The 1970 Florence State Lions football team represented Florence State University—now known as the University of North Alabama—as a member of the Mid-South Athletic Conference (MSAC) during the 1970 NAIA Division I football season. Led by first-year head coach Durell Mock, the Lions compiled an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 1–4 in conference play, placing fifth in the MSAC. Florence State played home game at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama.
Schedule
Offseason After the 1969 season, head coach Hal Self resigned from the position to take over the school's athletic director position full-time. Self had served as both head coach and athletic director in 1969 after the resignation of H.A. Flowers. Durell Mock, who had played under Self at Florence State from 1949 to 1952, was selected to become the second-ever head coach of the Lions.
In the summer before the 1970 season, Florence State would leave the Alabama Collegiate Conference with Jacksonville State, Troy State, and Livingston to become charter members of the new Mid-South Athletic Conference. This football-only conference would become the Gulf South Conference.
Personnel Roster 1970 Florence State Lions FootballQuarterbacks Steve Coates - Freshman (5'11, 185) Allen Elkins - Sophomore (6'1, 195) David Elmore - Freshman (6'2, 175) Randy Elmore - Sophomore (6'1, 185)
Halfbacks Lee Long - Freshman (6'2, 190) Marvin Parks - Freshman (5'9, 190) Leonard Thomas - Junior (5'9, 195) Mike Wilburn - Freshman (5'8, 180)
Fullbacks Cary Alexander - Freshman (5'9, 175) Larry Brom - Freshman (5'11, 205) Stanley Graham - Freshman (6'1, 190) Carl McCulley - Senior (5'8, 185)
Flanker backs Danny Kimble - Freshman (5'10, 170) Bobby Joe Pride - Junior (5'9, 170) Jim Trimble - Sophomore (6'1, 165)
Split ends Bobby Burcham - Freshman (6'0, 168) Jody Gamble - Senior (6'0, 185)
Tight ends Jimmy Isbell - Junior (5'11, 185) Roger Mathis - Senior (6'2, 215) Dale Hancock - Senior (6'1, 225) Defensive ends Dale Burleson - Freshman (6'2, 190) Doyle Steele - Freshman (5'11, 190) Tommy Warhurst - Sophomore (6'0, 215)
Centers Bob Griffith - Freshman (6'1, 215) Gary Stapler - Junior (5'10, 205)
Offensive guards Gary Counts - Senior (6'1, 230) Bill Morton - Freshman (5'10, 215) Frankie Patterson - Sophomore (5'11, 210) Bill Strain - Freshman (6'2, 195)
Defensive guards Steve Borden - Freshman (5'10, 185) Wendell Hawthorne - Freshman (5'11, 215) Richard Jaggers - Freshman (6'2, 250) Ronnie McKinney - Junior (6'1, 195) Wayne Owens - Sophomore (6'0, 200) Offensive tackles Howard Byars - Senior (6'1, 230) Mike Naves - Freshman (6'2, 210) Bobby Thomas - Junior (6'0, 205)
Defensive tackles Bob Duvall - Freshman (6'5, 230) Ed Franks - Senior (5'9, 235) David Harbin - Freshman (5'11, 230) Dennis Buffaloe - Freshman (6'0, 190) Al Carter - Freshman (6'0, 220)
Linebackers William McCormack - Junior (6'2, 210) Hezzie Morgan - Freshman (6'1, 190) Leroy Baker - Sophomore (6'1, 210)
Defensive halfbacks Palmer Byrd - Junior (6'1, 180) Selma Hill - Freshman (5'9, 185) David Hines - Freshman (6'0, 165) Wayne Oldham - Freshman (5'10, 185) Ganum Smith - Senior (5'9, 175) Ronnie Williamson - Senior (5'11, 190) Stanley Steadman - Freshman (5'10, 165)
Coaching staff Florence State Lions coaches Head coach Durell Mock Assistant coaches David Kirk - Defensive Secondary Coach Billy Hill - Quarterback Coach Henry Platter - End and Flanker Coach Larry Marshall - Interior Line Coach William Hamilton - Backfield Coach
Statistics Team Florence State Opp Scoring 223 273 First downs 153 193 Rushing 86 130 Passing 49 59 Penalty 18 4 Rushing yards 18252689 Avg per game 182.5 268.9 Rushing touchdowns 22 28 Passing yards 13371193 Att-Comp-Int 212-95-21 201-91-21 Avg per game 133.7 119.3 Passing touchdowns 23 24 Total offense 3162 3882 Avg per game 316.2 388.2 Fumbles-Lost 28-15 20-11 Penalties-Yards 40-390 45-504 Florence State Opp Punt-Yards 51-2045 37-1450 Avg per punt 40.0 39.2 Punt Return-Yards 11-157 32-352 Avg per punt return 14.7 11.0 Kickoff Return-Yards 42-986 34-745 Avg per kickoff return 23.5 21.9 Interceptions-Yards 21-189 21-147 Avg per play 9.0 7.0 Touchdowns scored 31 37 Field goals-Attempts 2-5 5-10 PAT-Attempts 29-31 28-32
Individual leaders Offense Passing statistics NAME POS CMP ATT YDS CMP% TD INT Randy Elmore QB 91 205 1318 44.3 8 21 David Elmore QB 4 6 19 66.6 0 0 Allen Elkins QB 0 1 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 95 212 1337 44.8% 8 21
Rushing statistics NAME POS ATT GAIN AVG TD Carl McCulley FB 140 591 yrds 4.2 7 TDs Leonard Thomas HB 87 499 yrds 5.7 6 TDs Randy Elmore QB 128 438 yrds 3.4 6 TDsBobby Joe Pride FL 38 177 yrds 4.6 3 TDs Larry Brom FB 23 70 yrds 3.4 1 TDMike Wilburn HB 13 38 yrds 2.9 0 TDs Allen Elkins QB 1 1 yrd 1.0 0 TDsDavid Elmore QB 2 7 yrds 3.5 0 TDs TOTALS 432 1821 yrds 4.2 23 TDs
Receiving statistics NAME POS CTH YDS TD Danny Kimble FL 25 470 yrds 3 TDs Leonard Thomas HB 23 267 yrds 4 TDs Bobby Joe Pride FL 16 254 yrds 0 TDs Jim Trimble FL 9 102 yrds 1 TDJody Gamble SE 7 84 yrds 0 TDsDale Hancock TE 5 62 yrds 0 TDsCarl McCulley FB 4 60 yrds 0 TDsMike Wilburn HB 1 19 yrds 0 TDsLarry Brom FB 4 11 yrds 0 TDsJimmy Isbell TE 1 8 yrds 0 TDs TOTALS 95 1337 yrds 8 TDs
Defense Defense statistics NAME POS INT Palmer Byrd DHB 6 Ronnie Williamson DHB 5William McCormack LB 3Ganum Smith DHB 2Leroy Baker LB 2Tommy Warhurst DE 1 Others 2 TOTAL 21
Special teams Punting statistics NAME POS PUNTS YDS AVG Jody Gamble SE 51 2045 yrds 40.0 TOTALS 51 2045 yrds 40.0
Kick return statistics NAME POS RTNS YDS AVG TD Bobby Joe Pride FL 18 623 34.5 1 Leonard Thomas HB 11 214 19.4 0Jimmy Isbell TE 3 34 11.3 0Larry Brom FB 3 34 11.3 0Ganum Smith DHB 1 21 21.0 0Allen Elkins QB 2 22 10.4 0 Bobby Burcham SE 2 19 9.5 0 Ronnie Williamson DHB 1 16 16.0 0Danny Kimble FL 1 5 5.00 TOTALS 42 988 yrds 23.5 1 TD
Punt return statistics NAME POS RTNS YDS AVG TD Leonard Thomas HB 6 105 17.5 0 Bobby Joe PrideFL 5 52 10.4 0 TOTALS 11 157 yrds 14.3 0 TD's
References