1974 North Alabama Lions football team

1974 North Alabama Lions football
ConferenceGulf South Conference
Record4–6 (4–4 GSC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorRichie Gaskell (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorMike Dean (2nd season)
Captains
  • Paul Parvin
  • Tony McMinn
  • Larry Jeffreys
Home stadiumBraly Municipal Stadium
1974 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 7 Jacksonville State $ 7 – 1 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Delta State 7 – 2 – 0 8 – 3 – 0
No. 8 Livingston 5 – 3 – 0 8 – 3 – 0
Southeastern Louisiana 5 – 3 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
Troy State 4 – 4 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
4 – 4 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
Nicholls State 4 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Northwestern State 1 – 6 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
Tennessee–Martin 1 – 7 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Mississippi College 0 – 7 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

The 1974 North Alabama Lions football team represented the University of North Alabama as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1974 NAIA Division I football season. Led by second-year head coach Mickey Andrews, the Lions compiled an overall record of 4–6 with a mark of 4–4 in conference play, tying for fifth place in the GSC. North Alabama played home game at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 147:30 p.m.Southeastern Louisiana
L 17–218,300[1]
September 217:30 p.m.at Livingston
L 16–283,000[2]
October 57:30 p.m.at Delta State
L 10–266,500[3]
October 127:30 p.m.at Western Carolina*
L 7–326,500[4]
October 197:30 p.m.at Austin Peay*
L 14–205,400[5]
October 262:00 p.m.Troy State
  • Braly Municipal Stadium
  • Florence, AL
L 29–368,200–8,300[6][7][8]
November 27:00 p.m.at Mississippi College
W 30–234,500[9]
November 97:30 p.m.Nicholls State
  • Braly Municipal Stadium
  • Florence, AL
W 17–86,000–7,000[10][11]
November 167:30 p.m.Tennessee–Martin
  • Braly Municipal Stadium
  • Florence, AL
W 42–103,000[12]
November 232:00 p.m.Jacksonville State
W 28–245,000–5,500[13][14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming

[15][16][17]

Offseason

Name change

Despite little change on the football end of things, Florence State University would undergo a big change. On December 27, 1973, the Board of Trustees voted to change the name to University of North Alabama. This change would come into effect on August 15, just one month before the beginning of the football season.

The reasons stated for the change include broader support and greater visibility for the university. Also included was the potential confusion between Florence State University and Florida State University as they both shared the abbrivation of "FSU."[16]

Preseason conference poll

The Gulf South Conference released their preseason coaches' poll on August 3.[18]

GSC coaches' poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Troy State 83 (6)
2 Jacksonville State 73 (2)
3 Northwestern State 61 (2)
4 Delta State 53
5 Livingston 47
6 Southeastern Louisiana -
7 North Alabama -
8 Mississippi College -
9 Nicholls State -
10 Tennessee-Martin -

Transfers

Transfers In

Name Pos. Hometown Transfer from
Creig Bell TE Addison, AL Southern Mississippi
Robert Harris DE Springville, AL Samford
Randy Lee QB Addison, AL Samford
Kelly Pool LB Lanette, AL Samford
Burnis Rose RB Leeds, AL Samford

Source:[16]

Recruiting

Signees

Name Pos. Hometown High School
Mike Allison FB Birmingham, AL Woodlawn High School
David Atkins K Guin, AL Marion County High School
Ricky Baker OT Thomaston, GA Thomaston High School
Rodney Bivens CB Birmingham, AL Minor High School
Steve Clark QB Birmingham, AL Shades Valley High School
Jerry Davis C Athens, AL Athens High School
Louie Davis OG Huntsville, AL Butler High School
Stan Debord DT Lafayette, GA Lafayette High School
Butch Garrison DE Birmingham, AL Jones Valley High School
Tony Hendon DB Birmingham, AL West End High School
Frank Higginbotham DB Trussville, AL Hewitt High School
Rocky Jacobs LB Northport, AL Tuscaloosa County High School
Billy King LB Hueytown, AL Hueytown High School
Ricky Kirkpatrick OT Russellville, AL Russellville High School
Fred Mahler DE Nashville, TN Father Ryan High School
Bob Martin TE Birmingham, AL Banks High School
Mark Neuhauser LB Demopolis, AL Demopolis High School
Donald Pearson TE Birmingham, AL West End High School
Billy Reynolds FB Huntsville, AL Butler High School
Fred Rosenblum DB Huntsville, AL Huntsville High School
David Seymour WR Decatur, AL Decatur High School
Myles Smith TE Birmingham, AL West End High School
Robert Steele TE Columbus, GA Hardaway High School
James Tanniehill RB Silura, AL Thompson High School
Willie Taylor DT Birmingham, AL Ensley High School
Lawrence Versa RB Athens, TN Athens High School
John Wall DT Milledgeville, GA Milledge Academy
Terence Witherspoon DT Fairfield, AL Fairfield High School

Source:[16]

Game summaries

vs. Southeastern Louisiana

Game One – North Alabama Lions vs. Southeastern Louisiana Lions – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Southeastern Louisiana 0 6 8721
North Alabama 8 3 0617

at Braly Municipal Stadium • Florence, Alabama

  • Date: September 14
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 8,300
Game information
First quarter
  • UNA – Roger Ralph 8-yard pass from Roger Ferrell (Mike Allison pass from Roger Ferrell) (UNA 8-0)
Second quarter
  • SLU – Jay Daniel 7-yard pass (2-point conversion no-good) (UNA 8-6)
  • UNA – Creig Bell 24-yard field goal (UNA 11-6)
Third quarter
  • SLU – Horace Belton 2-yard rush (Jay Daniel rush) (SLU 14-11)
Fourth quarter
  • SLU – Horace Belton 3-yard rush (Saia kick) (SLU 21-11)
  • UNA – Clayton Lundy 80-yard punt return (Kick no good) (SLU 21-17)
Statistics UNA SLU
First downs 12 19
Total yards 227 342
Rushing yards 132 280
Passing yards 95 62
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 7-20-1 5-12-0
Punts 6-35.6 4-39.2
Fumbles/Lost 2-0 3-2
Penalties 4-46 5-27

Roster

1974 North Alabama Lions football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
FB Mike Allison Fr
WR Frankie Amos Fr
WR Richard Bagwell So
OT Ricky Baker Fr
TE Creig Bell So
C Richard Bowers Jr
RB Maurice Brawley Fr
QB Steve Clark Fr
C Jerry Davis Fr
G Louie Davis Fr
QB Roger Ferrell Jr
OT Tim Harden So
G Ben Hawks So
RB Marvin Jarman So
OT Barry Johnson Jr
WR Charlie Kennedy So
OT Ricky Kirkpatrick So
WR Mike Knight Jr
OT Barry Koehn Jr
QB Randy Lee So
TE Bob Martin Fr
QB Nick Martelli Fr
FB Tony McMinn (C) Sr
RB Marc Merritt So
FB Jerry Mizell Jr
RB Terry Mizell Jr
C Joe Moore Fr
G Andy Morris Jr
TE John Musick So
G Paul Parvin (C) Sr
TE Donald Pearson Fr
RB James Pointer Fr
WR Roger Ralph Jr
FB Billy Reynolds Fr
RB Burnis Rose So
WR David Seymour Fr
QB Mike Shipp So
TE Myles Smith Fr
WR Ricky Smith Fr
TE Robert Steele Fr
G Frank Strickland So
RB James Tanniehill Fr
RB Lawrence Versa Fr
RB Sandy Vinson Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DB Rodney Bivens Fr
DB Eddy Burns So
DT Buddy Childs So
DE James Crawford Fr
LB John Connell Jr
DT Stan Debord Fr
DE Frank Deliz So
DB Curtis Dixon So
DT Jud Driver So
DB Jim Ezell Jr
DE Butch Garrison Fr
LB Frankie Hammock Fr
LB Tom Hardy Fr
DE Robert Harris So
DB Tony Hendon Fr
DB Frank Higginbotham Fr
DB Robbie Hudson Jr
LB Rocky Jacobs Fr
DB Larry Jeffreys (C) Sr
LB Billy King Fr
LB Bill Loden So
DE Sparks Lunceford So
DB Clayton Lundy So
DE Fred Mahler Fr
DB Mike McCombs So
DT Mike Murray So
LB Mark Neuhauser Fr
DB Mike Petty Fr
LB Kelly Pool Jr
LB Ivan Richards Jr
DB Fred Rosenblum Fr
DE Tobin Sexton So
LB Norman Simms So
DE David Stalcup So
LB Lawrence Stephens So
LB Steve Stewart Jr
DB Randy Stokes Fr
DB Jimmy Sullivan Fr
DT Willie Taylor Fr
DT John Wall Fr
DB Abe Washington Fr
DT Terence Witherspoon Fr
DB Terry Wray Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K David Atkins Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Richie Gaskell – Offensive coordinator
  • Mike Dean – Defensive coordinator
  • Wally Burnham – Offensive line coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

[16]

References

  1. ^ Stout, Harold (September 15, 1974). "UNA Drops Tough Decision, 21-17". Times Daily. Florence. p. 21. Retrieved August 2, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  2. ^ Stout, Harold (September 22, 1974). "Livingston Upends UNA, 28-16". Times Daily. Florence. p. 15. Retrieved August 2, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  3. ^ "UNA Falls to Statesmen, 26-10". Times Daily. Florence. October 6, 1974. p. 25. Retrieved August 2, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  4. ^ "WCU Wins with Big Second Quarter". Times Daily. Florence. October 13, 1974. p. 25. Retrieved August 2, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  5. ^ "Austin Peay Slips past Lions, 20-14". Times Daily. Florence. October 20, 1974. p. 25. Retrieved August 2, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  6. ^ "Troy State outlasts UNA". The Anniston Star. October 27, 1974. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Stout, Harold (October 27, 1974). "Late Score Ruins Lions Homecoming". Florence Times—Tri-Cities Daily. Florence, Alabama. p. 1. Retrieved August 2, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  8. ^ "Final 1974 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Troy State)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  9. ^ "UNA Snaps Drought; Knocks off Choctaws". Times Daily. Florence. November 3, 1974. p. 25. Retrieved August 2, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  10. ^ Stout, Harold (November 10, 1974). "UNA Lions Stop Visiting Nicholls State, 17-8". Times Daily. Florence. p. 27. Retrieved August 2, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  11. ^ "Final 1974 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Nicholls State)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  12. ^ Stout, Harold (November 17, 1974). "UNA Chalks Up Third Straight Victory, 42-10". Times Daily. Florence. p. 21. Retrieved August 2, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  13. ^ "UNA Lions Upend Jacksonville State, 28-24". Times Daily. Florence. November 24, 1974. p. 27. Retrieved August 2, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  14. ^ "2023 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Jacksonville State University Athletics. p. 175. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  15. ^ "Final 1974 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e Thomas, Ronnie (1974). "1974 Football Guide" (PDF). RoarLions.com. North Alabama Athletics. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  17. ^ Thomas, Ronnie (1975). "1975 Football Guide" (PDF). RoarLions.com. North Alabama Athletics. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  18. ^ "Troy State Picked To Repeat As GSC Champs". Times Daily. Florence. August 3, 1974. p. 6. Retrieved August 3, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
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