267/|work=Alexandria Daily Town Talk|title=La. Tech tops SLU by 26–7|date=October 28, 1973|accessdate=June 29, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 3
| w/l = w
| rank = 6
| opponent = UT Arlington
| site_stadium = Joe Aillet Stadium
| site_cityst = Ruston, LA
| score = 44–0
| attend = 16,200
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67418746/la-tech-socks-mavericks/|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|title=La. Tech socks Mavericks|date=November 4, 1973|accessdate=January 11, 2021|page=B9|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 10
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 5
| opponent = Lamar
| site_stadium = Cardinal Stadium
| site_cityst = Beaumont, TX
| score = 17–3
| attend = 10,200
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80504107/louisiana-tech-clips-lamar-173/|work=Waco Tribune-Herald|title=Louisiana Tech clips Lamar 17–3|date=November 11, 1973|accessdate=June 29, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 17
| w/l = w
| rank = 5
| opponent = Northeast Louisiana
| site_stadium = Joe Aillet Stadium
| site_cityst = Ruston, LA
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 40–0
| attend = 16,840–16,850
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68711970/tech-shatters-records-indians/|work=The Shreveport Times|title=Tech shatters records, Indians|date=November 18, 1973|accessdate=January 27, 2021|page=2D|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite web |author= |title=Final 1973 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Northeast Louisiana) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/498/stats/13634 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=August 2, 2024 }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 1
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = Western Illinois
| site_stadium = Joe Aillet Stadium
| site_cityst = Ruston, LA
| gamename = NCAA Division II Quarterfinal
| score = 18–13
| attend = 15,200
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80504408/tech-scrapes-by-1813/|work=The Shreveport Times|title=Tech scrapes by, 18–13|date=December 2, 1973|accessdate=June 29, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 8
| w/l = w
| neutral = y
| nonconf = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = Boise State
| opprank = 7
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Wichita Falls, TX
| gamename = NCAA Division II Semifinal —Pioneer Bowl
| score = 38–34
| attend = 13,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80504599/pioneer-tilt-won-3834-by-la-tech/|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|title=Pioneer tilt won 38–34 by La. Tech|date=December 9, 1973|accessdate=June 29, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 15
| w/l = w
| neutral = y
| nonconf = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = Western Kentucky
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Charles C. Hughes Stadium
| site_cityst = Sacramento, CA
| gamename = NCAA Division II Championship Game—Camellia Bowl
| score = 34–0
| attend = 12,016
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80504827/no-doubts-louisiana-tech-is-1st-college/|work=The Sacramento Bee|title=No doubts! Louisiana Tech is 1st College Division National Champ after 34–0 win|date=December 16, 1973|accessdate=June 29, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
{{cite web |author= |title=Final 1973 Cumulative Football Statistics Report |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/366/stats/13634 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=February 27, 2023 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{1973 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football navbox}}
{{Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football navbox}}
{{NCAA Division II football national champion navbox}}
{{Southland Conference football champions}}
Category:Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football seasons
Category:NCAA Division II Football Champions
Category:Southland Conference football champion seasons
Category:Camellia Bowl champion seasons
Category:Pioneer Bowl champion seasons
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football
{{collegefootball-1973-season-stub}}