1972 Tampa Spartans football team

1972 Tampa Spartans football
Tangerine Bowl Champions
Tangerine Bowl, W 21–18 vs. Kent State
Conference	Independent
1972 record	10–2
Head coach	Earle Bruce
Home stadium	Tampa Stadium

The 1972 Tampa Spartans football team represented the University of Tampa in the 1972 college football season. It was the Spartans' 36th season and competed as a College Division Independent. The team was led by head coach Earle Bruce, in his first year, and played their home games at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. They finished with a record of ten wins and two losses (10–2) and with a victory in the Tangerine Bowl over Kent State. Bruce was hired on February 2, 1972, to serve as the replacement for Bill Fulcher who resigned to become the head coach at Georgia Tech.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
September 9	Toledo*	Tampa Stadium • Tampa, FL	W 21–0
September 16	at Northern Michigan*	Memorial Stadium • Marquette, MI	W 34–21
September 22	Eastern Michigan*	Tampa Stadium • Tampa, FL	W 42–0
September 30	at Kansas State*	KSU Stadium • Manhattan, KS	L 7–31	25,000
October 7	Louisville*	Tampa Stadium • Tampa, FL	L 14–17
October 14	Southern Illinois*	Tampa Stadium • Tampa, FL	W 44–0
October 21	Drake*	Tampa Stadium • Tampa, FL	W 24–7
November 4	Florida A&M*	Tampa Stadium • Tampa, FL	W 28–9
November 11	Miami*	Tampa Stadium • Tampa, FL	W 7–0
November 18	Bowling Green*	Tampa Stadium • Tampa, FL	W 29–22
November 25	Vanderbilt*	Tampa Stadium • Tampa, FL	W 30–7
December 29	vs. Kent State*	Tangerine Bowl • Orlando, FL (Tangerine Bowl)	W 21–18
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.