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1973 NCAA Division III football season

{{Short description|American college football season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox college football season

| type = NCAA Division III

| year = 1973

| prevtype = NCAA College Division

| image =

| image_caption =

| regular_season = August – November 1973

| playoffs = November – December 1973

| championship = Garrett–Harrison Stadium
Phenix City, AL

| champion = Wittenberg

}}

The 1973 NCAA Division III football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division III level, began in August 1973, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship in December 1973 at Garrett–Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama. This was the first season for Division III (and Division II) football, which were formerly in the College Division in 1972 and prior.

Wittenberg won their first Division III championship, defeating {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Juniata Indians|title=Juniata}} in the championship game by a score of 41−0.{{cite web|title=All-Time Division III Football Championship Records |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_champs_records/2013/d3/champ.pdf|work=NCAA|publisher=NCAA.org|access-date=October 23, 2014|pages=4–15}}

Conference changes and new programs

class="wikitable sortable"
School1972 conference1973 conference
style="text-align:center;"

| Albany

New programNCAA Division III independent
style="text-align:center;"

|Seton Hall

|New program

|Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference

style="text-align:center;"

|Salisbury State

|New program

|NCAA Division III independent

Conference standings

cellpadding="5"

|valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 College Athletic Conference football standings}}

|valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin football standings}}

|valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Eastern Football Conference football standings}}

valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Independent College Athletic Conference football standings}}

|valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Indiana Collegiate Conference football standings}}

|valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Iowa Conference football standings}}

valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Mason–Dixon Conference football standings}}

|valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Metropolitan Intercollegiate Conference football standings}}

|valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings}}

valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Middle Atlantic Conference football standings}}

|valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Midwest Conference football standings}}

|valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings}}

valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 New England Football Conference standings}}

|valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 New Jersey State Athletic Conference football standings}}

|valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings}}

valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings}}

|valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Presidents' Athletic Conference football standings}}

|valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings}}

valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 Wisconsin State University Conference football standings}}

|valign="top" width=25em|{{1973 NCAA Division III independents football records}}

Conference champions

class="wikitable sortable"
ConferenceChampion(s)
style="text-align:center;"

| College Athletic Conference

Southwestern at Memphis
style="text-align:center;"

| College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

Carthage
style="text-align:center;"

| Independent College Athletic Conference

Champion unknown
style="text-align:center;"

| Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Buena Vista
style="text-align:center;"

| Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Hope
style="text-align:center;"

| Middle Atlantic Conference

North: Juniata
South: Franklin & Marshall
style="text-align:center;"

| Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference

Coe
style="text-align:center;"

| Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Minnesota–Duluth
St. Thomas (MN)
style="text-align:center;"

| New England Football Conference

Nichols
style="text-align:center;"

| New Jersey State Athletic Conference

Montclair State
style="text-align:center;"

| Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division III)

Fisk
style="text-align:center;"

| Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Redlands

Postseason

The 1973 NCAA Division III Football Championship playoffs were the first single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division III college football. The inaugural edition had only four teams (in comparison with the 40 teams competing as of 2024). The championship game was held at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama. The Wittenberg Tigers defeated the Juniata College Eagles, 41−0, to win their first national title.{{cite web|title=1973 NCAA Division III National Football Championship Bracket|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_champs_records/2013/d3/champ.pdf|work=NCAA|publisher=NCAA.org|access-date=October 23, 2014|pages=14}}

=Playoff bracket=

{{4TeamBracket

| RD1=Semifinals
Campus sites

| RD2=National Championship Game
Garrett–Harrison Stadium
Phenix City, AL

| RD1-seed1=

| RD1-team1= {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Juniata Eagles|title=Juniata}}

| RD1-score1= 35

| RD1-seed2=

| RD1-team2= {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Bridgeport Purple Knights|title=Bridgeport}}

| RD1-score2= 14

| RD1-seed3=

| RD1-team3= Wittenberg

| RD1-score3= 21

| RD1-seed4=

| RD1-team4= San Diego

| RD1-score4= 14

| RD2-seed1=

| RD2-team1= Juniata

| RD2-score1= 0

| RD2-seed2=

| RD2-team2= Wittenberg

| RD2-score2= 41

}}

Coaching changes

=In-season=

This is restricted to coaching changes that took place during the season.

class="wikitable sortable"
School

! Outgoing coach

! Reason

! Replacement

! Previous position

Ripon

|John Storzer

|Died{{Cite news |date=November 2, 1973 |title=Storzer, Ripon College Coach, Dies at 53 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times/64766609/ |access-date=June 20, 2024 |work=The Capital Times |pages=16}}

|Bill Connor{{Cite news |date=November 2, 1973 |title=Storzer Let Time Decide |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-storzer-let-time/149740107/ |access-date=June 20, 2024 |work=Green Bay Press-Gazette |pages=18}} (interim, named full-time in December 1973){{Cite news |date=December 28, 1973 |title=Name Connor Ripon coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald/23011732/ |access-date=June 20, 2024 |work=Wausau Daily Herald |pages=17}}

|Ripon defensive coordinator (1967–1973)

=End of season=

This list includes all head coaching changes announced during or after the season.

class="wikitable sortable"
School

! Outgoing coach

! Reason

! Replacement

! Previous position

Bridgeport

|Ed Farrell

|Hired as head coach for Davidson{{Cite news |date=February 24, 1974 |title=Ed Farrell Gets Davidson Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-ed-farrell-gets-davidson/149407612/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The Daily Times |pages=13}}

|Ray Murphy{{Cite news |date=May 1, 1974 |title=Ray Murphy Named Head Football Coach at Bridgeport |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bridgeport-telegram-ray-murphy-named/149407412/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The Bridgeport Telegram |pages=19}}

|East Stroudsburg offensive coordinator (1973)

Brockport

|Gerry D'Agostino

|Resigned

|Dave Hutter{{Cite news |date=December 7, 1973 |title=Hutter named at Brockport |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tucson-daily-citizen-hutter-named-at-bro/149408249/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=Tucson Daily Citizen |pages=59}}

|Brockport assistant coach (1971–1973)

East Stroudsburg

|Charles Reese

|Leave of absence{{Cite news |date=February 9, 1974 |title=Stroudsburg's Reese On Leave of Absence |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-leader-stroudsburgs-reese-on/149406378/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The Times Leader |pages=12}}

|Dennis Douds (full-season interim, hired full-time on January 29, 1975){{Cite news |last=Rednar |first=Rudy |date=January 30, 1975 |title=Douds gets promoted at East Stroudsburg |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-douds-gets-promoted-at/149406632/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The Morning Call |pages=52}}

|East Stroudsburg defensive coordinator (1968–1973)

Elmhurst

|Wendell Harris

|Resigned

|Al Hanke{{Cite web |title=Forester Athletic Hall of Fame |url=https://campus.lakeforest.edu/foresters/ahanke.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=campus.lakeforest.edu}}

|Lake Forest assistant coach (1954–1973)

Hamline

|Dick Mulkern

|Resigned{{Efn|Resigned to devote more time as Hamline's athletic director.}}{{Cite news |date=November 15, 1973 |title=Mulkern resigns as Hamline coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-mulkern-resigns/149403735/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The Austin Daily Herald |pages=11}}

|Jim Sessions{{Cite news |date=February 22, 1974 |title=Jim Sessions Hamline coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/gazette-news-current-jim-sessions-hamlin/149404022/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=Gazette News-Current |pages=7}}

|Marietta assistant coach (1973)

Jersey City State

|Jack Stephans

|Resigned{{Cite news |last=Rakowski |first=Cas |date=April 29, 1974 |title=Stephans quits JCSC grid post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jersey-journal-stephans-quits-jcsc-g/149404567/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The Jersey Journal |pages=23}}

|Bill McKeown{{Cite news |date=July 31, 1974 |title=McKeown Coach at Jersey City |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-mckeown-coach-at-jerse/149404482/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=Asbury Park Press |pages=49}}

|Northeastern offensive coordinator (1972–1973)

Maryville (TN)

|Boydson Baird (full-season interim)

|Permanent replacement hired

|Jim Jordan{{Cite news |date=January 12, 1974 |title=C-N's Jordan At Maryville |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bristol-herald-courier-c-ns-jordan-at-m/149408549/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=Bristol Herald Courier |pages=14}}

|Carson–Newman defensive backs coach (1973)

RIT

|Tom Coughlin

|Hired as quarterbacks coach for Syracuse{{Cite news |date=February 27, 1974 |title=Coughlin named Syracuse assistant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-coughlin-named-sy/149400781/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=Democrat and Chronicle |pages=37}}

|Lou Spiotti{{Efn|Cortland defensive coordinator Dick Wheaton from 1971 to 1973 was originally hired, but resigned after three weeks.}}{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Curt |date=July 31, 1974 |title=Spiotti takes RIT post after all |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-spiotti-takes-rit/149401203/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=Democrat and Chronicle |pages=43}}

|Rochester defensive backs coach (1972–1973)

Saint Mary's (CA)

|Leo McKillip

|Hired as defensive coordinator for the Edmonton Eskimos{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Terry |date=March 8, 1974 |title=McKillip lines up as defensive coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-mckillip-lines-up-as-de/149408882/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=Edmonton Journal |pages=65}}

|Jim McDonald{{Cite news |date=April 24, 1974 |title=Leo McKillip's Job Given to McDonald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-leo-mckillips-job-gi/149408944/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=Omaha World-Herald |pages=51}}

|Saint Mary's (CA) offensive line coach (1971–1973)

Saint Peter's

|Vinnie Carlesimo

|Resigned{{Efn|Saint Peter's canceled their football season with five games remaining.}}

|Joe Coviello{{Cite news |date=January 30, 1974 |title=Coviello will coach St. Peter's eleven |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-coviello-will-coach-st-peter/149745909/ |access-date=June 20, 2024 |work=The Record |pages=46}}

|North Bergen HS (NJ) (1960–1972)

San Diego

|Andy Vinci

|Hired as head coach by Cal Poly Pomona{{Cite news |date=December 28, 1973 |title=Andy Vinci Lands Job At Cal Poly |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser-andy-vinci-lands-jo/149407883/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The Daily Advertiser |pages=8}}

|Dick Logan{{Cite news |date=February 7, 1974 |title=Logan hired as USD grid coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-telegram-logan-hired-as-usd-grid-c/149407792/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=Press-Telegram |pages=29}}

|San Francisco State offensive coordinator (1970–1973)

Simpson

|Al Paone

|Resigned

|Larry Johnson (full-season interim){{Cite news |last=Moackler |first=Jim |date=August 27, 1974 |title=Football One More Job For Simpson's Johnson |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/des-moines-tribune-football-one-more-job/149402406/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=Des Moines Tribune |pages=15}}

|Simpson head baseball coach (1970–1974)

Swarthmore

|Millard Robinson (full-season interim)

|Not retained{{Cite news |last=Olsen |first=Eddie |date=September 18, 1973 |title=There's Still a Swarthmore in Millard Robinson's Future |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer/28570521/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |pages=33}}

|Lew Elverson

|Swarthmore head coach (1946–1972)

Trenton State

|Pete Carmichael

|Hired as defensive coordinator for Columbia{{Cite news |date=January 16, 1974 |title=Carmichael gets grid job at Columbia U. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-carmichael-gets-grid-jo/149405196/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The Courier-News |pages=48}}

|Dick Curl{{Efn|Villanova offensive coordinator Fred O'Connor was initially hired but was replaced by Curl due to backlash from the football players.}}{{Cite news |date=May 1, 1974 |title=Trenton St. names Curl |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jersey-journal-trenton-st-names-cur/149404918/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The Jersey Journal |pages=15}}

|Trenton State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (1973)

Wabash

|Dick Bowman{{Cite news |date=March 1, 1974 |title=Football |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sun-football/149401633/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The Sun |pages=13}}

|Hired as defensive line coach for Army

|Frank Navarro{{Cite news |last=Bansch |first=John |date=May 1, 1974 |title=Giants Obtain Columbia Boss |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-giants-obtain-colu/149401757/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The Indianapolis Star |pages=48}}

|Columbia head coach (1968–1973)

William Paterson

|Phil Zofrea

|Resigned{{Cite news |date=March 8, 1974 |title=William Paterson's Grid Coach Zofrea Resigns |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-william-patersons-grid-coach-z/149405466/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The News |pages=26}}

|Bob Trocolor{{Cite news |date=June 5, 1974 |title=Trocolor Named WPC Grid Coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-trocolor-named-wpc-grid-coach/149406053/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The News |pages=40}}

|Manchester Regional HS (NJ) freshmen coach (1963)

Wisconsin–Platteville

|Gil Krueger

|Hired as head coach for Northern Michigan{{Cite news |date=January 16, 1974 |title=Gil Krueger Moves |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-times-gil-krueger-moves/149407023/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The Journal Times |pages=24}}

|Bob Seamans{{Cite news |date=January 17, 1974 |title=Seamans Takes Krueger's Job |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-seamans-takes-krueger/149407104/ |access-date=June 15, 2024 |work=The Capital Times |pages=18}}

|Wisconsin–Platteville defensive coordinator (1969–1973)

{{notelist}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{NCAA football season navbox}}