Fran Curci
Encyclopedia
Fran Curci is a former American football
player and coach. He was an All-American quarterback
at the University of Miami
in 1959. He served as head coach at the University of Tampa
from 1968 to 1970, the University of Miami from 1971 to 1972 and the University of Kentucky
from 1973 to 1981.
Curci lead the University of Tampa Spartans to a 25–6 record in three seasons (1968–1970). After his team defeated the Miami Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl
in 1970, and Tampa finished that season 10–1, he was hired by the University of Miami.
Curci's record at Miami was 9–13. He was head coach at Miami during the infamous Florida Flop in 1971, when the University of Florida
's defensive players allowed Miami to score a touchdown late in the fourth quarter by dropping to the ground mid-play so that University of Florida quarterback John Reaves
could get the ball back and set an NCAA career passing record. Florida won the game 45–16. Curci refused to shake hands with Florida coach Doug Dickey
after the game, and was quoted as saying, "I lost all respect for [Dickey] as a coach and as a man. What he did shows no class... I think he made a fool of himself."
During his tenure at the University of Kentucky, Curci compiled a record of 47–51–2. He led the team to their second Southeastern Conference
championship in 1976. The 1976 Kentucky Wildcats finished 9–3, 5–1 in conference play, and defeated North Carolina in the Peach Bowl 21–0, finishing ranked #18 in the final Associated Press poll
. The 1977 Wildcats finished 10–1, including a win at #4 Penn State
and an undefeated record in conference play. The 1977 squad did not go to a bowl game and were ineligible for the conference championship due to NCAA sanctions incurred the previous year, but finished the season ranked #6 in the final Associated Press poll.
Curci's tenure as Kentucky's coach ended after 9 seasons, longest of any Kentucky coach. In his final game as Kentucky's coach, Curci led the Wildcats to a 21–10 victory over Tennessee
on November 21, 1981.
Curci later coached in arena football with the Tampa Bay Storm
in 1991 and did radio broadcasts for college football games.
After leaving coaching, Curci served as Parks Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Kentucky
. Curci now lives in Tampa and volunteers at the VA hospital.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He was an All-American quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
at the University of Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
in 1959. He served as head coach at the University of Tampa
University of Tampa
The University of Tampa , is a private, co-educational university in Downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2006, the University celebrated its 75th anniversary...
from 1968 to 1970, the University of Miami from 1971 to 1972 and the University of Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
from 1973 to 1981.
Curci lead the University of Tampa Spartans to a 25–6 record in three seasons (1968–1970). After his team defeated the Miami Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
in 1970, and Tampa finished that season 10–1, he was hired by the University of Miami.
Curci's record at Miami was 9–13. He was head coach at Miami during the infamous Florida Flop in 1971, when the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
's defensive players allowed Miami to score a touchdown late in the fourth quarter by dropping to the ground mid-play so that University of Florida quarterback John Reaves
John Reaves
Thomas Johnson "John" Reaves is a former American college and professional football player who was a quarterback for eleven seasons in the National Football League and three seasons in the United States Football League...
could get the ball back and set an NCAA career passing record. Florida won the game 45–16. Curci refused to shake hands with Florida coach Doug Dickey
Doug Dickey
Douglas Adair "Doug" Dickey is a former American college football player and coach and college athletics administrator. Dickey is a South Dakota native who was raised in Florida and graduated from the University of Florida, where he played college football...
after the game, and was quoted as saying, "I lost all respect for [Dickey] as a coach and as a man. What he did shows no class... I think he made a fool of himself."
During his tenure at the University of Kentucky, Curci compiled a record of 47–51–2. He led the team to their second Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
championship in 1976. The 1976 Kentucky Wildcats finished 9–3, 5–1 in conference play, and defeated North Carolina in the Peach Bowl 21–0, finishing ranked #18 in the final Associated Press poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
. The 1977 Wildcats finished 10–1, including a win at #4 Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
and an undefeated record in conference play. The 1977 squad did not go to a bowl game and were ineligible for the conference championship due to NCAA sanctions incurred the previous year, but finished the season ranked #6 in the final Associated Press poll.
Curci's tenure as Kentucky's coach ended after 9 seasons, longest of any Kentucky coach. In his final game as Kentucky's coach, Curci led the Wildcats to a 21–10 victory over Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
on November 21, 1981.
Curci later coached in arena football with the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
in 1991 and did radio broadcasts for college football games.
After leaving coaching, Curci served as Parks Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Curci now lives in Tampa and volunteers at the VA hospital.