The Wayne State Tartars football program, 1970–1979 represented Wayne State University during the 1970s as an independent from 1970 to 1974 and as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) from 1975 to 1979. The team was led by three head coaches during the decade: Vernon Gale (1965–1971); Dave Hoover (1972–1973); and Dick Lowry (1974–1979).
The team played its home games at Wayne State Stadium, sometimes referenced as WSU Stadium, in Detroit.
1970
1970 Wayne State Tartars football |
---|
Conference | Independent |
---|
Record | 6–2 |
---|
Head coach | |
---|
Captains |
- Tom Bomberski
- Tom Sheppard
|
---|
Home stadium | Wayne State Stadium |
---|
|
The 1970 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as an independent during the 1970 NCAA College Division football season. In their sixth year under head coach Vernon Gale, the Tartars compiled a 6–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 156 to 109.[1]
Although classes did not begin until October 1, the team began training camp on September 3.[2] Before the season began, the university began a review of the football program and its future. Coach Gale hinted at the time that 1970 may be his last as head football coach at Wayne.[3]
The team's statistical leaders included Gary Rossi with 914 passing yards, Terry Fuller with 451 receiving yards, George Crayton with 206 rushing yards,[4] Rossi set a school record with 35 pass attempts against Hillsdale on November 21.[5] Tom Bomberski and Tom Sheppard were the team captains.[6]
Schedule
[1]
1971
The 1971 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as an independent during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. In their seventh and final year under head coach Vernon Gale, the Tartars compiled a 4–4 record and outscored opponents by a total of 134 to 66.[1]
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
September 25 | at Ferris State | | W 34–6 | 6,000 |
|
October 2 | at South Dakota State | | W 27–8 | 3,500 |
|
October 9 | at Northeast Missouri State | | L 6–14 | 3,000 |
|
October 16 | Hofstra | Detroit, MI | L 7–10 | 5,511 |
|
October 30 | Chicago Circle | | W 37–0 | 1,541 | [19]
|
November 6 | Milwaukee | Detroit, MI | L 0–7 | 1,000 |
|
November 13 | Central State (OH) | Detroit, MI | W 14–21 | 1,757 |
|
November 20 | at Hillsdale | Hillsdale, MI | W 9–0 | 2,500 |
|
[20]
1972
The 1972 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as an independent during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. In their first year under head coach Dave Hoover, the Tartars compiled a 2–5–1 record and were outscored by a total of 190 to 99.[1]
Schedule
[22]
1973
The 1973 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as an independent during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. In their second and final year under head coach Dave Hoover, the Tartars compiled a 5–5 record and outscored opponents by a total of 156 to 145.[1]
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
September 15 | Valparaiso | Detroit, MI | W 19–17 | 2,681 |
|
September 22 | at Saint Joseph's (IN) | Rennselaer, IN | W 21–13 | 2,250 |
|
September 29 | Illinois Benedictine | Detroit, MI | L 14–26 | 1,550 |
|
October 6 | at Indiana Central | Indianapolis, IN | L 6–7 | 2,500 |
|
October 13 | at Ferris State | Big Rapids, MI | L 7–28 | 10,200 |
|
October 20 | Hofstra | Detroit, MI | L 6–9 | 3,563 |
|
October 27 | Chicago Circle | | W 46–14 | 3,000 | [23]
|
November 3 | at Eastern Illinois | | W 14–10 | 2,500 |
|
November 10 | Hillsdale | Detroit, MI | L 0–7 | 2,000 |
|
November 17 | at Kentucky State | | W 23–14 | 1,600 |
|
[24]
1974
The 1974 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as an independent during the 1974 NCAA Division II football season. In their first year under head coach Dick Lowry, the Tartars compiled a 7–3 record and were outscored by a total of 198 to 186.[1]
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
September 14 | at Butler | Indianapolis, IN | L 14–21 | 4,654 | [25]
|
September 21 | Saint Joseph's (IN) | | W 8–6 | 2,874 | [26]
|
September 28 | at Illinois Benedictine | Lisle, IL | W 34–32 | 2,000 | [27]
|
October 5 | at Valparaiso | | W 26–21 | 3,053 | [28]
|
October 12 | Northeast Missouri State | - Wayne State Stadium
- Detroit, MI
| W 21–0 | 5,253 | [29]
|
October 19 | at Hillsdale | Hillsdale, MI | L 3–14 | 3,000 | [30]
|
October 26 | at Youngstown State | Youngstown, OH | L 7–56 | 4,230 | [31]
|
November 2 | Milwaukee | - Wayne State Stadium
- Detroit, MI
| W 22–20 | 2,500 | [32]
|
November 9 | Ferris State | - Wayne State Stadium
- Detroit, MI
| W 30–8 | 3,232 | [33]
|
November 16 | Kentucky State | - Wayne State Stadium
- Detroit, MI
| W 21–20 | 5,000 | [34]
|
|
[35]
1975
The 1975 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1975 NCAA Division II football season. In their second year under head coach Dick Lowry, the Tartars compiled an 8–3 record (3–1 against GLIAC opponents), won the GLIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 255 to 148.[1]
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
September 6 | Grand Valley State | | W 15–6 | 4,375 | [36]
|
September 13 | Howard* | - Wayne State Stadium
- Detroit, MI
| L 6–7 | 2,000–3,369 | [37][38]
|
September 20 | at Saint Joseph's (IN)* | Rennselaer, IN | W 42–13 | 1,009 | [39]
|
September 27 | at Ashland* | Ashland, OH | L 21–26 | 4,750 | [40]
|
October 4 | Valparaiso* | - Wayne State Stadium
- Detroit, MI
| W 35–14 | 4,896 | [41]
|
October 11 | at Northeast Missouri State* | Kirksville, MO | W 41–7 | 8,500 | [42]
|
October 18 | Hillsdale | - Wayne State Stadium
- Detroit, MI
| L 7–10 | 1,515 | [43]
|
October 25 | Butler* | - Wayne State Stadium
- Detroit, MI
| W 21–17 | 2,581 | [44]
|
November 1 | at Northwood | Midland, MI | W 17–13 | 1,000 | [45]
|
November 8 | at Ferris State | Big Rapids, MI | W 26–14 | 3,500 | [46]
|
November 15 | Evansville* | - Wayne State Stadium
- Detroit, MI
| W 24–21 | 3,162 | [47]
|
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
|
[48]
1976
The 1976 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. In their third year under head coach Dick Lowry, the Tartars compiled an 8–2 record (3–2 against GLIAC opponents), finished in a tie for second place in the conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 254 to 136.[1][49]
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
September 10 | at Howard* | | W 31–14 | 6,000–6,300 | [50]
|
September 18 | Northwood | | W 29–0 | 3,692 | [51]
|
September 25 | at Valparaiso* | | W 16–9 | 2,000–3,500 | [52]
|
October 2 | Ferris State | Detroit, MI | L 12–20 | 4,200 |
|
October 9 | at Hillsdale | Hillsdale, MI | W 41–20 | 4,200–4,500 | [53]
|
October 16 | at Evansville* | Evansville, IN | W 35–28 | 3,500–4,000 | [54]
|
October 23 | at Saginaw Valley State | University Center, MI | W 31–14 | 2,100 | [55]
|
October 30 | Youngstown State* | - Matthaei Field
- Detroit, MI
| W 28–0 | 3,232 | [56]
|
November 6 | at Grand Valley State | Allendale, MI | L 0–3 | 1,900 | [57]
|
November 13 | Ashland* | | W 31–28 | 2,550 | [58]
|
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
|
[59]
1977
The 1977 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1977 NCAA Division II football season. In their fourth year under head coach Dick Lowry, the Tartars compiled a 7–4 record (3–2 against GLIAC opponents), finished in second place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 237 to 110.[1]
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
September 3 | Akron* | | L 14–24 | 5,129 | [60][61]
|
September 10 | Wisconsin–Stevens Point* | - Wayne State Stadium
- Detroit, MI
| W 28–21 | 1,520 | [62]
|
September 17 | at Northwood | Midland, MI | W 13–0 | 3,800 | [63]
|
September 24 | Valparaiso* | - Wayne State Stadium
- Detroit, MI
| W 16–0 | 1,850 | [64]
|
October 1 | at Ferris State | Big Rapids, MI | W 35–0 | 2,800 | [65]
|
October 8 | Hillsdale | - Wayne State Stadium
- Detroit, MI
| L 6–7 | 2,800 | [66]
|
October 15 | at Evansville* | Evansville, IN | W 50–0 | 3,000 | [67]
|
October 22 | at Eastern Illinois* | | W 24–14 | 7,500 | [68]
|
October 29 | at Youngstown State* | | L 10–31 | 2,000 | [69]
|
November 5 | Saginaw Valley | - Wayne State Stadium
- Detroit, MI
| W 38–7 | 2,600 | [70]
|
November 12 | Grand Valley | - Wayne State Stadium
- Detroit, MI
| L 3–6 | 3,748 | [71]
|
|
[72]
1978
The 1978 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1978 NCAA Division II football season. In their fifth year under head coach Dick Lowry, the Tartars compiled a 5–4 record (4–1 against GLIAC opponents), finished in second place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 172 to 152.[1]
Schedule
[73]
1979
The 1979 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1979 NCAA Division II football season. In their sixth and final year under head coach Dick Lowry, the Tartars compiled a 3–5–1 record (3–1–1 against GLIAC opponents), finished in second place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 171 to 130.[1]
Two weeks after the season ended, Lowry was hired as the head football coach at Hillsdale College. He compiled a 38-21-1 record in six years at Wayne State.[74]
Schedule
[75]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "2016 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Wayne State University. pp. 111, 115. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ "Tartars Engage In 1st Scrimmage". Detroit Free Press. September 9, 1970. p. 3D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hal Schram (September 17, 1970). "Wayne St. Ready for '70 Season". Detroit Free Press. p. 6D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ 2016 Football Media Guide, p. 109.
- ^ "Football Briefs". The Escanaba Daily Press. December 17, 1970. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ 2016 Football Media Guide, p. 111.
- ^ "Wayne U. Rolls Past Ferris, 24-7". Detroit Free Press. September 27, 1970. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne St. Outraces Jackrabbits". Detroit Free Press. October 4, 1970. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne St. Gains 3rd Victory, 34-17". Detroit Free Press. October 11, 1970. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne State Trims Bradley". The Pantagraph. October 11, 1970. p. B5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Everything Goes Wrong--Tartars Lose". Detroit Free Press. October 25, 1970. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Defenders Let Parsons Click, 10-8". The Des Moines Register. October 25, 1970. p. 10S – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne St. Gets Easy Win, 24-8". Detroit Free Press. November 1, 1970. p. 5F – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne Wins, Has 5-1 Mark". Detroit Free Press. November 8, 1970. p. 7C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne St. Slips Past Central St". Detroit Free Press. November 15, 1970. p. 3D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "CSU Falls To WSU On Interception". Dayton Daily News. November 15, 1970. p. 5D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Charlie Vincent (November 22, 1970). "Marcol Finally Misses on a Kick But Hillsdale Boots Wayne". Detroit Free Press. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Chargers End Season With 39-0 Win Over WSU: Marcol Misses PAT". The Hillsdale Daily News. November 23, 1970. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tartars explode in 37–0 romp". Detroit Free Press. October 31, 1971. Retrieved June 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Final 1971 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Wayne State (MI))". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ^ "Tartars explode in Chicago, 34–0". Detroit Free Press. October 29, 1972. Retrieved June 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Final 1972 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Wayne State (MI))". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ^ "Wayne State romps to 46–14 win". Detroit Free Press. October 28, 1973. Retrieved June 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Final 1973 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Wayne State (MI))". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ^ Harry Rinier (September 15, 1974). "Butler Ends Opening-Game Famine: Bulldogs Dump Wayne Gridders". The Indianapolis Star. p. 3-3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Soph Aids Wayne Win, 8-6". Detroit Free Press. September 22, 1974. p. 6E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Late Surge Wins for Wayne, 34-32". Detroit Free Press. September 29, 1974. p. 6E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "WSU Downs Valparaiso, 26-21". Detroit Free Press. October 6, 1974. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Turnovers Help WSU, 21-0". Detroit Free Press. October 13, 1974. p. 7E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hillsdale beats Wayne State, 14-3". Detroit Free Press. October 20, 1974. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne bombed, 56-7". Detroit Free Press. October 27, 1974. p. 9E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne State Nips Panthers, 22-20". Detroit Free Press. November 3, 1974. p. 6E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tartars Kick Ferris, 30-8". Detroit Free Press. November 10, 1974. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ky. State loses bowl bid in 21-20 loss to Wayne St". The Courier-Journal. November 17, 1974. p. C9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Final 1974 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Wayne State (MI))". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ^ Hal Schram (September 7, 1975). "Wayne Beats Grand Valley in GLIAC Debut: Skowneski Gets Tartars Off on the Right Foot, 15-6". Detroit Free Press. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne State Suffers First Loss, 7-6". Detroit Free Press. September 14, 1975. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Final 1975 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Howard)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ "Wayne Whips St. Joseph". Detroit Free Press. September 21, 1975. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne Falls Short, 28-21". Detroit Free Press. September 28, 1975. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tartars Thump Valparaiso". Detroit Free Press. October 5, 1975. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "WSU Rips NE Mizzou, 41-7". Detroit Free Press. October 12, 1975. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jinx Beats Tartars, 10-7". Detroit Free Press. October 19, 1975. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne Upsets Butler, 21-17". Detroit Free Press. October 26, 1975. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne Wins, 17-13, Ties for Conference Lead". Detroit Free Press. November 2, 1975. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne Beats Ferris, 26-14, Wins Great Lakes Crown". Detroit Free Press. November 9, 1975. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne Wins 8th, 24-21". Detroit Free Press. November 16, 1975. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Final 1975 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Wayne State (MI))". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ^ "Wayne St. Grid Fortunes Still Rising". Detroit Free Press. September 10, 1976. pp. 1D, 5D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tartar QB Has a Field Day, 31–14". Detroit Free Press. September 11, 1976. p. 7B – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne State Nails Northwood, 29–0". Detroit Free Press. September 19, 1976. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne Edges Valparaiso, 16–9". Detroit Free Press. September 26, 1976. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne Rolls Past Hillsdale". Detroit Free Press. October 10, 1976. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tartars Top Evansville, 35–28". Detroit Free Press. October 17, 1976. p. 5G – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne St. Rushes Past Saginaw Valley, 31–14". Detroit Free Press. October 24, 1976. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne St. Gets Revenge, 28–0". Detroit Free Press. October 31, 1976. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "McCoy Boots FG with 9:19 Remaining – Grand Valley Stops Wayne St., 3–0". Detroit Free Press. November 7, 1976. p. 5D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Field Goal Saves Tartans, 31–28". Detroit Free Press. November 14, 1976. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Final 1976 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Wayne State (MI))". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ Mick McCabe (September 4, 1977). "Akron nips WSU, 24-14". Detroit Free Press. p. E1.
- ^ "Zips break loose at end for victory". Akron Beacon Journal. September 4, 1977. pp. C1, C4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne Rolls". Detroit Free Press. September 11, 1977. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne State Clips Northwood, 13-0". Detroit Free Press. September 18, 1977. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Mick McCabe (September 25, 1977). "Wayne Posts 2nd Shutout". Detroit Free Press. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne Routs Ferris, 35-0". Detroit Free Press. October 2, 1977. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hillsdale Ties WSU For 2nd in GLIAC, 7-6". Detroit Free Press. October 9, 1977. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne Bombs Evansville, 50-0". Detroit Free Press. October 16, 1977. p. 6D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wayne State Spoils Eastern's Homecoming". Decatur Herald. October 23, 1977. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mistake-Prone WSU Falls, 31-10". Detroit Free Press. October 30, 1977. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Mick McCabe (November 6, 1977). "Tartars Crush Saginaw Valley, 38-7". Detroit Free Press. p. 4D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Brian Bragg (November 13, 1977). "Grand Valley Grabs Crown, 6-3". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1D, 5D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Final 1977 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Wayne State (MI))". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ^ "Final 1978 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Wayne State (MI))". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ^ "Tartars lose coach Dick Lowry". Detroit Free Press. November 27, 1979. p. D1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Final 1979 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Wayne State (MI))". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
|
---|
Venues | |
---|
Culture & lore | |
---|
People | |
---|
Seasons | |
---|