The Northwestern State Demons football program, 1970–1979 represented Northwestern State University during the 1970s in college football. During this time, the Demons were led by three head coaches and had an overall record of 48–54–1. During this decade, Northwestern State competed in a pair of conferences and as independent and played their home games at three separate stadiums.
Glenn Gossett served as head coach at Northwestern State for the 1970 and 1971 seasons and led the Demons to a record of 13–5–1. The 1970 season was the last Northwestern State competed as a member of the Gulf States Conference where they has been a member since 1948. Gossett resigned as head coach in May 1972 after the Demons competed as an independent for the season. From 1972 to 1974 Northwestern State competed as a member of the Gulf South Conference under the leadership of head coach George Doherty. During his tenure as head coach, Doherty led the Demons to an overall record of 15–17 and a conference championship in 1972. Northwestern State left the Gulf South Conference after the 1974 season and competed as an independent for the remainder of the decade under head coach A. L. Williams. Williams led the Demons to an overall record of 20–32 from 1975 to 1979 and through their transition from Division II to Division I.
From 1970 to 1974, Northwestern played their home games on-camous at Demon Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana. After the 1974 season, Demon Stadium was demolished and Harry Turpin Stadium was built at the same location in its place and opened for their 1976 season. While under construction, Northwestern State played their home games off-campus at State Fair Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana for their 1975 season.
1970
The 1970 Northwestern State Demons football team was an American football team that represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Gulf States Conference (GSC) during the 1970 NCAA College Division football season. In their fourth year under head coach Glenn Gossett, the team compiled an overall record of 7–3 with a mark of 3–2 in conference play, and finished tied for second in the GSC. Northwestern State played their home games on campus at Demon Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
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1971
The 1971 Northwestern State Demons football team was an American football team that represented Northwestern State University as an independent during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. In their fifth year under head coach Glenn Gossett, the team compiled a 6–2–1 record. Northwestern State played their home games on campus at Demon Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Northwestern State competed as an independent for the 1971 season after the dissolution of the Gulf States Conference. This was also the final season for Gossett as head coach as he resigned from the position in May 1972.
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1972
The 1972 Northwestern State Demons football team was an American football team that represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. In their first year under head coach George Doherty, the team compiled an overall record of 8–2 with a mark of 6–0 in conference play, and finished as GSC champion. Northwestern State played their home games on campus at Demon Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
This season marked the first Northwestern State played as a member of the GSC after a single season played as an independent. Their games against , Northeast Louisiana, and McNeese State were all designated as conference games and counted in the Gulf South standings.
Doherty was promoted from an assistant to head coach in May 1972 after the resignation of Glenn Gossett.
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1973
The 1973 Northwestern State Demons football team was an American football team that represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1973 NCAA Division II football season. In their second year under head coach George Doherty, the team compiled an overall record of 6–5 with a mark of 3–4 in conference play, and finished tied for fifth in the GSC. Northwestern State played their home games on campus at Demon Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Their games against , Northeast Louisiana, and McNeese State were all designated as conference games and counted in the Gulf South standings.
Schedule
1974
The 1974 Northwestern State Demons football team was an American football team that represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1974 NCAA Division II football season. In their third year under head coach George Doherty, the team compiled an overall record of 1–10 with a mark of 1–6 in conference play, and finished eighth in the GSC. Northwestern State played their home games on campus at Demon Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Their games against and McNeese State were designated as conference games and counted in the Gulf South standings.
The 1974 season also marked the final one Northwestern State competed as a member of the GSC. The school withdrew from the conference in July 1975 in order to start the transition to Division I as the GSC remained as a Division II conference.
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1975
The 1975 Northwestern State Demons football team was an American football team that represented Northwestern State University as an independent during the 1975 NCAA Division II football season. In their first year under head coach A. L. Williams, the team compiled an overall record of 1–10. Due to the demolition of Demon Stadium, and construction of a new stadium on the same site, Northwestern State played their home games off-campus at State Fair Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. This was the first season the Demons competed as an independent after they withdrew from the Gulf South Conference in July 1975.
In November 1974, Williams was promoted to head coach after a single season as an offensive assistant coach for the Demons. He was promoted as the successor to George Doherty who resigned as head coach to and remained at Northwestern State as its athletic director after having served in both positions.
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1976
The 1976 Northwestern State Demons football team was an American football team that represented Northwestern State University as an independent during the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. In their second year under head coach A. L. Williams, the team compiled an overall record of 5–5.
The 1976 season marked the first Northwestern State played their home games on campus at Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The stadium was constructed at the same location of the previous Demon Stadium that has served as the home field for Northwestern State since 1939. While Turpin Stadium was under construction, the Demons played their home games off campus at State Fair Stadium for their 1975 season.
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1977
The 1977 Northwestern State Demons football team was an American football team that represented Northwestern State University as an independent during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. Led by third-year head coach A. L. Williams, the Demons compiled a 6–5 record. Northwestern State played their home games on campus at Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
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1978
The 1978 Northwestern State Demons football team was an American football team that represented Northwestern State University as an independent during the 1978 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by fourth-year head coach A. L. Williams, the Demons compiled a 5–6 record. Northwestern State played their home games on campus at Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
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1979
The 1979 Northwestern State Demons football team was an American football team that represented Northwestern State University as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by fifth-year head coach A. L. Williams, the Demons compiled a 3–6 record. Northwestern State played their home games on campus at Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
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References