2002 Grand Valley State Lakers football team

The 2002 Grand Valley State Lakers football team was an American football team that won the 2002 NCAA Division II national championship.

2002 Grand Valley State Lakers football
NCAA Division II champion
GLIAC champion
ConferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record14–0 (9–0 GLIAC)
Head coach
  • Brian Kelly (12th season)
Home stadiumLubbers Stadium
Seasons
← 2001
2003 →
2002 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 1 Grand Valley State $^   9 0     14 0  
No. 15 Saginaw Valley State ^   8 2     9 3  
No. 19 Findlay   8 2     9 2  
Northwood   7 3     7 4  
Northern Michigan   6 4     6 5  
Ferris State   4 5     5 5  
Indianapolis   4 6     5 6  
Hillsdale   4 6     4 7  
Michigan Tech   3 7     3 7  
Wayne State (MI)   3 7     3 8  
Ashland   2 8     2 9  
Mercyhurst   1 9     2 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll

The team represented the Grand Valley State University in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2002 NCAA Division II football season. In their 12th season under head coach Brian Kelly, the Lakers compiled a 14–0 record (9–0 against conference opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 654 to 231, and won the GLIAC championship.[1] The team advanced to the playoffs and won the national championship by defeating Valdosta State in the championship game.[2]

The team played its home games at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale Charter Township, Michigan.

Schedule edit

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 7 No. 6 UC Davis*No. 1W 24–1712,361[3]
September 21at Wayne State (MI)No. 1
W 49–142,445
September 28HillsdaleNo. 1
  • Lubbers Stadium
  • Allendale, MI
W 44–1910,031
October 5at Michigan TechNo. 1W 56–142,056
October 12Northern MichiganNo. 1
  • Lubbers Stadium
  • Allendale, MI
W 51–149,560
October 19at No. 3 Saginaw Valley StateNo. 1W 23–1811,234
October 26NorthwoodNo. 1
  • Lubbers Stadium
  • Allendale, MI
W 33–146,544
November 2at MercyhurstNo. 1
W 62–24300
November 9IndianapolisNo. 1
  • Lubbers Stadium
  • Allendale, MI
W 50–136,064
November 16 No. 19 FindlayNo. 1
  • Lubbers Stadium
  • Allendale, MI
W 63–196,278[4]
November 23 No. 10 C.W. Post*No. 1
W 62–134,233[5]
November 30 No. 6 IUP*No. 1
  • Lubbers Stadium
  • Allendale, MI (NCAA Division II quarterfinal)
W 62–213,705[6]
December 7 No. 7 Northern Colorado*No. 1
  • Lubbers Stadium
  • Allendale, MI (NCAA Division II semifinal)
W 44–75,215[7]
December 14vs. No. 2 Valdosta State*No. 1W 31–249,783[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "Grand Valley State Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on April 1, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Bob Johnson (December 15, 2002). "Grand Valley No. 1 in Div. II". Battle Creek Enquirer. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Don VanderVeen (September 8, 2002). "No. 1 Grand Valley prevails". Detroit Free Press. p. 12D – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Grand Valley routs Findlay". Lansing State Journal. November 17, 2002. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Anes throws six TD passes as Grand Valley wins easily". Lansing State Journal. November 24, 2002. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Grand Valley cruises, 62-21". Lansing State Journal. December 1, 2002. p. 7C – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Grand Valley State bombs N. Colorado". The Herald-Palladium. December 8, 2002. p. 6D – via Newspapers.com.