The Wayne State Tartars football program, 1970âÂÂ1979 represented Wayne State University during the 1970s as an independent from 1970 to 1974 and as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) from 1975 to 1979. The team was led by three head coaches during the decade: Vernon Gale (1965âÂÂ1971); Dave Hoover (1972âÂÂ1973); and Dick Lowry (1974âÂÂ1979).
The team played its home games at Wayne State Stadium, sometimes referenced as WSU Stadium, in Detroit.
The 1970 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as an independent during the 1970 NCAA College Division football season. In their sixth year under head coach Vernon Gale, the Tartars compiled a 6âÂÂ2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 156 to 109.
Although classes did not begin until October 1, the team began training camp on September 3. Before the season began, the university began a review of the football program and its future. Coach Gale hinted at the time that 1970 may be his last as head football coach at Wayne.
The team's statistical leaders included Gary Rossi with 914 passing yards, Terry Fuller with 451 receiving yards, George Crayton with 206 rushing yards, Rossi set a school record with 35 pass attempts against Hillsdale on November 21. Tom Bomberski and Tom Sheppard were the team captains.
The 1971 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as an independent during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. In their seventh and final year under head coach Vernon Gale, the Tartars compiled a 4âÂÂ4 record and outscored opponents by a total of 134 to 66.
The 1972 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as an independent during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. In their first year under head coach Dave Hoover, the Tartars compiled a 2âÂÂ5âÂÂ1 record and were outscored by a total of 190 to 99.
The 1973 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as an independent during the 1973 NCAA Division II football season. In their second and final year under head coach Dave Hoover, the Tartars compiled a 5âÂÂ5 record and outscored opponents by a total of 156 to 145.
The 1974 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as an independent during the 1974 NCAA Division II football season. In their first year under head coach Dick Lowry, the Tartars compiled a 7âÂÂ3 record and were outscored by a total of 198 to 186.
The 1975 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1975 NCAA Division II football season. In their second year under head coach Dick Lowry, the Tartars compiled an 8âÂÂ3 record (3âÂÂ1 against GLIAC opponents), won the GLIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 255 to 148.
The 1976 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. In their third year under head coach Dick Lowry, the Tartars compiled an 8âÂÂ2 record (3âÂÂ2 against GLIAC opponents), finished in a tie for second place in the conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 254 to 136.
The 1977 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1977 NCAA Division II football season. In their fourth year under head coach Dick Lowry, the Tartars compiled a 7âÂÂ4 record (3âÂÂ2 against GLIAC opponents), finished in second place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 237 to 110.
The 1978 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1978 NCAA Division II football season. In their fifth year under head coach Dick Lowry, the Tartars compiled a 5âÂÂ4 record (4âÂÂ1 against GLIAC opponents), finished in second place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 172 to 152.
The 1979 Wayne State Tartars football team represented Wayne State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 1979 NCAA Division II football season. In their sixth and final year under head coach Dick Lowry, the Tartars compiled a 3âÂÂ5âÂÂ1 record (3âÂÂ1âÂÂ1 against GLIAC opponents), finished in second place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 171 to 130.
Two weeks after the season ended, Lowry was hired as the head football coach at Hillsdale College. He compiled a 38-21-1 record in six years at Wayne State.