Central Arkansas Bears football
The Central Arkansas Bears football program is the intercollegiate American football team for University of Central Arkansas located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Atlantic Sun Conference. Central Arkansas's first football team was fielded in 1908. The team plays its home games at the 12,000-seat Estes Stadium in Conway, Arkansas. The Bears are coached by Nathan Brown, in his second year.
| Central Arkansas Bears | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| First season | 1908 | ||
| Athletic director | Brad Teague | ||
| Head coach | Nathan Brown 2nd season, 15–8 (.652) | ||
| Stadium | Estes Stadium (Capacity: 12,000) | ||
| Field surface | FieldTurf | ||
| Location | Conway, Arkansas | ||
| NCAA division | Division I FCS | ||
| Conference | Atlantic Sun Conference | ||
| All-time record | 540–365–42 (.592) | ||
| Playoff appearances | 2001, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019 | ||
| Claimed national titles | 1984, 1985, 1991 | ||
| Conference titles | 27 | ||
| Rivalries | McNeese State (rivalry) | ||
| Colors | Purple and Gray[1] | ||
| Website | UCASports.com | ||
- For information on all University of Central Arkansas sports, see Central Arkansas Bears and Sugar Bears
History
The Central Arkansas Bears were formed in 1901 by William Hawkins. Although they finished 1-4-3 in their first season, and have an unusual record of 23-54-22 in its first 20 years of existence, the Bears would play for 7 championships in that span.
UCA would enjoy its greatest success over a 14-year period from 1979 to 1992, when the Bears won or shared 13 of the 14 conference championships, as members of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC). The AIC included in-state schools such as Arkansas Tech, Harding University, Henderson State University, Ouachita Baptist, Southern Arkansas University, University of Arkansas at Monticello, and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. During that time frame, UCA won or shared twelve consecutive AIC titles from 1981 - 1992, as well as three NAIA national championships, in 1984, 1985, and 1991. The Bears were a constant presence in the NAIA Top 20, and made the playoffs 12 out of 14 seasons.
In 1993, the Bears left the AIC and the NAIA, and moved up in competition to the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference. Central Arkansas would stay in the West Division of the GSC through the 2006 season, winning the GSC title in 2005. UCA moved up yet again, in 2007, joining the Southland Conference who are a member of the NCAA Division I-AA. The Bears have since won four Southland championships in 2008, 2012, 2017 and 2019. Central Arkansas also made the playoffs in 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2019 (where they earned their first national seed in the playoffs at #8) winning their first FCS playoff game in 2011 over Tennessee Tech. The Bears also defeated Illinois State in 2016 before losing the next round at Eastern Washington University.
In 2021, UCA accepted an invitation to join the Atlantic Sun Conference ending their membership with the Southland on June 30th, 2021.
Notable former players
Notable alumni include:
Championships
Conference championships
1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1959, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2017, 2019
The conference championships won between 1936 and 1992, were as members of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC), an NAIA Division I conference.
The 2005 conference championship was as a member of the Gulf South Conference, an NCAA Division II conference.
The 2008, 2012, 2017 and 2019[2] conference titles were as a member of the Southland Conference, an NCAA Division I-AA conference, or Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
National Championships
1984, 1985, 1991
All three national titles were won on the NAIA Division I level. The head coach in 1984 and 1985 was Harold Horton. The head coach in 1991 was Mike Isom.
UCA was the national runners-up in 1976, after losing to Texas A&I in the national championship game.
FCS Playoffs results
The Bears have appeared in the FCS playoffs five times with an overall record of 2–5.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | First Round Second Round | Tennessee Tech Montana | W 34–14 L 14–41 |
| 2012 | Second Round | Georgia Southern | L 16–24 |
| 2016 | First Round Second Round | Illinois State Eastern Washington | W 31–24 L 14–31 |
| 2017 | Second Round | New Hampshire | L 15–21 |
| 2019 | Second Round | Illinois State | L 14–24 |
Division II Playoffs results
The Bears have appeared in the Division II playoffs two times with an overall record of 2–2.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | First Round | Catawba | L 34–35 |
| 2005 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | Albany State (GA) Presbyterian North Alabama | W 28–20 W 52–28 L 38–41 |
NAIA Playoffs results
The Bears have appeared in the NAIA playoffs 12 times with an overall record of 12–9–2. They are three time NAIA National Champions (1984, 1985, 1991), with 1984 and 1985 being Co–Champions after ending in a tie in the National Championship Game.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Semifinals National Championship Game | Elon Texas A&M-Kingsville | W 10–7 L 0–26 |
| 1978 | Quarterfinals | Western State | L 17–22 |
| 1980 | Quarterfinals | Texas A&M-Commerce | L 21–27 |
| 1981 | Quarterfinals | Cameron | L 27–48 |
| 1983 | Quarterfinals Semifinals | Northeastern State (OK) Mesa State | W 18–7 L 17–34 |
| 1984 | Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game | Moorhead State (MN) Central Washington Carson-Newman | W 30–6 W 44–6 T 19–19 |
| 1985 | Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game | Pittsburg State Henderson State Hilldale | W 32–22 W 21–9 T 10–10 |
| 1987 | First Round Quarterfinals | Northwestern Oklahoma State Cameron | W 31–7 L 7–14 |
| 1988 | First Round | Southeastern Oklahoma State | L 14–21 |
| 1990 | Quarterfinals Semifinals | Northeastern State (OK) Mesa State | W 26–14 L 9–10 |
| 1991 | Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game | Northeastern State (OK) Moorhead State (MN) Central State | W 30–14 W 38–18 W 19–16 |
| 1992 | Quarterfinals Semifinals | Southwestern Oklahoma State Central State | W 14–2 L 23–30 |
Rivalries
McNeese State
The two teams have met 13 times on the football field with UCA leading the series, 7–6. Due to conference scheduling requirements, the most recent game was played in 2019.
| Games played | First meeting | Last meeting | Central Arkansas wins | Central Arkansas losses | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | September 17, 1994 (lost 7-21) | October 12, 2019 (won 40-31) | 7 | 6 | .545 |
Arkansas Tech
The Bears also had a long time rivalry with Arkansas Tech University, located in Russellville, Arkansas, only 45 miles west of Conway along US Interstate 40. But that series was dis-continued after UCA left the Gulf South Conference, and moved up in competition to the Southland Conference.
References
- UCA Standards Guide (PDF). March 28, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
- http://www.ucasports.com
