| Game Name: | Grantland Rice Bowl |
| Subheader: | NCAA Mideast College Championship |
| Date Game Played: | December 9 |
| Year Game Played: | 1972 |
| Football Season: | 1972 |
| Football Division: | NCAA College Division |
| Stadium: | BREC Memorial Stadium |
| City: | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Attendance: | 10,300[1] |
| Visitor School: | Louisiana Tech University |
| Visitor Name Short: | Louisiana Tech |
| Visitor Nickname: | Bulldogs |
| Visitor Conference: | Southland Conference |
| Visitor Coach: | Maxie Lambright |
| Visitor Record: | 11–0 |
| Visitor 1Q: | 7 |
| Visitor 2Q: | 21 |
| Visitor 3Q: | 7 |
| Visitor 4Q: | 0 |
| Home School: | Tennessee Technological University |
| Home Name Short: | Tennessee Tech |
| Home Nickname: | Golden Eagles |
| Home Conference: | Ohio Valley Conference |
| Home Coach: | Don Wade |
| Home Record: | 10–1 |
| Home 1Q: | 0 |
| Home 2Q: | 0 |
| Home 3Q: | 0 |
| Home 4Q: | 0 |
| Mvp: | QB Denny Duron, La. Tech (Offensive) LB Joe McNeely, La. Tech (Defensive) |
The 1972 Grantland Rice Bowl was an NCAA College Division game following the 1972 season, between the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles.[2] Louisiana Tech quarterback Denny Duron was named outstanding offensive player, while his teammate linebacker Joe McNeely was named outstanding defensive player.
Louisiana Tech wide receiver Roger Carr was selected in the 1974 NFL draft, while defensive end Fred Dean and running back Roland Harper were selected in the 1975 NFL draft, and tight end Mike Barber was selected in the 1976 NFL draft. Carr, Dean, Harper, Barber, and Joe McNeely are inductees of their university's athletic hall of fame, as is head coach Maxie Lambright.[3] Dean is an inductee of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Tennessee Tech linebackers Jim Youngblood and Mike Hennigan were selected in the 1973 NFL draft. Youngblood, Hennigan, defensive back John Fitzpatrick, and guard Howard Cochran are inductees of their university's sports hall of fame, as is head coach Don Wade.[4] Youngblood is an inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame.
| Statistics | La. Tech | TTU |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 16 | 4 |
| Total offense, yards | 375 | 94 |
| Rushes-yards (net) | 36–100 | 51–65 |
| Passing yards (net) | 275 | 29 |
| Passes, Comp-Att-Int | 15–32–4 | 2–9–2 |
| Time of Possession | ||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| La. Tech | Passing | Denny Duron | 11/20, 227 yds, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Glen Berteau | 10 car, 58 yds, 2 TD | |
| Receiving | 6 rec, 141 yds, 1 TD | ||
| TTU | Passing | Mike Ledford | |
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |