UNO was founded as LSUNO in 1958 and didn't field any athletic teams until the mid-1960s. The students of that time desperately wanted their own collegiate identity. In 1964-65 the LSUNO students voted for a mascot and school colors: Privateers wearing Silver and Blue. Not long after, the university added athletic programs, playing under the Privateer mascot and colors.
Ironically, football was the first team sport UNO played. And by all accounts, the non-scholarship club program that played from 1965 through 1970 was a great success. The team had a modest beginning, losing 21-0 to Loyola in their only game in 1965. The Privateers played two games in 1966, finishing 1-1, beating Spring Hill for their first victory ever but losing 20-6 to Loyola once again. The Privateers recorded their first winning season in 1967, finishing 2-1, but lost to Loyola for the third year in a row.
In 1968 head coach Tom Gruber directed the Privateers to a 3-1 record, defeating cross-town rival Loyola to win the South District championship of the National Club Football Association. That same year the Privateers finished the season ranked 8th in the NCFA national poll. George Baud, a Privateer defensive lineman was named a club football All-American as well.
In 1969 the Privateers, under new coach Dale Hoffpauir, again beat Loyola and finished 3-2-1, repeating as the South District champs and attaining a No. 4 preseason national ranking in the NCFA poll. 1969 was the first season in which the Privateers played under the UNO banner rather than LSUNO, even though it would be five more years before the university officially became the University of New Orleans. Also in 1969 the Privateers moved their home field to East Jefferson Stadium from Tad Gormley where they had played their first four seasons.
The 1970 Privateers played an ambitious seven game schedule, finishing 3-4 but winning the South District for the third consecutive season because of their 2-0 district record which included a victory over Loyola. 1970 again saw a change in venue for the Privateers as they alternated home games between East Jefferson Stadium and West Jefferson Stadium, completely alienating their fan base. In six seasons of football, UNO's overall record is 12-10-1 with three district championships. The series record with arch-rival Loyola stands at 3-3. UNO owns a 2-0 advantage over Nicholls State after beating the Colonels in 1969 and 1970. The Privateers did play the Tulane JV squad in 1970 at Tulane, with the Green Wave beating UNO 56-13. UNO's Founding Chancellor Homer Hitt recalled the six years of Privateer football as a "kind of glory period for LSUNO. We competed with schools from all over, including Loyola and Nicholls."
The following photos of the Privateers in action originally accompanied stories on the games published in the Driftwood, UNO's on-campus newspaper:
Privateer receiver Francis Kercheval (16) pulls down a touchdown pass from quarterback Buddy Long in the Privateers first ever victory, 26-6 over Spring Hill in Mobile on December 4, 1966.
Privateer halfback Guy Huard (17) follows pulling guard Andy Pages (47) through a hole against Loyola in 1966 at Tad Gormley Stadium. UNO lost the game 20-6 to finish the season 1-1.
UNO All-American George Baud (75) and the swarming Privateer defense converge on a Loyola ball carrier during the 1967 UNO-Loyola game at Tad Gormley Stadium. Loyola won 13-6 to run their consecutive game winning streak over the Privateers to 3 games.
Privateer running back Bill Burks (26) takes a handoff from quarterback Buddy Long (15) in the Privateers' 45-7 victory over the Centenary Gents in Tad Gormley Stadium on October 20, 1968.
UNO's defense, led by George Baud, sacks Spring Hill quarterback Gerald Rodgers during the Privateers' 14-7 victory over the Badgers in Mobile on November 9, 1968.
Privateer quarterback Buddy Long (15) sweeps right for nine yards during UNO's 35-0 victory over cross-town rival Loyola at Tad Gormley Stadium on November 21, 1968. The victory, the first ever over the Wolfpack for the Privateers, clinched the South District championship and a No. 8 national ranking in the final NCFA poll.
The Privateer goal line defense facing the SIUE Cougars in Tad Gormley Stadium on November 8, 2008. SIUE defeated UNO 30-14. But the 3,707 fans in attendance left enthusiastic about the future of Privateer Football.
Clarence Ussin (5) scores the first UNO Privateer touchdown since 1970 on a reception from quarterback Josh Giambelluca on November 8, 2008 against the SIUE Cougars at Tad Gormley Stadium.
Privateer Football
Season Head Coach W L T Pct 1965 Robert Brown 0 1 0 .000 1966 Richard Blessing 1 1 0 .500 1967 Richard Blessing 2 1 0 .667 1968 Tom Gruber 3 1 0 .750 1969 Dale Hoffpauir 3 2 1 .583 1970 Dale Hoffpauir 3 4 0 .429 2008 Andy Benoit, Jr. 0 2 0 .000 2009 Andy Benoit, Jr. 5 3 0 .625 2010 Andy Benoit, Jr. 8 2 0 .800 2011 Sean Santos 2 5 0 .286 2012 Sean Santos 1 3 0 .250 Totals Eleven seasons 28 25 1 .528
In 1971, when club football programs faded and the NCFA folded, UNO dropped the program while Nicholls State, a club football rival of the Privateers, elevated their team to full intercollegiate status. UNO had considered expanding its football program to a fully funded level, but it was thought to be too costly at the time. The club football team had spent $22,000 in 1970. Doc Costanza stated in his 1989 Driftwood article on UNO football: "When one considers the costs and benefits of a modern college football team, it seems that it may have been a mistake for UNO to phase out its team rather than expand it." UNO went 38 years without football until 2008 when club football returned to UNO.
Back to Privateer Football Main Page
