The Citadel Bulldogs football

The Citadel Bulldogs
2018 The Citadel Bulldogs football team
First season 1905 (1905)
Athletic director Jim Senter
Head coach Brent Thompson
3rd season, 16–11 (.593)
Stadium Johnson Hagood Stadium
(Capacity: 21,000)
Field Sansom Field
Year built 1948
Field surface Natural Grass
Location Charleston, South Carolina
Conference Southern Conference
All-time record 503–553–32 (.477)
Bowl record 1–0 (1.000)
Playoff appearances 5
Playoff record 2–5
Conference titles 4 (1961, 1992, 2015, 2016)
Colors Citadel Blue and White[1]
         
Fight song "The Fighting Light Brigade"
Mascot Bulldog
Marching band The Regimental Band and Pipes
Website citadelsports.com

The Citadel Bulldogs football program represents The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Bulldogs play in the Southern Conference, as they have since 1936. The Bulldogs are coached by Brent Thompson, who was hired on January 19, 2016 to replace Mike Houston, who became the head football coach of James Madison University on January 18, 2016.[2][3][4]

History

Facilities

The Bulldogs first recorded stadium was College Park, located in the northeast corner of Hampton Park in Charleston, South Carolina. This field predated the current College Park at the same site, which is used as a practice facility for The Citadel Bulldogs baseball. Due to increasing attendance and the poor state of the stadium, the Bulldogs moved to the original Johnson Hagood Stadium in 1927. This stadium was replaced with the current Johnson Hagood Stadium in 1948.

Home stadium

Johnson Hagood Stadium

The Bulldogs play their home games in Johnson Hagood Stadium, which lies just to the south of The Citadel's gates in Charleston. Johnson Hagood is a 21,000 seat stadium, in which The Citadel routinely ranks in the top 25 in attendance at the FCS level. In 2001, the Altman Athletic Center opened in the south end zone, complete with new home and visitor's locker rooms, official's locker rooms, and an upstairs hospitality area for donors. In 2008, The Citadel completed a re-construction of the west stands and West Side Tower. The stands contain reserved premium seats and bleacher seats, while the tower, shared with the South Carolina National Guard, contains twelve suites, a club level, and state of the art press box. During preparation for construction, workers discovered the remains of sailors from failed test runs of the H.L. Hunley. These remains were reinterred in Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston.

Beginning in 2012, The Citadel implemented a points system for parking and seat selection in Johnson Hagood Stadium, joining many large programs who use similar systems. The program is designed to reward long-time and large donors to The Citadel athletics by giving them preference in selecting seat and parking locations.[5]

In 2016, The Citadel determined that lead paint needed remediation on the east (visitor's) side of the stadium. The work resulted in the entire east side being closed for the first game of the 2016 season and some sections being opened for subsequent games. The capacity was thus 10,500 for the first game and about 15,000 for later games.[6][7][8] The Board of Visitors decided to fully renovate the east side of the stadium, announcing that decision on December 2, 2016.[9]

Practice and on-campus facilities

Practices are held at the Maybank Triplets Practice Facility, an artificial turf field at the north edge of campus. The Bulldogs utilize Seignious Hall, located across from McAlister Field House for weightlifting, locker rooms, team meeting and video space, and academic tutoring. The Citadel Sports Medicine Department also utilizes Seignious Hall. [10]

Coaches and staff

Coaches from The Citadel have often been targeted for larger programs. Notable former head and assistant coaches at The Citadel include Bobby Ross, Charlie Taaffe, Ellis Johnson, Frank Beamer, Al Davis, Ralph Friedgen, and Mike Houston.[11]

Head Coaches

[12]

Name First Year Final Year No. Seasons
Syd Smith 1905 1905 1
Ralph Foster 1906 1908 3
Sam Costen 1909 1910 2
Louis LeTellier 1911 1912 2
George Rogers 1913 1919 4
Harvey O'Brien 1916 1921 5
Carl Prause 1922 1929 8
Johnny Floyd 1930 1931 2
Tatum Gressette 1932 1939 8
Bo Rowland 1940 1942 3
J. Quinn Decker 1946 1952 7
John D. McMillan 1953 1954 2
John Sauer 1955 1956 2
Eddie Teague 1957 1965 9
Red Parker 1966 1972 7
Bobby Ross 1973 1977 5
Art Baker 1978 1982 5
Tom Moore 1983 1986 4
Charlie Taaffe 1987 1995 9
Don Powers 1996 2000 5
Ellis Johnson 2001 2003 3
John Zernhelt 2004 2004 1
Kevin Higgins 2005 2013 9
Mike Houston 2014 2015 2
Brent Thompson 2016 2

Current Staff

The current coaching staff at the Citadel is:[13]

Name Position
Brent Thompson Head Coach
Lou Conte Quarterbacks and B Backs/Offensive Coordinator
Blake Harrell Inside Linebackers/Defensive Coordinator
Joel Taylor Safeties/Pass Defense Coordinator
Brian Rucker Wide Receivers
J. P. Gunter Special Teams Coordinator/Slot Backs
Ron Boyd Offensive Line
Orlando Mitjans Cornerbacks
Roy Tesh Defensive Line
Scott Yielding Recruiting Coordinator/Defensive Line

Seasons and results

Conference championships

The Citadel has won four conference championships, three outright and one shared.

Season Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
1961Southern ConferenceEddie Teague7–35–1
1992Southern ConferenceCharlie Taaffe11–26–1
2015†Southern ConferenceMike Houston9–46–1
2016Southern ConferenceBrent Thompson10–28–0

† denotes co–champions

Postseason appearances

Bowl games

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1960Eddie TeagueTangerine BowlTennessee TechW 27–0

FCS Playoffs

The Citadel has appeared in the FCS Playoffs five times, posting a 2–5 record.

Year Round Opponent Result
1988First RoundGeorgia SouthernL 20–38
1990First RoundGeorgia SouthernL 0–31
1992First Round
Quarterfinals		North Carolina A&T
Youngstown State		W 41–0
L 17–42
2015First Round
Second Round		Coastal Carolina
Charleston Southern		W 41–38
L 6–14
2016Second RoundWoffordL 3–17

Rivalries

The Citadel's primary rivals are the VMI Keydets football and Furman Paladins football. The game with VMI is known as the Military Classic of the South. The Citadel and Furman have been heated, annual rivals since both joined the Southern Conference in 1936. The Citadel is 151-174-9 all-time against in-state opponents.

OpponentWinsLossesTiesFirst meetingLast Citadel winLast Opponent win
VMI41302192020172003
Furman36593191320162017

Record vs. Current SoCon opponents

Excludes Furman and VMI, listed above.
East Tennessee State returns to the SoCon in 2016.
OpponentWinsLossesTiesFirst meetingLast Citadel winLast Opponent win
Chattanooga19292192620172015
East Tennessee State[lower-alpha 1]11150196620172003
Mercer[lower-alpha 2]951190620162017
Samford650198920162017
Western Carolina24171197220162017
Wofford42291191620162017
  1. ↑ East Tennessee State did not sponsor football from 2004–2014
  2. ↑ Mercer did not sponsor football from 1941–2012

Record vs instate opponents

Division 1, non-SoCon only
OpponentWinsLossesTiesFirst meetingLast Citadel winLast Opponent win
Charleston Southern55—200220122015[lower-alpha 1]
Clemson5321190919312017
Coastal Carolina11—20142015[lower-alpha 2]2014
Presbyterian51111191520171979
South Carolina8403190520152011
South Carolina State40019892001none
  1. ↑ The Bulldogs lost a 2015 matchup in the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
  2. ↑ The Bulldogs won a 2015 matchup in the first round of the FCS Playoffs.

Bulldogs in professional football

Many Citadel alumni have played in various professional leagues, including the National Football League, Canadian Football League and Arena Football League. Sixteen players have been drafted in the NFL Draft and AFL Draft, and other players have signed as undrafted free agents. Likely the most famous Citadel alumni in professional football are Running Back Stump Mitchell and broadcaster Paul Maguire. Currently, Andre Roberts is a member of the Atlanta Falcons and Cortez Allen recently played with the Pittsburgh Steelers for 5 seasons; Running Back Travis Jervey played in 2 Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers and was named an All Pro as a special teams player.[14]

Individual honors

All-Americans
This list includes selected First Team All-Americans at The Citadel[15]

YearNameAFCAAPWalter CampSports Network/STATSFootball Gazette
1976Brian Ruff
Green tick
1985Jim Gabrish
Green tick
1986Scott Thompson
Green tick
1988Carlos Avalos
Green tick
Green tick
Green tick
Green tick
1990J. J. Davis
Green tick
1991Lester Smith
Green tick
Green tick
1992Lester Smith
Green tick
Green tick
Green tick
Carey Cash
Green tick
Green tick
Green tick
Terrence Forney
Green tick
Lance Hansen
Green tick
Green tick
1994Levi Davis
Green tick
1995Brad Keeney
Green tick
1997Carlos Frank
Green tick
2008Andre Roberts
Green tick
Green tick
2012Mike Sellers
Green tick
Green tick
Green tick
2015Tyler Renew
Green tick
Dee Delaney
Green tick
2016Dee Delaney
Green tick
Green tick
Green tick
Isaiah Pinson
Green tick
Green tick
Green tick
Tyler Renew
Green tick

Retired Jerseys

14 - Jack Douglas
15 - Lester Smith
35 - Stump Mitchell
51 - Brian Ruff
59 - Marc Buoniconti
66 - John Small

Future schedules

This represents the most recent verified future non-conference games as of June 5, 2017.[16] The upcoming season schedule can be found at 2018 The Citadel Bulldogs football team. NCAA Division I FCS football teams are usually permitted to play 11 games per season. In years when 13 weekends fall between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, they may add a twelfth game. This will be the case in 2019, 2024, and 2025. With nine football playing members, the Southern Conference regular season consists of eight games, leaving 3 non-conference games to be scheduled in most years.[17]

2019202020212022202320242025
DateOpponentDateOpponentDateOpponentDateOpponentDateOpponentDateOpponentDateOpponent
Aug. 31 Towson Sept. 5 Elon Sept. 4 at Coastal Carolina Sept 22 at Campbell Sept. 9 Campbell Nov. 23 at Clemson Aug. 30 at Ole Miss
Sept. 7 at Elon Nov. 14 at Clemson TBA Charleston Southern
Sept. 14 at Georgia Tech TBA Charleston Southern
TBA Charleston Southern

References

  1. ↑ Brand Toolbox: Colors - The Citadel - Charleston, SC. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  2. ↑ Jeff Hartsell (January 9, 2014). "The Citadel introduces new football coach Mike Houston". Post and Courier. Charleston, SC. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  3. ↑ Kevin Bilodeau (January 18, 2016). "Mike Houston leaves The Citadel for James Madison". WCSC-TV. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  4. ↑ Kevin Bilodeau (January 19, 2016). "The Citadel names Brent Thompson as new head coach". WCSC-TV. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Priority Points System". The Citadel. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  6. ↑ Jeff Hartsell (August 29, 2016). "Citadel considers tearing down visitors' side at Johnson Hagood Stadium". Post and Courier. Charleston, SC. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  7. ↑ Jeff Hartsell (September 9, 2016). "Citadel football returns to (half of) Johnson Hagood Stadium". Post and Courier. Charleston, SC. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  8. ↑ Jeff Hartsell (October 11, 2016). "Citadel home at last, with nation's best 4 road wins". Post and Courier. Charleston, SC. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  9. ↑ Jeff Hartsell (October 11, 2016). "Citadel Notes: Stadium's east side to be renovated; Georgia Tech on 2019 schedule". Post and Courier. Charleston, SC.
  10. ↑ 2011 Citadel Football Media Guide. e-digitaleditions.com. p. 7. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  11. ↑ 2011 Citadel Football Media Guide. e-digitaleditions.com. pp. 10–11. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  12. ↑ 2011 Citadel Football Media Guide. e-digitaleditions.com. p. 142. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  13. ↑ Jeff Hartsell (January 17, 2014). "Citadel football welcomes back Maurice Drayton as defensive coordinator". Post and Courier. Charleston, SC. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  14. ↑ 2011 Citadel Football Media Guide. e-digitaleditions.com. p. 12. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  15. ↑ 2011 Citadel Football Media Guide. e-digitaleditions.com. p. 133. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  16. ↑ "The Citadel Inks Home-And-Homes With Towson, Elon". The Citadel Bulldogs. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  17. ↑ TK Maxwell (June 12, 2016). "Ohio Valley and Southland Conferences Propose Permanent 12-Game FCS Slate". Underdog Dynasty. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
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