1989 Mississippi College Choctaws football team

The 1989 Mississippi College Choctaws football team was an American football team that represented Mississippi College in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 1989 NCAA Division II football season. In their 18th season under head coach John M. Williams, the Choctaws compiled an 11–3 record (6–2 against conference opponents) and outscored opponents by a total of 376 to 160.[1]

1989 Mississippi College Choctaws football
NCAA Division II champion (vacated)
ConferenceGulf South Conference
Record11–3 (6–2 GSC)
Head coach
Home stadiumRobinson–Hale Stadium
Seasons
← 1988
1990 →
1989 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Jacksonville State $^ 8 0 0 13 1 0
No. T–12 Mississippi College ^ 6 2 0 11 3 0
Valdosta State 5 3 0 5 5 0
Delta State 4 3 1 6 3 1
North Alabama 4 4 0 6 5 0
Troy State 3 5 0 4 6 0
West Georgia 3 5 0 5 7 0
Livingston 1 6 1 0 3 7
Tennessee–Martin 1 7 0 0 2 9
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll

The team advanced to the NCAA Division II playoff, ultimately defeating Jacksonville State in the national championship game. It was the school's only national football championship. However, in January 1993, the NCAA vacated the national championship after concluding that the program had gained a "tremendous competitive advantage" based on multiple violations, including awarding twice as many scholarships as was allowed, providing extra benefits to student-athletes, and allowing 12 "partial qualifiers" to participate in practice sessions with the football team on a routine basis.[2]

Schedule edit

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 2at McNeese State*No. 7L 21–2815,233[3]
September 9North AlabamaNo. 7W 34–04,200
September 16at Southeast Missouri State*No. 18W 21–65,137
September 23at Tennessee–MartinNo. 13W 24–33,300
September 30 No. 3 Jacksonville StateNo. 8
  • Robinson–Hale Stadium
  • Clinton, MS
L 3–237,500[4]
October 7at Troy StateNo. 18W 45–77,000[5]
October 14LivingstonNo. 15
  • Robinson–Hale Stadium
  • Clinton, MS
W 23–106,034
October 21at West GeorgiaNo. T–15W 48–63,150
October 28Valdosta StateNo. 13
  • Robinson–Hale Stadium
  • Clinton, MS
W 32–35,345
November 11at Delta StateNo. T–12L 7–174,800
November 18at No. 1 Texas A&M–Kingsville*No. T–12W 34–19
November 25at No. T–5 St. Cloud State*No. T–12
W 55–24
December 2 No. 9 IUP*No. T–12
  • Robinson–Hale Stadium
  • Clinton, MS (NCAA Division II semifinal)
W 26–14
December 9vs. No. 2 Jacksonville StateNo. T–12
W 3–010,538[6]

[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "1989 Football Schedule". Mississippi College. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  2. ^ "NCAA strips Chocs of national title". Enterprise-Journal. January 13, 1993. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "McNeese State turns back MC's scare for 28–21 victory". The Clarion-Ledger. September 3, 1989. Retrieved March 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Jacksonville rips Mississippi College". The Clarion-Ledger. October 1, 1989. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "MC rolls as Henry, Bolton star". The Clarion-Ledger. October 8, 1989. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Chocs are champs!". The Sun Herald. December 10, 1989. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Final 1989 Division II Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 22, 2023.