1971 Livingston Tigers football team

The 1971 Livingston Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Livingston University (later renamed the University of West Alabama) in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1971 NAIA Division I football season. In their second season under head coach Mickey Andrews, the Tigers compiled an 11–1 record (5–1 against conference opponents) and shared the GSC championship with Troy State. The Tigers advanced to the NAIA playoffs, defeating West Liberty State (25–2) in the semifinal and Arkansas Tech (14–12) in the Champion Bowl to win the NAIA Division I national football championship.^[1][2]

1971 Livingston Tigers football
NAIA Division I national champion GSC co-champion
Champion Bowl, W 14–12 vs. Arkansas Tech
Conference	Gulf South Conference
Record	11–1 (5–1 GSC)
Head coach	Mickey Andrews (2nd season)
Home stadium	Tiger Stadium
Seasons ← 1970 1972 →

1971 Gulf South Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Livingston +^	5	–	1	–	0			11	–	1	–	0
Troy State +	5	–	1	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Jacksonville State	3	–	2	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Tennessee–Martin	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Delta State	2	–	4	–	0			3	–	5	–	1
Florence State	0	–	6	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
Southeastern Louisiana	0	–	6	–	0			0	–	11	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

At the end of the season, Andrews was named GSC Coach of the Year, and quarterback Clemit Spruiell was named GSC Offensive Player of the Year. Four Livingston players were named to the All-GSC team: Spruiell; linebacker Nels Strickland; defensive tackle Herbie Malone; and defensive end Adrian Gant.^[3]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 11	vs. Jacksonville State	Anniston Memorial Stadium Anniston, AL	W 10–9	> 10,000	[4]
September 18	at Southern State Arkansas*	Magnolia, AR	W 7–0		[5]
September 25	vs. Troy State	Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL	L 21–30	8,500	[6]
October 9	at Samford*	Seibert Stadium Homewood, AL	W 28–3		[7]
October 16	vs. Quantico Marines*	Memorial Stadium Selma, AL	W 17–13		[8]
October 23	Western Carolina*	Tiger Stadium Livingston, AL	W 15–9
October 30	at Florence State	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL (rivalry)	W 31–0		[9]
November 6	Delta State	Tiger Stadium Livingston, AL	W 45–21		[10]
November 13	at Mississippi College*	Robinson Field Clinton, MS	W 20–3		[11]
November 20	Tennessee–Martin	Tiger Stadium Livingston, AL	W 28–7		[12]
November 27	vs. West Liberty State*	Steubenville, OH (NAIA Division I semifinal)	W 25–2		[13]
December 11	vs. Arkansas Tech*	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Champion Bowl)	W 14–12	3,219	[14]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

References

1. "1971 Football Team to Be Inducted into the UWA Hall of Fame". University of West Alabama. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
2. Lindsey Hall (October 16, 2021). "1971 National Championship team honored in Livingston". WTOK-TV.
3. "Spruiell, Wright, Sellers Head All-Gulf South Team". The Montgomery Advertiser. December 4, 1971. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Jim Farrell (September 12, 1971). "Livingston upsets Gamecocks, 10-9: Jax' short-lived rating tumbles". The Anniston Star. pp. 1B, 5B – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Livingston Trips SSC". The Shreveport Times. September 19, 1971. p. 4D – via Newspapers.com.
6. Max Moseley (September 26, 1971). "Troy Upsets Tigers, 21-20". The Montgomery Advertiser-Journal. pp. 1C, 6C – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Livingston romps past Samford". The Anniston Star. Associated Press. October 10, 1971. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
8. Buzz Sawyer (October 17, 1971). "Livingston Halts Marine's Invasion With 17-13 Win". The Selma Times-Journal. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Tigers spill Lions, 31-0". The Anniston Star. October 31, 1971. p. 9B – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Livingston Romps Past Delta, 45-21". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 7, 1971. p. 3B – via Newspapers.com.
11. Nick Sabatini (November 14, 1971). "Choctaws Yield To Livingston St". Clarion-Ledger. p. 2B.
12. "Livingston Drops T-Martin, 28-7". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 21, 1971. p. 8B – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Livingston Gains NAIA Final Tilt". The Selma Times-Journal. November 28, 1971. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
14. Alan Mitchell (December 12, 1971). "Livingston National Champ After 14-12 NAIA Victory". The Montgomery Avertiser. p. 1D, 3D – via Newspapers.com.