1983 Plymouth State Panthers football team

1983 Plymouth State Panthers football
NEFC co-champion
ConferenceNew England Football Conference
Record9–2 (8–1 NEFC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGary Emanuel (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorLou Desloges (6th season)
Home stadiumCurrier Field
Seasons
← 1982
1984 →
1983 New England Football Conference standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Plymouth State + 8 – 1 – 0 9 – 2 – 0
Massachusetts Maritime + 8 – 1 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
Nichols 7 – 2 – 0 7 – 2 – 0
Western Connecticut State 6 – 3 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Bridgewater State 4 – 5 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Western New England 4 – 5 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Framingham State 3 – 6 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
Maine Maritime 3 – 6 – 0 3 – 6 – 0
Westfield State 2 – 7 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
Curry 0 – 9 – 0 0 – 9 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1983 Plymouth State Panthers football team was an American football team that represented Plymouth State University as a member of the New England Football Conference (NEFC) during the 1983 NCAA Division III football season. In their third year under head coach Jay Cottone, the Panthers compiled a 9–2 record (8–1 against NEFC opponents), shared the NEFC championship, outscored opponents by a total of 358 to 120,[1] and won the inaugural ECAC New England Bowl over Massachusetts Maritime.

Plymouth State entered the season with a nineteen-game win streak that spanned to the beginning of the 1981 season.[2][3][4] It was the longest win streak at any level of college football.[5]

The team was led by quarterback John Sperzel who finished the season with 619 passing yards, twelve touchdowns, and five interceptions.[1] The original starter was Larry Cummings, but he suffered a back injury and a shoulder tear in the third week.[6] Sophomore running back Joe Dudek rushed for 1,483 yards on 247 carries (134.8 yards per game), scored fifteen touchdowns, and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.[1][7]

The team played its home games at Currier Field in Plymouth, New Hampshire. The field was renamed in honor of former head coach and offensive coordinator Charlie Currier who died after the 1982 season.[8] Offensive line coach and head basketball coach Gary Emanuel was promoted to offensive coordinator following Currier's death.[9]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 10at Norwich*
L 0–314,500[10][11]
September 17at NicholsDudley, MAW 33–72,500[12][13]
September 24Western Connecticut
W 27–03,113[14]
October 1Westfield State
  • Currier Field
  • Plymouth, NH
W 40–05,492[15]
October 8at Massachusetts MaritimeBuzzards Bay, MAL 19–221,500[16][17]
October 15Framingham State
  • Currier Field
  • Plymouth, NH
W 38–03,207[18]
October 22at Maine Maritime
W 42–211,500[19]
October 29Western New England
  • Currier Field
  • Plymouth, NH
W 34–01,537[20]
November 5at Bridgewater StateBridgewater, MAW 38–81,000
November 12Curry
  • Currier Field
  • Plymouth, NH
W 52–72,000[21][22][23]
November 19at Massachusetts Maritime*Buzzards Bay, MA (New England Bowl)W 35–24[24][25]
  • *Non-conference game

[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Final 1983 Plymouth State Statistics". NCAA. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  2. ^ Lesley Visser (October 22, 1982). "Football is rockin at Plymouth State". The Boston Globe. p. 45, 48. Retrieved May 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Jim Kenyon (November 5, 1982). "Football At The Top Of The Polls: Plymouth State Football Team Is Number One In The East". Valley News. p. 9. Retrieved May 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Ginny Apple (November 12, 1982). "Plymouth's Rock: Cottone Stresses Team Concept". The Hartford Courant. p. C12. Retrieved May 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Plymouth rocks: Lynn is a cornerstone of the team with the nation's longest collegiate win streak". Daily Evening Item. October 22, 1982. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Brown, Tim (November 14, 1984). "Ex-Patriot Cummings leads Plymouth State into playoffs". Bennington Banner. p. 9. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  7. ^ "Joe Dudek". National Football Foundation. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  8. ^ Fillon, Don (September 24, 1992). "Cottone's loyalties divided". The Burlington Free Press. p. 25. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  9. ^ Campanini, Jim (March 14, 1983). "Plymouth State College names Gary Emanuel as basketball coach". The Day. p. 19. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  10. ^ Novogrodsky, Gene (September 11, 1983). "Cadets Stun Panthers". Rutland Daily Herald. p. 9. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  11. ^ "Norwich Gets Back At Plymouth State, 31-0". Concord Monitor. September 12, 1983. p. 20. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  12. ^ "Plymouth State rips Nichols, 33-7". Waco Tribune-Herald. September 17, 1983. p. 23. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  13. ^ "Plymouth State 33, Nichols 7". The Morning Call. September 17, 1983. p. 11. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  14. ^ "Plymouth State, 27-0". Hartford Courant. September 25, 1983. p. 19. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  15. ^ "Plymouth St. 40, Westfield St. 0". Sun-Journal. October 2, 1983. p. 24. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  16. ^ "Mass. Maritime 22, Plymouth State 19". Sun-Journal. October 9, 1983. p. 24. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  17. ^ "Plymouth State upset". The Berkshire Eagle. October 10, 1983. p. 36. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  18. ^ "Plymouth 38, Framingham 0". Sun-Journal. October 16, 1983. p. 24. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  19. ^ "Plymouth State 42, Maine Maritime 21". Sun-Journal. October 23, 1983. p. 25. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  20. ^ "Plymouth State 34, W. New England 0". Sun-Journal. October 30, 1983. p. 25. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  21. ^ "Plymouth St. tops Curry". Kennebec Journal. November 12, 1983. p. 17. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  22. ^ "Plymouth State rips Curry 52-7". The Berkshire Eagle. November 12, 1983. p. 28. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  23. ^ "Plymouth State Blasts Curry". Concord Monitor. November 12, 1983. p. 18. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  24. ^ "Four to play". The Times Record. November 15, 1983. p. 11. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  25. ^ "Plymouth St. wins playoff". The Boston Globe. November 20, 1983. p. 53. Retrieved May 25, 2024.