South Carolina State Bulldogs football

The South Carolina State Bulldogs football team represents South Carolina State University in college football. The Bulldogs play in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). A historically dominant football program, the Bulldogs lead the MEAC in conference championships. The school has produced four players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame including Harry Carson, Deacon Jones, Marion Motley, and Donnie Shell. Other legendary Bulldog players include Robert Porcher, Shaquille Leonard, Charlie Brown and Orlando Brown Sr. among others. Legendary former SC State Coach Willie Jeffries became the first African American Head Coach of a predominantly white Division I-A football program, when he was hired to coach the Wichita State football program in 1979.[3] Jeffries is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.

South Carolina State Bulldogs football
2023 South Carolina State Bulldogs football team
First season1907
Head coachOliver Pough
21st season, 146–87 (.627)
StadiumOliver C. Dawson Stadium
(capacity: 22,000)
Field surfaceFieldturf
LocationOrangeburg, South Carolina
ConferenceMEAC
All-time record455–292–28 (.605)
Bowl record7–7 (.500)
Playoff record2–6
Claimed national titles5 (Black College): 1976, 1981, 1994, 2009, 2021
Unclaimed national titles3 (Black College): 1977, 1982, 2008
Conference titles18 (MEAC) *2021 Most Recent [1]
ColorsGarnet and blue[2]
   
Marching bandThe Marching 101
Websitescsuathletics.com

History

Classifications
  • 1956–1972: NCAA College Division
  • 1967–1969: NAIA
  • 1970–1978: NAIA Division I
  • 1973–1977: NCAA Division II
  • 1978–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference memberships

South Carolina State vs. In-State NCAA Division I schools
SchoolRecordPercentageStreakFirst MeetingLast Meeting
Charleston Southern7-01.000Won 719911999
Clemson0-5.000Lost 520082021
Coastal Carolina0-5.000Lost 520052015
Furman5-12.294Lost 119822015
Presbyterian2-01.000Won 219891990
South Carolina0-2.000Lost 220072009
The Citadel0-4.000Lost 419892001
Wofford3-6.333Won 119742019
South Carolina State 17 - In-State NCAA Division I Schools 33

Championships

National Championships

The Bulldogs have been awarded the black college football national championship five times in program history.

Year Coach Selector Record Bowl
1976 Willie Jeffries ADW, Jet, MBN, NPC 10–1 W Bicentennial Bowl
1981 Bill Davis ADW, SBN 10–3
1994 Willie Jeffries ADW, ASW, BCSP, Heritage Bowl 10–2 W Heritage Bowl
2009 Oliver Pough ADW, AURN, B-CP, B-MP, BCSP, PCWDC 10–2
2021 B-CP, Celebration Bowl, DCCC-M, HBCUS-UP 7–5 W Celebration Bowl

Conference Championships

SC State has won 18 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles:

*denotes co-champions

Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs results

The Bulldogs have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs six times with a record of 2–6.

Year Round Opponent Result
1981Quarterfinals
Semifinals		Tennessee State
Idaho State		W 26–25 OT
L 12–41
1982First Round
Quarterfinals		Furman
Louisiana Tech		W 17–0
L 3-38
2008First RoundAppalachian StateL 21–37
2009First RoundAppalachian StateL 13–20
2010First RoundGeorgia SouthernL 16–41
2013First RoundFurmanL 20–30

Bowl game results

The Bulldogs have appeared in 14 bowl games, with a record of 7–7.[4]

Year Bowl Opponent Result
1946Pecan BowlJohnson C. Smith (NC)W 13–6
1947Pecan BowlAllen (SC)W 7–0
1950Peninsula BowlAllen (SC)L 13–47
1973Orange Blossom ClassicFlorida A&ML 12–23
1974Textile BowlWofford (SC)L 0–20
1974Pelican BowlGrambling St. (LA)L 7–28
1975Pelican BowlSouthern (LA)L 12–15
1976Bicentennial BowlNorfolk St. (VA)W 26–10
1977Gold BowlWinston-Salem St. (NC)W 10–7
1979Gold BowlNorfolk St. (VA)W 39–7
1994Heritage BowlSouthern (LA)L 0–11
1994Heritage BowlGrambling St. (LA)W 31–27
1997Heritage BowlSouthern (LA)L 28–34
2021Celebration BowlJackson StateW 31–10

Professional Football Hall of Fame members (Canton, Ohio)

College Football Hall of Fame members

Note: Dennis Thomas, who served as Bulldogs head coach in the late 1980s, is also an inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame, for his time as a player at Alcorn State.[8]

Alumni in the NFL

Over 40 South Carolina State alumni have played in the NFL,[9] including:

Rivalries

SC State has maintained heated rivalries with the North Carolina A&T Aggies, Florida A&M Rattlers, and Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.

NCAA Record

On November 19, 2016, Joe Thomas Sr., father of Green Bay Packers linebacker Joe Thomas, became the oldest player to play in an NCAA Division I game. At 55 years of age, Thomas Sr. had one carry for three yards as a running back in a contest versus Savannah State.[11][12]

See also

References
  1. 2021 South Carolina State Bulldogs football team
  2. South Carolina State University Style Manual (PDF). Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  3. ""ESPN SportsCentury" Willie Jeffries (TV Episode 2002) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  4. "Welcome cfbdatawarehouse.com - BlueHost.com". www.cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
  5. "Harry Carson | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site". www.profootballhof.com.
  6. "David (Deacon) Jones | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site". www.profootballhof.com.
  7. "Donnie Shell | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site". www.profootballhof.com.
  8. "Dennis Thomas". footballfoundation.org. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  9. "South Carolina St. Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  10. D'Andrea, Christian (December 18, 2016). "Bears' Ka'Deem Carey gets helmet decal knocked off by huge hit". SBNation.com.
  11. "Joe Thomas Sr. runs S.C. State into college football history, is ready to play again". The Times and Democrat. Chris Clark T&D Sports.
  12. Wire, S. I. "55-year-old running back makes D-I football history". Sports Illustrated.
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