LOUISIANA TECH
2011 BULLDOG FOOTBALL
UNIVERSITY HISTORY
Tech also won the LCC title in 1945 (6-4) and 1947 (5-4), while capturing the GSC title in 1948 (7-2-1) and 1949 (7-2). A number of All-Americans led the Bulldogs during the 1940s, including the likes of Jimmy Harrison (1949), Garland Gregory (1941), Mike Reed (1946, 1947) and Ed Stassi (1948).
1950-1959
Record: 63-27-5 (.663) coach: Joe Aillet (1950-1959) conference Affiliation (Years)/Titles: Gulf States Conference(1950-1959)/ 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959
Amazingly, Joe Aillet’s second decade as the Bulldogs’ head coach was more successful as his teams won an incredible 70 percent of their games during the 1950s while claiming six Gulf States Conference titles. Tech registered 10 winning seasons during the 1950s, never losing more than four games in a year. Tech captured its first GSC title of the decade during 1952, when the Bulldogs went 6-1-2, including wins over Florida State and Memphis State. Aillet also led Tech to Gulf States titles in 1953 (6-3), 1955 (9-1), 1957 (6-4), 1958 (7-3) and 1959 (9-1). During the era, Tech had 33 players earn All-Gulf States Conference honors including the family foursome of Tommy (three times), Pat (twice), Bobby and Joe Hinton (twice). Nine of Aillet’s players were named All-American during the 1950s, including Charles Anderson, Gordon Brown, Joe Hinton, Pat Hinton, Tommy Hinton, Jerry Hudson, Russell Rainbolt, Leo Sanford and Jess Storts.
1960-1969
Record: 57-38 (.600) coaches: Joe Aillet (1960-1966)’ Maxie Lambright (19671969) conference Affiliation (Years)/Titles: Gulf States Conference(1960-1969)/ 1960, 1964, 1969
The 1960s saw plenty of change for Louisiana Tech late in the decade. However, early on it was the same old winning ways for Joe Aillet and his Bulldogs as Tech opened the era with yet another Gulf States Conference title and an 8-2 record. After recording marks of 5-4, 4-4 and 6-3 over the next three seasons, the Bulldogs captured another GSC title in 1964 with a 9-1 record. A 14-7 loss at the hands of Southern Mississippi kept the Bulldogs from obtaining the perfect record. Following another 4-4 season in 1965, the change began. Aillet’s 1966 squad, his last at Tech, fell to 1-9, breaking a streak of 21 consecutive years of non-losing seasons under the Tech legend. Aillet’s 26-year tenure as the Bulldogs head coach was over after 152 wins and 12 conference titles. 1966: Maxie Lambright era Begins The following season, Tech hired Maxie Lambright to take over the duties and after posting a 3-7 record in his first season, the Bulldogs resumed their winning ways in 1968 with a 9-2 record, thanks in large part to a young quarterback named Terry Bradshaw. 1968: First Game played in Joe Aillet Stadium During the 1968 season, the Bulldogs also moved into a new home, the 23,000-seat present-day facility named Tech Stadium, which was renamed Joe Aillet Stadium on Nov. 11, 1972, in memory of the Tech coach who had passed away the previous year. Lambright, Bradshaw and the Bulldogs ended the decade claiming the 1969 Gulf States Conference title with an 8-2 mark, the school’s last
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GSC championship. Forty-eight Bulldogs earned All-Gulf States Conference honors during the 1960s, while Bradshaw, Tom Causey, Jerry Griffin, Joe Hinton, John Williamson, and Mickey Slaughter all earned All-American honors. 1969: Grantland Rice Bowl Appearance Bradshaw was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft following his 1969 senior year.
1970-1979
Record: 78-33-2 (.690) coaches: Maxie Lambright (1970-1978); Larry Beightol (1979) conference Affiliation (Years)/Titles: Gulf States Conference (1970)/ None; Southland Conference (19711979)/1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978
It could easily be said that the 1970s was the premier decade in the long history of Louisiana Tech football. 1971: Pioneer Bowl Appearance After opening the era with a 2-8 mark in 1970, Lambright guided the Bulldogs to a 9-2 record and a conference title in 1971, Tech’s first season as a member of the newly formed Southland Conference. However, that was just the beginning. 1972: Grantland Rice Bowl Appearance The next three seasons are considered the greatest three-year stretch in Tech football history. Lambright led the 1972 team to a perfect 12-0 record, and the Bulldogs defeated Tennessee Tech 35-0 in the Grantland Rice Bowl to claim Co-National Champion honors along with Delaware as chosen by the National Football Foundation. 1973: Camellia Bowl Appearance The 1973 team would not be outdone, as Lambright and the Bulldogs finished the season 12-1 and defeated Western Kentucky 34-0 in the Division II National Championship game in Sacramento, Calif.