The Citadel–Furman football rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played by The Citadel Bulldogs football team of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina and the Furman Paladins football team of Furman University.
Sport | Football |
---|---|
First meeting | November 1, 1913 The Citadel, 75–0 |
Latest meeting | October 5, 2024 Furman, 17–16 |
Next meeting | 2025 |
Statistics | |
Meetings total | 104 |
All-time series | Furman, 64–37–3[1] |
Largest victory | 75–0, The Citadel (1913) |
Longest win streak | 9, Furman (1982–1990) |
Longest unbeaten streak | 13, Furman (1939–1954) |
Current win streak | 4, Furman |
History
editThe series dates to 1913, and has been played every year that both schools have fielded a football team since 1919, with only an interruption of 1943 through 1945 during World War II. Furman dominated the early years of the rivalry, winning 27 of the first 34 contests, which also included three ties. Since 1955, the series has been remarkably even, with many close, hard-fought games and three of overtime contests since 2005.
The Paladins and Bulldogs have alternated home sites for most of their history, with contests played twice at the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Furman won both games played in Orangeburg.
The rivalry is enhanced by the stark differences between the two schools: one a military college in coastal Charleston and the other a liberal arts college in upstate Greenville. Many pranks were engineered by cadets and students, most memorably in 1963 when Citadel cadets kidnapped the horse that Furman's Paladin mascot rode during games. While the tale was embellished by Pat Conroy, the horse survived but did not resume its mascot duties.[2][3][4]
The series was an end of the season fixture on each team's schedule from 1965 through 1992, and returned to the last regular season weekend in 2012. When The Citadel's other primary rival, VMI, departed the Southern Conference, Bulldog coaches worked to restore Furman as their primary rival in the minds of their players and fans.[5][6][7][8][9]
Game results
editThe Citadel victories | Furman victories | Tie games |
|
Other varsity sports
editSport | Last Matchup | All-Time Series | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Location | Winner | Score | Attendance | Leader | Record | |
Basketball (M) | February 2, 2022 | Timmons Arena • Greenville, SC | Furman | 102–83 | 1,749 | Furman | 130–87[10][11] |
February 26, 2022 | McAlister Field House • Charleston, SC | Furman | 94–59 | 2,573 | |||
Tennis (M) | April 16, 2022 | Mickel Tennis Center • Greenville, SC | Furman | 7–0 | NA | Furman | 65–30[12][13] |
Soccer (W) | October 6, 2022 | Eugene E. Stone III Stadium • Greenville, SC | The Citadel | 2–0 | 301 | Furman | 21–3 |
Volleyball (W) | September 21, 2022 | Alley Gym • Greenville, SC | The Citadel | 3–1 | 477 | Furman | 42–7[14][15] |
October 19, 2022 | McAlister Field House • Charleston, SC | The Citadel | 3–0 | 103 |
Discontinued sports
editSport | Last Matchup | All-Time Series | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Location | Winner | Score | Leader | Record | ||
Baseball[a] | March 29, 2019 | Latham Baseball Stadium • Greenville, SC | Furman | 5–4 | The Citadel | 137–105–2[16][17][18][19] | |
March 30, 2019 | Latham Baseball Stadium • Greenville, SC | Furman | 20–6 | ||||
March 31, 2019 | Latham Baseball Stadium • Greenville, SC | Furman | 7–2 | ||||
Soccer (M)[b] | August 30, 2002 | WLI Field • Charleston, SC | Furman | 3–0 | Furman | 28–11–2[20][21] | |
Wrestling[c] | December 5, 1990 | McAlister Field House • Charleston, SC | The Citadel | 25–12 | The Citadel | 14–0[d][22] |
- ^ Furman discontinued its baseball program after the 2020 season, which was canceled prior to the series against The Citadel.
- ^ The Citadel discontinued its men's soccer program after the 2002 season.
- ^ Furman discontinued its wrestling program after the 1990–91 season.
- ^ The results of 3 dual wrestling meets are undocumented.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 2012 The Citadel Football Fact Book (PDF). The Citadel. pp. 110–111. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
- ^ Amy Clarke Burns (December 16, 2014). "What happened to the Furman Paladin's horse?". Greenville News. Greenville, South Carolina. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ "The Citadel, Furman Renew One of the Most Colorful FCS Rivalries". College Sports Journal. September 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Michael Burns (November 17, 2012). "Similarities, differences make Furman-Citadel rivalry special". GreenvilleOnline.com. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
- ^ Jeff Hartsell (October 13, 2007). "Furman is Higgins' chosen football rival". Post and Courier. Charleston, SC. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
- ^ John Hooper (May 3, 2012). "Southern Conference's Greatest Rivalries: Furman vs Citadel". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
- ^ "President Plyler's Scrapbook Collection". James B. Duke Library, Furman University. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
- ^ Phil Kornblut (January 27, 2012). "Citadel and Furman return to end of season football rivalry". Sports Talk Radio Network. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
- ^ "Furman, Citadel renew long, fierce rivalry". Times and Democrat. Orangeburg, SC. October 18, 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2008.
- ^ 2021 Men's Basketball Record Book (PDF). Furman Paladins. p. 30. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ 2019–20 Basketball Record Book (PDF). The Citadel Bulldogs. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ Tennis Records vs. All Opponents (PDF). The Citadel Bulldogs. p. 10. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ 2021 Men's Tennis Record Book (PDF). Furman Paladins. p. 10. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ Volleyball Record Book (PDF). The Citadel Bulldogs. pp. 33–34. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ 2020 Volleyball Record Book (PDF). Furman Paladins. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ 2020 Baseball Record Book (PDF). The Citadel Bulldogs. p. 147. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ 2019 Baseball Record Book (PDF). Furman Paladins. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ "2019 Baseball Schedule". Furman Paladins. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ Kennington Lloyd Smith III (May 18, 2020). "Furman University to cut baseball and men's lacrosse programs". Greenville News. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ Men's Soccer Fact Book (PDF). The Citadel Bulldogs. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ 2020 Men's Soccer Record Book (PDF). Furman Paladins. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ 2020 Wrestling Record Book (PDF). The Citadel Bulldogs. p. 2. Retrieved February 25, 2021.