Central Arkansas Bears football

The Central Arkansas Bears football program is the intercollegiate American football team for University of Central Arkansas located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Southland Conference. Central Arkansas's first football team was fielded in 1908. The team plays its home games at the 10,000-seat Estes Stadium in Conway, Arkansas. The Bears are coached by Nathan Brown, in his second year.

Central Arkansas Bears
2020 Central Arkansas Bears football team
First season1908
Athletic directorBrad Teague
Head coachNathan Brown
2nd season, 15–8 (.652)
StadiumEstes Stadium
(Capacity: 10,000)
Field surfaceFieldTurf
LocationConway, Arkansas
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceSouthland Conference
All-time record540–365–42 (.592)
Playoff appearances2001, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019
Claimed nat'l titles3 (NAIA)
Conference titles21
RivalriesMcNeese State (rivalry)
ColorsPurple and Gray[1]
         
WebsiteUCASports.com
For information on all University of Central Arkansas sports, see Central Arkansas Bears and Sugar Bears

History

The Central Arkansas Bears were formed in 1901 by William Hawkins. Although they finished 1-4-3 in their first season, and have an unusual record of 23-54-22 in its first 20 years of existence, the Bears would play for 7 championships in that span.

UCA would enjoy its greatest success over a 14-year period from 1979 to 1992, when the Bears won or shared 13 of the f14 conference championships, as members of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC). The AIC included in-state schools such as Arkansas Tech, Harding University, Henderson State University, Ouachita Baptist, Southern Arkansas University, University of Arkansas at Monticello, and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. During that time frame, UCA won or shared twelve consecutive AIC titles from 1981 - 1992, as well as three NAIA national championships, in 1984, 1985, and 1991. The Bears were a constant presence in the NAIA Top 20, and made the playoffs 12 out of 14 seasons.

In 1993, the Bears left the AIC and the NAIA, and moved up in competition to the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference. Central Arkansas would stay in the West Division of the GSC through the 2006 season, winning the GSC title in 2005. UCA moved up yet again in 2007, joining the Southland Conference, a member of the NCAA Division I-AA, where they currently compete. The Bears have since won three Southland championships in 2008, 2012, and 2017. Central Arkansas also made the playoffs in 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2017 winning their first FCS playoff game in 2011 over Tennessee Tech, while also defeating Illinois State in 2016 before being defeated by Eastern Washington University.

Notable former players

Notable alumni include:

Championships

Conference championships

1939, 1959, 1960, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2017, 2019

The conference championships won between 1979 and 1992, were as members of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC), an NAIA Division I conference.

The 2005 conference championship was as a member of the Gulf South Conference, an NCAA Division II conference.

The 2008, 2012, 2017 and 2019[2] conference titles were as a member of the Southland Conference, an NCAA Division I-AA conference, or Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

National Championships

1984, 1985, 1991

All three national titles were won on the NAIA Division I level. The head coach in 1984 and 1985 was Harold Horton. The head coach in 1991 was Mike Isom.

UCA was the national runners-up in 1976, after losing to Texas A&I in the national championship game.

FCS Playoffs results

The Bears have appeared in the FCS playoffs five times with an overall record of 2–5.

Year Round Opponent Result
2011First Round
Second Round		Tennessee Tech
Montana		W 34–14
L 14–41
2012Second RoundGeorgia SouthernL 16–24
2016First Round
Second Round		Illinois State
Eastern Washington		W 31–24
L 14–31
2017Second RoundNew HampshireL 15–21
2019Second RoundIllinois StateL 14–24

Division II Playoffs results

The Bears have appeared in the Division II playoffs two times with an overall record of 2–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
2001First RoundCatawbaL 34–35
2005First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals		Albany State (GA)
Presbyterian
North Alabama		W 28–20
W 52–28
L 38–41

NAIA Playoffs results

The Bears have appeared in the NAIA playoffs 12 times with an overall record of 12–9–2. They are three time NAIA National Champions (1984, 1985, 1991), with 1984 and 1985 being Co–Champions after ending in a tie in the National Championship Game.

Year Round Opponent Result
1976Semifinals
National Championship Game		Elon
Texas A&M-Kingsville		W 10–7
L 0–26
1978QuarterfinalsWestern StateL 17–22
1980QuarterfinalsTexas A&M-CommerceL 21–27
1981QuarterfinalsCameronL 27–48
1983Quarterfinals
Semifinals		Northeastern State (OK)
Mesa State		W 18–7
L 17–34
1984Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game		Moorhead State (MN)
Central Washington
Carson-Newman		W 30–6
W 44–6
T 19–19
1985Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game		Pittsburg State
Henderson State
Hilldale		W 32–22
W 21–9
T 10–10
1987First Round
Quarterfinals		Northwestern Oklahoma State
Cameron		W 31–7
L 7–14
1988First RoundSoutheastern Oklahoma StateL 14–21
1990Quarterfinals
Semifinals		Northeastern State (OK)
Mesa State		W 26–14
L 9–10
1991Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game		Northeastern State (OK)
Moorhead State (MN)
Central State		W 30–14
W 38–18
W 19–16
1992Quarterfinals
Semifinals		Southwestern Oklahoma State
Central State		W 14–2
L 23–30

Rivalries

McNeese State
Main article: Red Beans and Rice Bowl

The two teams have met 13 times on the football field with UCA leading the series, 7–6. Due to conference scheduling requirements, the most recent game was played in 2019.

McNeese State–Central Arkansas: All-Time Record
Games played First meeting Last meeting Central Arkansas wins Central Arkansas losses Win %
13 September 17, 1994 (lost 7-21) October 12, 2019 (won 40-31) 7 6 .545

Arkansas Tech

The Bears also had a long time rivalry with Arkansas Tech University, located in Russellville, Arkansas, only 45 miles west of Conway along US Interstate 40. But that series was dis-continued after UCA left the Gulf South Conference, and moved up in competition to the Southland Conference.

References
  1. UCA Standards Guide (PDF). March 28, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  2. http://www.ucasports.com
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