Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football
The Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football team represents Bethune–Cookman University in the sport of college football. The Wildcats compete in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the south division of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). They play their home games at Daytona Stadium. The Wildcats have won two black college football national championships and seven MEAC titles in the history of their football program.
Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football | |||
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First season | 1925 | ||
Head coach | Terry Sims 4th season, 27–17 (.614) | ||
Stadium | Daytona Stadium (Capacity: 10,000) | ||
Field surface | Artificial turf | ||
Location | Daytona Beach, Florida | ||
NCAA division | Division I FCS | ||
Conference | MEAC | ||
Claimed national titles | 2 (Black College): 2010, 2013 | ||
Unclaimed national titles | 2 (Black College): 2002, 2012 | ||
Conference titles | 8 | ||
Rivalries | Florida A&M | ||
Colors | Maroon and Gold[1] | ||
Fight song | Let's Go Wildcats | ||
Mascot | Wil D Cat | ||
Marching band | The Marching Wildcats | ||
Website | bcuathletics.com |
History
Classifications
- 1951–1972: NCAA College Division
- 1973–1979: NCAA Division II
- 1980–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS
Conference memberships
- 1925–1945: Independent
- 1946–1949: Southeastern Athletic Conference
- 1950–1979: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
- 1979–present: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Conference championships
Year | Conference | Overall record | Conference record | Head Coach |
---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | MEAC | 7–3 | 4–0 | Larry Little |
1988* | MEAC | 5–6 | 4–2 | Larry Little |
2002 | MEAC | 11–2 | 7–1 | Alvin Wyatt |
2010* | MEAC | 10–2 | 7–1 | Brian Jenkins |
2012 | MEAC | 8–3 | 8–0 | Brian Jenkins |
2013* | MEAC | 10–3 | 5–1 | Brian Jenkins |
2014* | MEAC | 9–3 | 6–2 | Brian Jenkins |
2015* | MEAC | 9–2 | 7–1 | Terry Sims |
Total | 8 | |||
* Denotes a tie for first place and conference co-champion |
Black College Football National Championships
The Wildcats have won two Black College Football National Championships, a mythical national championship won by the best black college football team(s) in the United States of America.
Year | Conference | Overall record | Conference record | Head Coach |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | MEAC | 10–2 | 7–1 | Brian Jenkins |
2013 | MEAC | 10–3 | 5–1 | Brian Jenkins |
Total | 2 |
Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs results
The Wildcats have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs five times with an overall record of 0–5.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | First Round | Georgia Southern | L 0–34 |
2003 | First Round | Florida Atlantic | L 24–32 |
2010 | Second Round | New Hampshire | L 20–45 |
2012 | First Round | Coastal Carolina | L 20–45 |
2013 | First Round | Coastal Carolina | L 24–48 |
Pro Football Hall of Fame
One former BCU football player has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Year inducted | Player | POS | Seasons at BCU | NFL team(s) | Years with NFL team(s) |
1993 | Larry Little | G | 1963–1966 | San Diego Chargers | 1967–1968 |
Miami Dolphins | 1969–1980 | ||||
Buck Buchanan Award
The Buck Buchanan Award is given to the most outstanding defensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision. In 2002, Rashean Mathis of Bethune- Cookman won the award.[3] Mathis holds the NCAA FCS/ I-AA records for most interceptions in a season (14), most interceptions during a career (31), most yards on interception returns in a season (455), and most yards on interception returns in a career (682).[4]