1983 LSU Tigers football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record4–7 (0–6 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGeorge Belu (5th season)
Home stadiumTiger Stadium
Seasons
← 1982
1984 →
1983 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Auburn $ 6 – 0 – 0 11 – 1 – 0
No. 4 Georgia 5 – 1 – 0 10 – 1 – 1
No. 6 Florida 4 – 2 – 0 9 – 2 – 1
Tennessee 4 – 2 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
No. 15 Alabama 4 – 2 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
Ole Miss 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 6 – 0
Kentucky 2 – 4 – 0 6 – 5 – 1
Mississippi State 1 – 5 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
LSU 0 – 6 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Vanderbilt 0 – 6 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1983 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University (LSU) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Jerry Stovall, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 4–7, with a mark of 0–6 in conference play, and finished tied for ninth in the SEC.[1]

Following an Orange Bowl berth and a No. 11 final ranking the previous season, LSU cratered in its fourth season under Jerry Stovall, going winless in the Southeastern Conference for the only time in program history. The Tigers ended the season with a nationally televised victory against Tulane on Thanksgiving night, but it was not enough to save Stovall's job. The former LSU All-American and 1962 Heisman Trophy runner-up was fired by a 13–5 vote of the LSU Board of Supervisors December 2. Stovall's career record was 22–21–2.

Three days after Stovall's firing, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Bill Arnsparger was named as his successor.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 10No. 12 Florida State*No. 13
ABCL 35–4079,665[2]
September 17at Rice*
W 24–1034,000[3]
September 24No. 9 Washington*
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA
PPVW 40–1482,390[4]
October 1No. 12 FloridaNo. 16
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)
PPVL 17–3178,616[5]
October 8at Tennessee
TBSL 6–2094,478[6]
October 15Kentuckydagger
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA
PPVL 13–2177,765[7]
October 22South Carolina*
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA
PPVW 20–671,951[8]
October 29at Ole Miss
PPVL 24–2749,383[9]
November 5No. 19 Alabama
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)
ABCL 26–3270,606[10]
November 12Mississippi State
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)
PPVL 26–4574,439[11]
November 24at Tulane*
TBSW 20–751,765[12]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[13]

Personnel

1983 LSU Tigers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
TE 83 Mitch Andrews So
RB 28 Herman Fontenot Jr
RB 21 Dalton Hilliard So
RB 33 Garry James So
WR 41 Eric Martin Jr
G 75 Lance Smith Jr
QB 5 Jeff Wickersham So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DE 77 Roland Barbay Fr
LB 69 Toby Caston Fr
CB 35 Eugene Daniel Sr
S 4 Jeffery Dale Jr
S 12 Norman Jefferson Fr
LB 51 Albert Richardson Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 9 Juan Betanzos So
P 1 Clay Parker So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • George Belu – Offensive coordinator/offensive line
  • Morris Watts – Quarterbacks
  • Darrel Moody – Running backs
  • Stephen Regan – Wide receivers
  • Charlie Butler – Offensive line
  • Pete Jenkins – Defensive line
  • Bishop Harris – Outside linebackers
  • Buddy Nix – Inside linebackers
  • Bruce Johnson – Defensive backs
  • Sam Nader – Recruiting coordinator
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

References

  1. ^ "1983 LSU Fighting Tigers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  2. ^ "Florida State drops LSU". Tulsa World. September 11, 1983. Retrieved November 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "LSU handles surprising Rice". The Daily Advertiser. September 18, 1983. Retrieved December 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "LSU quarterback jolts Huskies, 40–14". The Columbian. September 25, 1983. Retrieved November 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "LSU just Gator bait for Florida". Daily World. October 2, 1983. Retrieved November 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "UT's Vols surprise LSU, 20–6". The Leaf-Chronicle. October 9, 1983. Retrieved August 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Jenkins' tosses lead Kentucky past LSU". The Paducah Sun. October 16, 1983. Retrieved November 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "LSU stops S. Carolina". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution. October 23, 1983. Retrieved November 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "LSU drops to 0–4 in SEC warfare; Ole Miss prevails". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. October 30, 1983. Retrieved November 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Crimson Tide holds off Tigers". The Daily Advertiser. November 6, 1983. Retrieved October 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Bulldogs stop streak by swamping LSU". The Commercial Appeal. November 13, 1983. Retrieved November 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "2nd-half surge seals LSU win over rival Wave". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. November 25, 1983. Retrieved October 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "1983 LSU Football Schedule/Results | TigerDroppings.com". www.tigerdroppings.com.
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