Charleston Southern Buccaneers football

The Charleston Southern Buccaneers football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Charleston Southern University located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Big South Conference. Charleston Southern's first football team was fielded in 1991. The team plays its home games at the 4,000 seat Buccaneer Field in North Charleston, South Carolina and are currently coached by Autry Denson.[2]

Charleston Southern Buccaneers
2020 Charleston Southern Buccaneers football team
First season1991
Athletic directorJeff Barber
Head coachAutry Denson
1st season, 6–6 (.500)
StadiumBuccaneer Field
(Capacity: 4,500)
Field surfaceArtificial Turf
LocationCharleston, South Carolina
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceBig South Conference
All-time record123176 (.411)
Conference titles3
Rivalries
ColorsBlue and Gold[1]
         
MascotBucky the Buccaneer
WebsiteCSUSports.com

History

The Charleston Southern football team began as a club football team in 1989 before moving to NCAA Division 3 status in 1991, which is a non-scholarship division. After NCAA rule changes required all sports to be in the same division, the Buccaneers moved from Division 3 to Division 1 in 1993, literally overnight, as the other campus programs were Division 1. This caused some challenges for the new program, as they faced off with more established and better funded programs. In 1996, the Bucs went 1–10 with a lone win vs West Virginia State. Wins were scarce, and in 1997, Head Coach David Dowd hired defensive coordinator Todd Knight from Gardner-Webb University. The two coaches oversaw a slow improvement that began with a large recruiting class in 1997, and move to 34 scholarships being offered. That team would struggle to a 1–9 record, with a lone win vs Tusculum College. The opening game was a 30–7 loss to top 10 ranked East Tennessee State, followed by a heart-breaking loss at then No. 22 ranked South Carolina State. In that game, the Buccaneers led 12–6 with less than 1:30 to play, with SC State driving inside the 40 yard line. On a 4th and short, CSU hit the SC State QB to cause a fumble which the Bucs recovered and began to run with, only to then fumble the ball back, and SC State would score the game winning TD on the ensuing drive. The 1997 team struggled to recover from that loss. A tragic loss was part of that season, as freshman running back Kevin Keyes was murdered near his hometown of Goose Creek, SC.

The 2000 CSU team beat Liberty for the first time 25-0, and lost to Samford in OT to finish 5-6.

Jay Mills era (2003–2012)

Jay Mills came to Charleston Southern from Harvard University, and had spent time coaching at several other places, including Boise State, Notre Dame and Minnesota-Morris. His system shifted from CSU's traditional power based, pro style offense to a spread offense. Several starters were dismissed from the team for various situations, and most of the coaching staff was changed. His first season was seen by many as a disaster, as the Bucs stumbled to a 1–11 record, with the lone win being over West Virginia State. The season included blowout losses to The Citadel, Gardner Webb, VMI, James Madison and Coastal Carolina. However, Coach Mills used the 2003 season to break-in a freshman quarterback named Colin Drafts. While this was to be an extremely difficult season of transition, it would provide the groundwork for a remarkable turnaround, and the emergence of one of the most prolific offensive players in CSU and Big South Conference history. In 2004, CSU saw a game canceled vs The Citadel due to a looming hurricane, and the Bucs were able to post a 5–5 record, the first non-losing season in CSU history. Colin Drafts began to emerge as a star quarterback, as did running back Travis Mays and linebacker Zach Mitchell. Wide receiver Eddie Gadson would also emerge from walk-on to All Big South Conference in one season. The 12 months following the end of the 2004 season would be one that no fan or team member would have predicted.

Jamey Chadwell era (2013–2016)

Head Coach Jamey Chadwell took over the program after the retirement of Jay Mills following the 2012 season. The program has reached new heights with most wins in a season (10) in 2013, a win over national FCS power Appalachian State, back to back conference championships in 2015 and 2016, 4 straight wins over The Citadel, and two home wins over Coastal Carolina. In 2016, the buccaneers took on 5 time reigning FCS champion North Dakota State into over time and suffered a tough loss (24-17). While the loss was hard on the team, it showed the strides made by this once small football program into what it is today. In 2017, Jamey Chadwell accepted a position at Coastal Carolina and Mark Tucker took the helm. CSU has been consistently ranked in the FCS top 25 since 2013.

Mark Tucker era (2017–2018)

Former quarterbacks coach Mark Tucker took over the football program in January, 2017 following the departure of Head Coach Jamey Chadwell. Following several coaching changes and a strong recruiting class, Coach Tucker hoped to have continued success with The Buccaneers. CSU would follow up the 2016 campaign with a 6-5 record in 2017. Following a 5-6 season in 2018, Mark Tucker resigned as the Head Coach on December 7, 2018. He compiled an 11-11 record.

Autry Denson era (2019–present)

Notre Dame running backs coach Autry Denson was named head coach in January 2019.[3]

Notable former players

  • Charles James
  • Maurice Price
  • Erik Austell
  • Will Hunt
  • Darius Hammond
  • James Allen
  • Johnny Robinson
  • Jon Belk

Championships

Conference championships

  • 2005: Big South Conference champion
  • 2015: Big South Conference champion
  • 2016: Big South Conference champion

FCS Playoffs results

The Buccaneers have appeared in the FCS Playoffs two times. Their record is 1–2.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2015Second Round
Quarterfinals
The Citadel
Jacksonville State
W 14–6
L 38–58
2016First RoundWoffordL 14–15

Rivalries

The Citadel Bulldogs

These two schools first met on the football field in 2002 and it has become a rivalry recently under CSU head Coach Jamey Chadwell, and is currently being continued through current CSU HC Autry Denson. The Buccaneers won four in a row under Chadwell including two wins in 2015, as CSU took down The Citadel in a second round NCAA Playoff game at Buccaneer Field. Under Head Coaches Mark Tucker and Autry Denson, the Bucs have lost twice to the Bulldogs.

Citadel leads the series 7-5.

  • 2019 - CSU @ Citadel - L, 13-22
  • 2018 - CSU @ Citadel - L, 14-43
  • 2015 – Citadel @ CSU – W, 14–6 (NCAA Division 1 Playoff Game [2nd Round])
  • 2015 – CSU @ Citadel – W, 33–20
  • 2014 – Citadel @ CSU – W, 20–18
  • 2013 – CSU @ Citadel – W, 32–29
  • 2012 – CSU @ Citadel – L, 49–14
  • 2007 – CSU @ Citadel – L, 35–14
  • 2006 – CSU @ Citadel – W, 38–35
  • 2005 – CSU @ Citadel – L, 28–14
  • 2003 – CSU @ Citadel – L, 64–10
  • 2002 – CSU @ Citadel – L, 53–19 (First Meeting)

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

These two schools first met on the football field in 2003 and it has been a rivalry since Charleston Southern defeated Coastal Carolina 34–27 in 2005 to win a share of the Big South Championship that Coastal had already clinched. CSU got the first shutout of the series with their 24–0 win in 2008. In 2015, Coastal Carolina, then ranked Number 1 nationally, was defeated by the 19th ranked Buccaneers 33–25, giving Charleston Southern the sole lead in the Big South Conference.

Coastal Carolina leads the series 8–6.

  • 2016 – CSU @ Coastal – W, 59–58 (2 OT)
  • 2015 – Coastal @ CSU – W, 33–25
  • 2014 – CSU @ Coastal – L, 43–22
  • 2013 – Coastal @ CSU – W, 31–26
  • 2012 – CSU @ Coastal – L, 41–20
  • 2011 – Coastal @ CSU – L, 45–38
  • 2010 – CSU @ Coastal – L, 70–3[4]
  • 2009 – Coastal @ CSU – W, 30–23
  • 2008 – CSU @ Coastal – W, 24–0
  • 2007 – Coastal @ CSU – L, 41–2
  • 2006 – CSU @ Coastal – L, 31–17
  • 2005 – Coastal @ CSU – W, 34–27 (2 OT)
  • 2004 – CSU @ Coastal – L, 56–28
  • 2003 – Coastal @ CSU – L, 48–14 (First Meeting)

Charleston Southern vs In-State NCAA Division I schools

School Record Percentage Streak First Meeting Last Meeting
Clemson Tigers0–0
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers6–8.429Won 220032016
Furman Paladins0–1.000Lost 120192019
Presbyterian Blue Hose13–14.481Won 519932019
South Carolina Gamecocks0–1.000Lost 120192019
South Carolina State Bulldogs0–7.000Lost 719911999
The Citadel Bulldogs5–7.417Lost 220022019
Wofford Terriers0–14.000Lost 1419932016
Charleston Southern 24 – In-State NCAA Division I Schools 52

Charleston Southern vs. FBS teams

Year FBS Opponent Result Opponent's Conference Opponent's Head Coach Charleston Southern's Head Coach
2026Clemson Tigers???ACC??????
2023Vanderbilt Commodores???SEC??????
2022North Carolina State Wolfpack???ACC??????
2021Georgia Bulldogs???SEC??????
2020Arkansas Razorbacks???SECSam PittmanAutry Denson
2019South Carolina GamecocksL, 72–10SECWill MuschampAutry Denson
2018Florida GatorsL, 53-6SECDan MullenMark Tucker
2017Indiana HoosiersL, 27–0Big 10Tom AllenMark Tucker
2017Mississippi State BulldogsL, 49–0SECDan MullenMark Tucker
2016Florida State SeminolesL, 52–8ACCJimbo FisherJamey Chadwell
2015Alabama Crimson TideL, 56–6SECNick SabanJamey Chadwell
2015Troy TrojansL, 44–16Sun BeltNeal BrownJamey Chadwell
2014Georgia BulldogsL, 55–9SECMark RichtJamey Chadwell
2014Vanderbilt CommodoresL, 21–20SECDerek MasonJamey Chadwell
2013Colorado BuffaloesL, 43–10Pac-12Mike MacIntyreJamey Chadwell
2012Illinois Fighting IlliniL, 44–0Big 10Tim BeckmanJay Mills
2011UCF KnightsL, 62–0C-USAGeorge O'LearyJay Mills
2011Florida State SeminolesL, 62–10ACCJimbo FisherJay Mills
2010Kentucky WildcatsL, 49–21SECJoker PhillipsJay Mills
2010Hawaii WarriorsL, 66–7WACGreg McMackinJay Mills
2009South Florida BullsL, 59–0Big EastJim LeavittJay Mills
2009Florida GatorsL, 62–3SECUrban MeyerJay Mills
2008Miami (OH) RedhawksL, 38–27MACDon TreadwellJay Mills
2008Miami HurricanesL, 52–7ACCRandy ShannonJay Mills
2007Hawaii WarriorsL, 66–10WACJune JonesJay Mills
2003South Florida BullsL, 55–7C-USAJim LeavittJay Mills
2002South Florida BullsL, 56–6C-USAJim LeavittDavid Dowd
Charleston Southern 0 – FBS Schools 22

References

  1. CSU Branding & Style Manual (PDF). August 1, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  2. "Autry Denson". Charleston Southern University Athletics. Archived from the original on 2019-07-01. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  3. Vowles, Joshua (January 14, 2019). "Notre Dame Football: Autry Denson is officially announced as the new head coach for Charleston Southern". One Foot Down. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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