Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football
| Northern Arizona Lumberjacks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| First season | 1915 | ||
| Head coach |
Jerome Souers 21st season, 122–111 (.524) | ||
| Stadium |
Walkup Skydome (Capacity: 16,200) | ||
| Location | Flagstaff, Arizona | ||
| NCAA division | Division I FCS | ||
| Conference | Big Sky Conference | ||
| All-time record | 447–444–23 (.502) | ||
| Conference titles | 2 (1978, 2003) | ||
| Colors |
Blue and Gold[1] | ||
| Website | nauathletics.com | ||
- For information on all Northern Arizona University sports, see Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the Northern Arizona University located in the U.S. state of Arizona. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Big Sky Conference. The school's first football team was fielded in 1915. The team plays its home games at the 17,500 seat Walkup Skydome. They are coached by Jerome Souers.
History
The Lumberjacks have maintained numerous rivalries with their western counterparts. Competition has not only been limited to the west. The Lumberjacks have also taken on eastern programs such as the Ole Miss Rebels, Florida Atlantic Owls, and the Appalachian State Mountaineers.
Classifications
- 1937–1952: NCAA College Division
- 1953–1968: NAIA
- 1969–1972: NCAA College Division
- 1973–1977: NCAA Division II
- 1978–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS
Conference memberships
- 1915–1930: Independent
- 1931–1952: Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association
- 1953–1954: New Mexico Intercollegiate Conference
- 1955–1962: Frontier Conference
- 1963–1969: Independent
- 1970–present: Big Sky Conference
Current coaching staff
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Jerome Souers | Head Coach |
| Aaron Pflugrad | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach |
| Andy Thompson | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach |
| Travis Baker | Defensive Line Coach |
| Jalil Brown | Defensive Backs Coach |
| Robin Pflugrad | Wide Receivers Coach |
| Craig Knoth | Director of Recruiting/ Player Development |
| Cody VonAppen | Safeties Coach |
| Tim Davis | Offensive Line Coach |
| Jimmy Beal | Running Backs/ Tight Ends Coach |
Rivalries
HintonBurdick Grand Canyon Cup
Conference Rivalries
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Stadium | Last Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Polytechnic State University | Mustangs | San Luis Obispo, California | Alex G. Spanos Stadium | 2017 |
| University of California, Davis | Aggies | Davis, California | Aggie Stadium | 2017 |
| Eastern Washington University | Eagles | Cheney, Washington | Roos Field | 2016 |
| University of Idaho | Vandals | Moscow, Idaho | Kibbie Dome | 1995 |
| Idaho State University | Bengals | Pocatello, Idaho | Holt Arena | 2016 |
| University of Montana | Grizzlies | Missoula, Montana | Washington–Grizzly Stadium | 2017 |
| Montana State University | Bobcats | Bozeman, Montana | Bobcat Stadium | 2017 |
| University of North Dakota | Fighting Hawks | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Alerus Center | 2016 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Bears | Greeley, Colorado | Nottingham Field | 2017 |
| Portland State University | Vikings | Portland, Oregon | Providence Park | 2017 |
| California State University, Sacramento | Hornets | Sacramento, California | Hornet Stadium | 2017 |
| Southern Utah University | Thunderbirds | Cedar City, Utah | Eccles Coliseum | 2017 |
| Weber State University | Wildcats | Ogden, Utah | Stewart Stadium | 2016 |
The University of Idaho will rejoin the Big Sky Conference as a football member in 2018 when they fully transition from the FBS to FCS.
Former Rivalries
| Institution | Nickname | Current Conference | Last Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise State University | Broncos | Mountain West | 1995 |
| University of Nevada, Reno | Wolfpack | Mountain West | 1991 |
| California State University, Northridge | Matadors | Big West | 2001 |
California State University, Northridge dropped its football program after the 2001 season and moved to the Big West Conference.
Championships
Big Sky Championships
| Year | Record |
|---|---|
| 1978 | 6–0 |
| 2003 | 5–2 |
Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs results
The Lumberjacks have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs six times with an overall record of 1–6.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | First Round | Furman | L 32–41 |
| 1999 | First Round | Georgia Southern | L 29–72 |
| 2001 | First Round | Sam Houston State | L 31–34 |
| 2003 | First Round Quarterfinals | McNeese State Florida Atlantic | W 35–3 L 25–48 |
| 2013 | First Round | South Dakota State | L 7–26 |
| 2017 | First Round | San Diego | L 10–41 |
Notable former players
Notable alumni include:
- John Bonds
- Shawn Collins
- Michael Haynes
- Michael Mendoza
- Rex Mirich First Lumberjack football player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
- Keith O'Neil
- Khalil Paden
- Leslie "Herb" Duncan (wide receiver): Played six years professional football in the Arena Football League (AFL).[2]
- Willard Reaves: Played pro football in the Canadian Football League and the National Football League. In the CFL he played for the Winnipeg BlueBombers, where his team won the 1984 Grey Cup and, in the same season, Reaves won the Most Outstanding Player Award. He also played for the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins in the NFL.
- Tom Jurich: The current athletic director at the University of Louisville
- Archie Amerson
- Pete Mandley
- Allan Clark
References
- ↑ "Northern Arizona University Visual Identity Guide" (PDF). Retrieved June 3, 2017.
- ↑ "Leslie Duncan - ArenaFan.com". www.arenafan.com. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
