Shepherd Rams football | |||
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| |||
First season | 1920 | ||
Athletic director | Chauncey Winbush | ||
Head coach | Ernie McCook 6th season, 50–11 (.820) | ||
Stadium | Ram Stadium (capacity: 5,000) | ||
Year built | 1959 | ||
Field surface | Artificial Turf | ||
Location | Shepherdstown, WV | ||
NCAA division | Division II | ||
Conference | PSAC | ||
Division | East | ||
Past conferences | MEC (2013–2019) MDC (1964–1968) WVIAC (1925–2012) | ||
Conference titles | 22 | ||
Division titles | 4 | ||
Colors | Blue and gold[1] | ||
Outfitter | Under Armour | ||
Website | shepherdrams.com |
The Shepherd Rams football program represents Shepherd University in the sport of American football. The team competes in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the East Division of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
Shepherd previously competed in Division I of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They also were affiliated with the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) from 1925 to 2012 and the Mountain East Conference (MEC) from 2013 to 2019.
Shepherd has 22 conference championships, five regional championships, and one divisional championship. They have made it to the national semifinals six times and competed in one national championship.
History
edit1920–1924: Early years
editIn 1920, Shepherd College formed their first football team with the hiring of school president, Alva Dayne Kenamond, as their first head coach. In Shepherd's first game, they would play Martinsburg High School and tie, 0–0. They would rematch Martinsburg later in the season, losing 32–7 and finishing the season 0–1–1.[2]
Shepherd hired Withrow Reynolds Legge, a former VPI halfback, as the head coach of the football team before the start of the 1921 season. In his first year, Shepherd finished 1–5–1. Their first official win came when they beat Martinsburg 18–6. Their first college game came on October 29 against Randolph–Macon when they lost 78–0.
In 1922, Shepherd would take a big step as a program, finishing 7–3. On October 21, Shapherd again played Randolph–Macon and won 6–0. This would be their first college win in school history.
Shepherd finished with a record of 4–4–1 in 1923. Their 110–0 loss against West Virginia's freshman team still stands as the largest blowout in school history.
1925–1941: Newcome era
editWith the hiring of John Newcome in 1925, Shepherd joined the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC), making it the first time the school joined an athletic conference.
1942–1945: World War II
edit1946–1947: The Lowe era
edit1948–1950: The Phillips era
edit1951–1952: The Moore era
edit1953–1955: The Fuoss era
edit1956–1966: The Riggleman era
edit1967–1970: The Parker era
edit1971–1985: The Barr era
edit1986: The Jacobs era
edit1987–2017: The Cater era
editIn 2004, Shepherd College changed its name to Shepherd University.
2018–present: The McCook era
editChampionships and distinctions
editRegional championships
editSeason | Coach | Region | Opponent | RF result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Monte Cater | Super Regional One | No. 2 Mercyhurst | W 49–14 |
2015 | Monte Cater | Super Regional One | No. 2 Slippery Rock | W 28–16 |
2016 | Monte Cater | Super Regional One | No. 1 California | W 41–30 |
2021 | Ernie McCook | Super Regional One | No. 1 Kutztown | W 30–28 |
2022 | Ernie McCook | Super Regional One | No. 1 IUP | W 48–13 |
Conference championships
editSeason | Coach | Conference | Overall record | Conference record |
---|---|---|---|---|
1955 | Donald E. Fuoss | WVIAC | 8–0 | 4–0 |
1972 | Walter Barr | WVIAC | 7–3 | 5–0 |
1982 | Walter Barr | WVIAC | 7–2–1 | 7–1 |
1983 | Walter Barr | WVIAC | 9–2 | 8–0 |
1986 | Mike Jacobs | WVIAC | 8–3 | 7–0 |
1988† | Monte Cater | WVIAC | 6–4 | 6–1 |
1991 | Monte Cater | WVIAC | 8–3 | 7–0 |
1992 | Monte Cater | WVIAC | 8–4 | 7–0 |
1994† | Monte Cater | WVIAC | 6–4 | 5–1 |
1997† | Monte Cater | WVIAC | 9–1 | 6–1 |
1998 | Monte Cater | WVIAC | 10–2 | 7–0 |
1999 | Monte Cater | WVIAC | 9–2 | 6–0 |
2004 | Monte Cater | WVIAC | 7–3 | 7–0 |
2005 | Monte Cater | WVIAC | 11–1 | 8–0 |
2006 | Monte Cater | WVIAC | 11–1 | 7–0 |
2007 | Monte Cater | WVIAC | 10–2 | 7–1 |
2010 | Monte Cater | WVIAC | 12–2 | 7–1 |
2012 | Monte Cater | WVIAC | 8–3 | 7–1 |
2013 | Monte Cater | MEC | 11–1 | 9–0 |
2015 | Monte Cater | MEC | 13–1 | 10–0 |
2016 | Monte Cater | MEC | 13–1 | 10–0 |
2017 | Monte Cater | MEC | 10–1 | 10–0 |
† Co-champion
Divisional championships
editSeason | Coach | Conference | Division | Opponent | CG result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1976 | Walter Barr | WVIAC | Northern | Concord | L 7–21 |
1978 | Walter Barr | WVIAC | Northern | Concord | L 14–35 |
1980 | Walter Barr | WVIAC | Northern | Concord | L 0–19 |
2022 | Ernie McCook | PSAC | East | IUP | L 21–24 |
Final ranking appearances
editNAIA Division I Poll
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NCAA Division II Poll
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All-time records
editSeason records
editHead coaches
editYears | Coach | W | L | T | Pct. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1920 | A. D. Kenamond | 0 | 1 | 1 | .250 |
1921–1924 | Withrow Legge | 16 | 15 | 2 | .515 |
1925–1941 | John Newcome | 39 | 70 | 8 | .368 |
1946–1947 | Cleftus Lowe | 1 | 11 | 1 | .115 |
1948–1950 | Don L. Phillips | 13 | 9 | 2 | .583 |
1951–1952 | William M. Moore | 8 | 8 | 1 | .500 |
1953–1955 | Donald E. Fuoss | 15 | 7 | 2 | .667 |
1956–1966 | Jesse Riggleman | 45 | 38 | 4 | .540 |
1967–1970 | Roger Parker | 16 | 21 | 0 | .432 |
1971–1985 | Walter Barr | 104 | 48 | 4 | .679 |
1986 | Mike Jacobs | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 |
1987–2017 | Monte Cater | 245 | 93 | 1 | .724 |
2018–present | Ernie McCook | 53 | 13 | 0 | .803 |
Postseason
editShepherd has qualified for the playoffs 19 times. They have made it to one National Championship, six National Semifinals, and eight Regional Finals.
Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
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NAIA Division I Playoffs | ||||
1983 | Quarterfinals | Carson–Newman | L 21–42 | |
1986 | Quarterfinals | Carson–Newman | L 10–30 | |
1991 | Quarterfinals | Central State | L 22–24 | |
1992 | Quarterfinals Semifinals |
Carson–Newman Gardner–Webb |
W 6–3 L 7–22 | |
NCAA Division II Playoffs | ||||
1998 | First Round Quarterfinals |
IUP Slippery Rock |
W 9–6 L 20–31 | |
1999 | First Round | Millersville | L 14–21 | |
2005 | No. 1 | Regional Semifinals | No. 4 C.W. Post | L 21–28 |
2006 | No. 1 | Regional Semifinals Regional Finals |
No. 4 Merrimack No. 2 Bloomsburg |
W 31–7 L 21–24 |
2007 | No. 2 | Regional Semifinals Regional Finals |
No. 6 IUP No. 1 California |
W 41–34 L 38–58 |
2010 | No. 4 | Regional Quarterfinals Regional Semifinals Regional Finals National Semifinals |
No. 5 Shaw No. 1 Kutztown No. 2 Mercyhurst No. 2 Delta State |
W 40–6 W 41–34 W 49–14 L 17–29 |
2012 | No. 6 | Regional Quarterfinals | No. 3 IUP | L 17–27 |
2013 | No. 1 | Regional Semifinals Regional Finals |
No. 4 Winston-Salem State No. 3 West Chester |
W 7–0 L 7–28 |
2015 | No. 1 | Regional Semifinals Regional Finals National Semifinals National Championship |
No. 5 IUP No. 2 Slippery Rock No. 6 Grand Valley State No. 1 NW Missouri State |
W 17–13 W 28–16 W 34–32 L 7–34 |
2016 | No. 3[a] | Regional Quarterfinals Regional Semifinals Regional Finals National Semifinals |
No. 6 Assumption No. 2 LIU Post No. 1 California No. 3 North Alabama |
W 48–31 W 40–21 W 41–30 L 13–23 |
2017 | No. 2 | Regional Quarterfinals | No. 7 Findlay | L 17–29 |
2019 | No. 5 | Regional Quarterfinals Regional Semifinals |
No. 4 IUP No. 1 Slippery Rock |
W 31–27 L 30–51 |
2021 | No. 2[b] | Regional Quarterfinals Regional Semifinals Regional Finals National Semifinals |
No. 8 Findlay No. 3 Notre Dame No. 1 Kutztown No. 1 Ferris State |
W 38–31 W 38–34 W 30–28 L 7–55 |
2022 | No. 2[c] | Regional Quarterfinals Regional Semifinals Regional Finals National Semifinals |
No. 8 New Haven No. 7 Slippery Rock No. 1 IUP No. 2 Colorado Mines |
W 16–13 W 37–27 W 48–13 L 13–44 |
2023 | No. 5 | Regional Quarterfinals | No. 4 Lenoir–Rhyne | L 17–63 |
Notable players and coaches
editNational award winners
editAFN = American Football Networks, BSN = Beyond Sports Network, DH = Don Hansen, DRL = D2CCA Ron Lenz
Year | Player | Organization |
---|---|---|
NCAA Division II Player of the Year | ||
2016 | Billy Brown | AFN |
NCAA Division II Offensive Player of the Year | ||
2021 | Tyson Bagent | DH & DRL |
NCAA Division II Special Teams Player of the Year | ||
2013 | C. J. Davis | BSN |
- Ryan Pope – 2007
Regional award winners
edit- Hardman Award
- Tyson Bagent – 2021
- Don Hansen Super Regional Offensive Player of the Year
- Jeff Ziemba – 2015
- D2CCA Super Regional Offensive Player of the Year
- Tyson Bagent – 2021
- Tyson Bagent – 2022
Conference award winners
editCoaching award winners
edit- Vince Lombardi Coach of the Year
- Monte Cater – 2016
- AFCA Regional Coach of the Year
- Ernie McCook – 2022
- AFCA Super Regional Coach of the Year
- Monte Cater – 2015
- Don Hansen Super Regional Coach of the Year
- Monte Cater – 2015
NAIA Hall of Fame
editFacilities
editFairfax Field (1923–1958)
editRam Stadium (1959–present)
editRivalries
editShippensburg
editIndividual accomplishments
editAward winners
edit- WVIAC Coach of the Year
- Donald E. Fuoss – 1955
- Walter Barr – 1972
- Walter Barr – 1982
- Walter Barr – 1983
- Mike Jacobs – 1986
- Monte Cater – 1991
- Monte Cater – 1992
- Monte Cater – 1997
- Monte Cater – 1998
- Monte Cater – 1999
- Monte Cater – 2004
- Monte Cater – 2005
- Monte Cater – 2006
- Monte Cater – 2007
- WVIAC Offensive Player of the Year
- Mike Coyle – 1982
- Mike Coyle – 1983
- Mike Coyle – 1984
- John Fotta – 1985
- WVIAC Defensive Player of the Year
- Gene Lugat – 1982
- Mark Brower – 1983
- Steve Borlie – 1988
References
edit- ^ "Quick Facts – Shepherd University". Retrieved March 28, 2023.
- ^ "Shepherd Rams 2015 Football Guide" (PDF). 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2017.