Conference Independent Head coach Fran Curci | 1970 record 10–1 Home stadium Tampa Stadium | |
The 1970 Tampa Spartans football team represented the University of Tampa in the 1970 college football season. It was the Spartans' 34th season and competed as a College Division Independent. The team was led by head coach Fran Curci, in his third year, and played their home games at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. They finished with a record of ten wins and one loss (10–1).
The Spartans opened the season with a 45–12 victory Delta State, and in the win Leon McQuay ran for 177 yards for Tampa in the win. In their second game, Tampa shutout New Mexico Highlands 20–0 in what was the Cowboys' first loss since the 1966 season. After victories at Youngstown State and against North Texas State, the Spartans traveled to play at Miami on a Friday evening in their fifth game of the season. Against the Hurricanes, Tampa had one of the bigger upsets of the season with their 31–14 win. Former Miami quarterback Lew Pytel started for the Spartans, and the upset was considered unlikely to happen as Miami played in the University Division and the Spartans played in the lower College Division.
After their upset at Miami, Tampa was ranked as the No. 1 team in the College Division, returned home and defeated Xavier 33–10 to remain undefeated. The Spartans then won a pair of games in Louisiana against Louisiana Tech and Southwestern Louisiana before they returned home for the final three games of the season. In their 68–7 blowout victory over Idaho State, McQuay was the star as he rushed for 213 yards and had three touchdowns. Against Vanderbilt, Tampa was required to suspend five players, that included three starters on the defense, to comply with Southeastern Conference rules for transfer players as the Spartans played as an Independent. Without several of their defensive starters, Tampa lost their lone game of the season against the Commodores 28–36 before 35,893 fans. The Spartans then closed the season with a 49–7 win over Florida A&M and claimed the final No. 2 ranking. After the end of the season, on December 19, Curci was hired by Miami to serve as their new head coach.