Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Football - Louisiana Tech Football

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football program represents Louisiana Tech University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) level. After 12 seasons in the Western Athletic Conference, Louisiana Tech began competing as a member of Conference USA in 2013. Since 2013, the Bulldogs have been coached by Skip Holtz. Since 1968, the Bulldogs have played their home games at Joe Aillet Stadium. Since the Bulldogs first season in 1901, Louisiana Tech has compiled an all-time record of 601 wins, 452 losses, and 39 ties. In 111 football se asons, the Bulldogs have won 3 Division II national championships, won 25 conference championships, and played in 23 postseason games including 8 major college bowl games. Louisiana Tech has defeated at least one team from each of the current 10 FBS conferences, and Louisiana Tech is the only team from a non-AQ conference to defeat an SEC champion in the BCS era as the Bulldogs defeated Alabama in 1999.

History

Conference affiliations

• 1901â€"1914: Independent
• 1915â€"1925: Louisiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association
• 1925â€"1941: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
• 1939â€"1947: Louisiana Intercollegiate Conference
• 1948â€"1970: Gulf States Conference
• 1971â€"1986: Southland Conference
• 1987â€"1988: Division I-AA Independent
• 1989â€"1992: Division I-A Independent
• 1993â€"1995: Big West Conference
• 1996â€"2000: Division I-A Independent
• 2001â€"2012: Western Athletic Conference
• 2013â€"present: Conference USA

Championships

National championships

Louisiana Tech claims three football national titles. From 1964 to 1972, four regional bowl games were played that led up to a wire service poll to determine the final champion of Division II's predecessor, the NCAA College Division. In 1972, Louisiana Tech beat Tennessee Tech 35-0 in the Grantland Rice Bowl to win the Mideast Regional Championship. The Bulldogs finished the 1972 season undefeated at 12-0 and were subsequently named 1972 College Division National Champions by the National Football Foundation. Despite not playing in a regional championship, Delaware was named 1972 NCAA College Division National Champions by the Associated Press and United Press International. A playoff series was started in 1973 to determine the Division II champion. In the inaugural Division II football playoffs, Louisiana Tech beat Western Illinois in the quarterfinals and Boise State in the Pioneer Bowl semifinals. Tech advanced to the championship game to beat Western Kentucky 34-0 and f inished the season with a 12-1 record as 1973 NCAA Division II National Champions. In 1974, the UPI did not recognize the winner of the playoffs, Central Michigan, as national champions. Instead, the UPI presented the 1974 Division II national title to Louisiana Tech, who finished with an 11-1 record.

Regional championships

Louisiana Tech won three regional football championships. From 1964 to 1972, four regional bowl games were played that led up to a wire service poll to determine the final champion of Division II's predecessor, the NCAA College Division. In 1968, Louisiana Tech beat Akron 33-13 in the Grantland Rice Bowl to become Mideast Regional Champions. In 1971, Louisiana Tech defeated Eastern Michigan 14-3 in the Pioneer Bowl to become Midwest Regional Champions. In 1972, Louisiana Tech beat Tennessee Tech 35-0 in the Grantland Rice Bowl to win the Mideast Regional Championship.

Conference championships

Louisiana Tech has won 25 conference championships despite competing in 24 seasons as an independent. The Bulldogs have won 2 Louisiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships, 3 Louisiana Intercollegiate championships, 10 Gulf States championships, 8 Southland championships, and 2 WAC championships. It is of note that Tech finished with a 9â€"2 record in 1997, the best record of the 9 Division I-A Independents. In 1999 Tech finished with an 8â€"3 record, the only one of the 7 Division I-A Independents with a winning record.

Division championships

In 2013, Louisiana Tech first joined a conference with football divisions, Conference USA, and since then the Bulldogs have won C-USA West twice.

Postseason history

Louisiana Tech has produced an all-time postseason record of 15 wins, 7 losses, and 1 tie in 23 total appearances.

Division II postseason history

Louisiana Tech has played in 9 Division II postseason games and accumulated a record of 7 wins and 2 losses.

Division I-AA playoff history

Louisiana Tech has played in 6 Division I-AA playoff games and accumulated a record of 4 wins and 2 losses.

Division I FBS bowl history

Louisiana Tech has played in 9 Division I FBS bowl games and accumulated a record of 5 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie.

All-time record vs. C-USA teams

Official record (including any NCAA imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current C-USA opponents:

Rivalries

Active rivalries

Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss first played in 1935 and played each season from 1946 until 1972. Tech and USM were conference foes in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association from 1935 to 1941. In addition, Tech and USM were both founding members of the Gulf States Conference which began play in 1948. The Bulldogs and Golden Eagles have played 11 times between 1975 and 1992. In 2008, Louisiana Tech AD-HC Derek Dooley and USM AD Richard Giannini signed a four-game contract to renew the rivalry with the first game being played in Ruston on September 25, 2010. On a rainy Saturday night on September 3, 2011, the Golden Eagles took on the Bulldogs for both teams' season opener on national television. The close matchup ended in Southern Miss' favor, 19-17, due to a late field goal by Southern Miss' Danny Hrapmann. With Tech joining Conference USA, the Dawgs and Eagles continued the series as conference rivals in 2013, with Tech beating Southern Miss 36â€"13 on November 9.

Inactive rivalries

Fresno State Bulldogs

From 2001 to 2011, the teams played annually as members of the Western Athletic Conference, and Fresno State holds a 7â€"4 series lead in games played as WAC foes. The rivalry is nicknamed the Battle for the Bone, a term coined because both universities are nicknamed the Bulldogs. Prior to the conference rivalry, the two Bulldog football teams played twice in Fresno with Fresno State defeating Louisiana Tech in 1986 and 1992. Fresno State moved to the Mountain West Conference in 2012 and Louisiana Tech moved to Conference USA in 2013, bringing an end to the rivalry.

Notable games include:

• In 2004, No. 17 Fresno State entered the game undefeated as the first ever ranked opponent to enter Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston. Prior to the opening kickoff, a sideline clearing altercation occurred on the field with the coaches and security having to separate the two teams. Led by Ryan Moats who rushed for 236 yards and 4 touchdowns, Louisiana Tech went on to notch their first ever victory over Fresno State 28â€"21. At the conclusion of the game, the Tech fans rushed the field and brought down the goalposts.
• In 2005, Louisiana Tech jumped out to a 26-3 halftime lead to shock No. 23 Fresno State at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno. Tech went on to win 40-28 and denied Fresno State their first WAC Championship since 1999.

Northwestern State Demons

Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State first played in 1907 and competed annually from 1926 to 1987. The Dawgs and Demons played in the annual Louisiana State Fair Game in Shreveport's Independence Stadium (formerly State Fair Stadium) from 1946 to 1987. Before each game, an all-day pregame party called "Rally in the Alley" took place in Shreve Square near the Texas Street Bridge. After each game, fans enjoyed the rides and games at the State Fair of Louisiana. In the last 18 meetings of the series, Louisiana Tech has amassed a record of 16â€"1â€"1 against Northwestern State. In 1988, the longstanding rivalry came to an end when Louisiana Tech transitioned into Division I-A leaving Northwestern State behind in Division I-AA. After a 20-year hiatus, Louisiana Tech hosted the Northwestern State Demons at Joe Aillet Stadium on September 20, 2014.

Louisianaâ€"Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns

Louisiana Tech and ULL first played in 1910 and competed annually from 1924 until 2000 (excluding 1943 and 1987) with two games each in 1944 and 1945. The two teams were conference foes from 1914 until 1981 across numerous conferences. The two teams moved through the Louisiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Louisiana Intercollegiate Conference, Gulf States Conference, and Southland Conference, always somehow staying together. Their longtime conference affiliation ended in 1982 when the Cajuns became a Division I-A independent, leaving La Tech behind in Division I-AA. However, they continued to play and Tech would later join the Cajuns, becoming a Division I-A independent themselves in 1989. They would then spend the 90's as independents with the exception of the 93-95 seasons, when both competed in the Big West Conference for football only. The longstanding rivalry came to an end in 2001 when the Cajuns joined the Sun Belt Conf erence and Tech joined the Western Athletic Conference. Since, they have played four times, playing home and home series' in 2003-04 and 2014-15. Louisiana Tech leads the all time series 48-33-6.

Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks

Louisiana Tech and the ULM Warhawks (formerly the Northeast Louisiana Indians) first played in 1953 and competed annually until 1991, and then from 1997â€"2000. The two teams were conference foes in the Gulf States Conference from 1953 until 1970, when Tech joined the Southland Conference and ULM became an independent. ULM would later join the Southland in 1982, making the annual match-up once again a conference game until Louisiana Tech left the Southland in 1987. The two teams' close proximity (37 miles) made the rivalry stick quickly, with the two teams often playing each other in the last week of the regular season (often known as rivalry week). In fact, 37 of their 42 games took place in the month of November. The current game attendance record for Joe Aillet Stadium (28,714) was set in 1997 against the then-Indians. In 2001, Louisiana Tech joined the Western Athletic Conference and ULM joined the Sun Belt Conference. The two teams have not played since.

Home stadiums

Joe Aillet Stadium (1968â€"present)

Louisiana Tech plays home games at Joe Aillet Stadium, which has garnered the nickname The Joe. The stadium is located on the campus of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. Led by quarterback Terry Bradshaw, the Bulldogs christened Louisiana Tech Stadium with a 35â€"7 victory over East Carolina on September 28, 1968. The stadium was given its current namesake in 1972 to honor Hall of Fame coach Joe Aillet. The stadium opened with a capacity of 23,000, and additional seating was added to increase capacity to 30,600 in 1989. The stadium was upgraded in 1985 with the addition of the luxury sky box. In 1997 the stadium's attendance record of 28,714 was set against Northeast Louisiana. A new lighting system was installed in 2006. After playing the first 38 seasons in Aillet Stadium on natural grass, FieldTurf was installed in 2006. The FieldTurf was subsequently replaced in 2008 and again in 2015. In 2009 Louisiana Tech installed the largest high definition vid eo board in the WAC covering 1,485 digital square feet behind the north end zone of the stadium at a cost of $2 million. In 2014 capacity was reduced to 27,717 while the area behind the south end zone of Joe Aillet Stadium was under construction. The $22 million 70,000 square foot Davison Athletics Complex was completed the following year increasing capacity to 28,019 for the 2015 season.

Independence Stadium (alternate, 1928â€"present)

Louisiana Tech occasionally hosts games at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Bulldogs have played 71 games in Independence Stadium including 4 trips to the Independence Bowl and have produced an all-time record of 45â€"23â€"3 at Independence Stadium. Tech has hosted many teams in Independence Stadium during the regular season including Southern Miss, North Texas, Tulsa, Houston, Baylor, California, Texas A&M, SMU, Oklahoma State, Miami, UTEP, and Grambling State. Louisiana Tech's regular season home attendance record of 43,279 was set in 2003 against the Miami Hurricanes in a nationally televised game on ESPN. The 1990 Independence Bowl featuring Tech and Maryland drew 48,325 fans, the record attendance for a Louisiana Tech game in Independence Stadium. The stadium's capacity is 50,459. During the 2012 season, No. 23 Louisiana Tech hosted No. 22 Texas A&M in Independence Stadium on ESPNU in an epic battle in which the Aggies led by Johnny Manziel prevailed , 59-57. This game was ranked by ESPN as the No. 8 game of the 2012 season.

Traditions

Band of Pride

The Band of Pride is the official marching band of Louisiana Tech University. Since its inception in 1906, the band has grown to approximately 200 members. The Band of Pride performs at all home football games, select road games, pep rallies, and various university events throughout the year.

Spirit of '88

At the south end of Joe Aillet Stadium stands a bronze Bulldog statue named the Spirit of '88. The statue commemorates the 1988 Bulldog football team which blazed the path into Division I-A football for Louisiana Tech. The 1988 team had to endure one of the most difficult schedules in school history while playing with only 65 scholarships â€" the allotted amount for Division I-AA teams. In what was the nation's 11th toughest schedule that year, the Bulldogs faced five I-A bowl teams including Houston, Florida State and Texas A&M. The results were as expected: losses like 60-0, 56-17 and 66-3. Those experiences likely played a key role in Tech finishing 4-6 the following year, its first in Division I-A, and then 8-3-1 in 1990 and an Independence Bowl berth. The statue, which every Bulldog player touches before jogging onto the field for every home game, has also brought good fortune to the Bulldogs at Joe Aillet Stadium. On October 14, 1989, when it was unveiled, Tech proceeded to pummel a highly respected Northern Illinois team by the score of 42-21. The Bulldogs eventually reeled off 18 consecutive home victories, tying the all-time stadium record set by head coach Maxie Lambright's great teams of the early 1970s.

Fire Bell

In 1879, the Fire Bell was cast by L.M. Rumsey & Co. in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1897, the Ruston Fire Department was called to fires by ringing the Fire Bell that hung in a wooden tower behind Perkins Drug Store located at 116 N. Trenton Street. The Fire Bell was used for many years in Ruston to alert the town of burning fires. After Joe Aillet Stadium was built in 1968, the old Fire Bell was transported to the stadium and placed behind the end zone. The Fire Bell is rung before every football game to commemorate the bravery of the bulldog that perished saving the lives of the two Tech students in the burning house in 1899, and the Fire Bell calls the Bulldogs to battle before every home football game.

Tech

Tech is the name of the fawn and white lineage of English bulldogs which have served as Louisiana Tech's live mascot since 1930. In 1930, a rescued bullpup named Tech I was donated to serve as Louisiana Tech's first live mascot by the family of two football players, Henry and Thomas Matthews. Tech is owned by the Louisiana Tech Student Government Association and resides with either a faculty member or local alumnus selected by the SGA. The current live mascot is Tech XXI.

Players

Heisman Trophy voting history

NFL champions

Fifteen former Bulldogs have won 22 NFL championship rings.

• Ryan Allen (Super Bowl XLIX), New England Patriots
• Larry Anderson (Super Bowl XIII, XIV), Pittsburgh Steelers
• Chris Boniol (Super Bowl XXX), Dallas Cowboys
• Cloyce Box (1952 NFL Championship Game, 1953 NFL Championship Game), Detroit Lions
• Terry Bradshaw (Super Bowl IX, X, XIII, XIV), Pittsburgh Steelers
• Fred Dean (Super Bowl XVI, XIX), San Francisco 49ers
• Doug Evans (Super Bowl XXXI), Green Bay Packers
• David Lee (Super Bowl V), Baltimore Colts
• Caleb Martin (1947 NFL Championship Game), Chicago Cardinals
• Johnny Robinson (Super Bowl XVIII), Oakland Raiders
• Leo Sanford (1958 NFL Championship Game), Chicago Cardinals
• D'Anthony Smith (Super Bowl XLVIII), Seattle Seahawks
• Matt Stover (Super Bowl XXV, XXXV), New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens
• Grant Williams (Super Bowl XXXVI), New England Patriots
• Tramon Williams (Super Bowl XLV), Green Bay Packers

NFL Draft

Louisiana Tech has had 70 players drafted into the National Football League (NFL) since the league began holding drafts in 1936. Five Bulldogs have been selected in the first round including Terry Bradshaw, Roger Carr, Willie Roaf, Troy Edwards, and Vernon Butler. Bradshaw was the overall number one pick in 1970. Tech had three players selected in the most recent NFL Draft, DT Vernon Bulter, RB Kenneth Dixon, and QB Jeff Driskel.

Current NFL players

Sixteen Bulldogs are on current NFL rosters.

• Ryan Allen (P), New England Patriots
• Adairius Barnes (CB), Detroit Lions
• Houston Bates (LB), Washington Redskins
• Kentrell Brice (S), Green Bay Packers
• Vernon Butler (DT), Carolina Panthers
• Kenneth Dixon (RB), Baltimore Ravens
• Vontarrius Dora (LB), Denver Broncos
• Jeff Driskel (QB), Cincinnati Bengals
• Justin Ellis (DT), Oakland Raiders
• IK Enemkpali (LB), Buffalo Bills
• Luke McCown (QB), New Orleans Saints
• Jordan Mills (T), Buffalo Bills
• Quinton Patton (WR), San Francisco 49ers
• Paul Turner (WR), Philadelphia Eagles
• Myles White (WR), Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Tramon Williams (CB), Cleveland Browns

Former players

Head coaches

On December 5, 2012, Louisiana Tech head football coach Sonny Dykes was hired to replace Jeff Tedford as the next California Golden Bears head football coach. On December 14, 2012, Louisiana Tech hired former South Florida Bulls head coach Skip Holtz to succeed Dykes as the 33rd head football coach in Louisiana Tech history.

College Football Hall of Fame

• Joe Aillet (Coach), inducted in 1989
• William Henry Dietz (Coach), inducted in 2012

Notes

Future schedules

Announced schedules as of October 13, 2016

Sources: