1983 LSU Tigers football team

The 1983 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University (LSU) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Jerry Stovall, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 4–7, with a mark of 0–6 in conference play, and finished tied for ninth in the SEC.

1983 LSU Tigers football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	4–7 (0–6 SEC)
Head coach	Jerry Stovall (4th season)
Offensive coordinator	George Belu (5th season)
Home stadium	Tiger Stadium

1983 Southeastern Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 3 Auburn $	6	–	0	–	0			11	–	1	–	0
No. 4 Georgia	5	–	1	–	0			10	–	1	–	1
No. 6 Florida	4	–	2	–	0			9	–	2	–	1
Tennessee	4	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 15 Alabama	4	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Ole Miss	4	–	2	–	0			6	–	6	–	0
Kentucky	2	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	1
Mississippi State	1	–	5	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
LSU	0	–	6	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Vanderbilt	0	–	6	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

Following an Orange Bowl berth and a No. 11 final ranking the previous season, LSU cratered in its fourth season under Jerry Stovall, going winless in the Southeastern Conference for the only time in program history. The Tigers ended the season with a nationally televised victory against Tulane on Thanksgiving night, but it was not enough to save Stovall's job. The former LSU All-American and 1962 Heisman Trophy runner-up was fired by a 13–5 vote of the LSU Board of Supervisors December 2. Stovall's career record was 22–21–2.

Three days after Stovall's firing, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Bill Arnsparger was named as his successor.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 10	No. 12 Florida State*	No. 13	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	ABC	L 35–40	79,665
September 17	at Rice*		Rice Stadium Houston, TX		W 24–10	34,000
September 24	No. 9 Washington*		Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	PPV	W 40–14	82,390
October 1	No. 12 Florida	No. 16	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	PPV	L 17–31	78,616
October 8	at Tennessee		Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	TBS	L 6–20	94,478
October 15	Kentucky		Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	PPV	L 13–21	77,765
October 22	South Carolina*		Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	PPV	W 20–6	71,951
October 29	at Ole Miss		Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS (rivalry)	PPV	L 24–27	49,383
November 5	No. 19 Alabama		Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	ABC	L 26–32	70,606
November 12	Mississippi State		Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	PPV	L 26–45	74,439
November 24	at Tulane*		Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Rag)	TBS	W 20–7	51,765
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Personnel

1983 LSU Tigers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class TE 83 Mitch Andrews So RB 28 Herman Fontenot Jr RB 21 Dalton Hilliard So RB 33 Garry James So WR 41 Eric Martin Jr G 75 Lance Smith Jr QB 5 Jeff Wickersham So	Defense Pos. # Name Class DE 77 Roland Barbay Fr LB 69 Toby Caston Fr CB 35 Eugene Daniel Sr S 4 Jeffery Dale Jr S 12 Norman Jefferson Fr LB 51 Albert Richardson Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 9 Juan Betanzos So P 1 Clay Parker So	Head coach Jerry Stovall Coordinators/assistant coaches George Belu – Offensive coordinator/offensive line Morris Watts – Quarterbacks Darrel Moody – Running backs Stephen Regan – Wide receivers Charlie Butler – Offensive line Pete Jenkins – Defensive line Bishop Harris – Outside linebackers Buddy Nix – Inside linebackers Bruce Johnson – Defensive backs Sam Nader – Recruiting coordinator Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster