Draft:Shepherd Rams football

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Shepherd Rams football
2023 Shepherd Rams football team
First season1920
Athletic directorChauncey Winbush
Head coachErnie McCook
6th season, 50–11 (.820)
StadiumRam Stadium
(capacity: 5,000)
Year built1959
Field surfaceArtificial Turf
LocationShepherdstown, WV
NCAA divisionDivision II
ConferencePSAC
DivisionEast
Past conferencesMEC (2013–2019)
MDC (1964–1968)
WVIAC (1925–2012)
Conference titles22
Division titles4
ColorsBlue and gold[1]
   
OutfitterUnder Armour
Websiteshepherdrams.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[edit]

1920–1924: Early years[edit]

In 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[edit]

With 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[edit]

1946–1947: The Lowe era[edit]

1948–1950: The Phillips era[edit]

1951–1952: The Moore era[edit]

1953–1955: The Fuoss era[edit]

1956–1966: The Riggleman era[edit]

1967–1970: The Parker era[edit]

1971–1985: The Barr era[edit]

1986: The Jacobs era[edit]

1987–2017: The Cater era[edit]

In 2004, Shepherd College changed its name to Shepherd University.

2018–present: The McCook era[edit]

Championships and distinctions[edit]

Regional championships[edit]

Season 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[edit]

Season 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[edit]

Season 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[edit]

NAIA Division I Poll[edit]

NCAA Division II Poll[edit]

All-time records[edit]

Season records[edit]

Head coaches[edit]

Years 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[edit]

Shepherd 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
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
  1. ^ In 2016, Shepherd was re-seeded to No. 2 for the Final Four.
  2. ^ In 2021, Shepherd was re-seeded to No. 4 for the National Semifinals.
  3. ^ In 2022, Shepherd was re-seeded to No. 3 for the National Semifinals.

Notable players and coaches[edit]

National award winners[edit]

AFN = 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[edit]

Coaching 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[edit]

Facilities[edit]

Fairfax Field (1923–1958)[edit]

Ram Stadium (1959–present)[edit]

Main article: Ram Stadium

Rivalries[edit]

Shippensburg[edit]

Individual accomplishments[edit]

Award 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]

  1. ^ "Quick Facts – Shepherd University". Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  2. ^ "Shepherd Rams 2015 Football Guide" (PDF). 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
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