Missouri State Bears football

The Missouri State Bears football program is the college football team that represents Missouri State University located in Springfield, Missouri, United States. Missouri State competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Missouri State Bears football
2020 Missouri State Bears football team
First season1909
Head coachBobby Petrino
1st season, 0–0 (–)
StadiumRobert W. Plaster Stadium[1]
(Capacity: 17,500)
LocationSpringfield, Missouri, U.S.
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceMissouri Valley (since 2008)
Past conferencesIndependent (1909–1923)
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (1924–1980)
Mid-Continent Conference (1981–1984)
All-time record470–519–39[2] (.476)
Playoff appearances2 (1989, 1990) (FCS playoffs)
Playoff record1–2
Conference titles9 (1928, 1940, 1948, 1951, 1963, 1966, 1978, 1989, 1990)
Consensus All-Americans50 Associated Press[3]
ColorsMaroon, Black, and White[4]
     
Fight songThe Scotsman
MascotBoomer
Marching bandThe Pride
OutfitterAdidas
Websitemissouristatebears.com (football homepage)

The school was known as Southwest Missouri State until 2005 when they changed the name to Missouri State. Missouri State's first football team was fielded in 1909 and the first coach in program history was Walter Langston who went 4–2 in his only season as head coach. Prior to 1923, the team competed as an Independent. From 1923 to 1980, Missouri State were members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, of which Missouri State was a founding member. During that time the Bears were classified in the NCAA College Division from 1958 to 1972. From 1973 to 1980 the Bears played in NCAA Division II. Missouri State moved up to the Association of Mid-Continent Universities in time for the 1981 season, which was their first season in Division I-AA. In 1985 the Bears became a founding member of the Gateway Football Conference which later became the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2008.

Missouri State has an all-time record of 470–519–39 and have won 9 conference championships. They won their most recent conference championship in 1990. The 1990 season also saw Missouri State ranked second in the country for 3 weeks from October 15 to 29, 1990. This is still the highest ranking in school history.[2] The team plays its home games at the 17,500-seat Robert W. Plaster Stadium which has been its home since 1941. Plaster Stadium is the 4th-largest stadium in the conference and the second-largest college football specific venue in Missouri. The Bears have had 21 head coaches in their history, including their current head coach Bobby Petrino. The 2020 season will be his first at Missouri State.[5]

History
See also: List of Missouri State Bears football seasons

Classifications
  • 1958–1972: NCAA College Division
  • 1973–1980: NCAA Division II
  • 1982–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference memberships

†Founding member of the conference

Head coaches

Since 1909, the Missouri State Bears have had 21 different head coaches. The first coach in program history was Walter Langston who coached the team for one year. Arthur Briggs is the longest tenured head coach with two non consecutive runs as head coach. He coached the Bears for 20 seasons in total. The current coach is Bobby Petrino who was hired on January 16, 2020.[5] There was no team for the 1913 season. Due to World War II, Missouri State did not field a team for the 1943–1944 seasons.[2]

Tenure Coach Record Win Percentage
1909Walter Langston4-2.667
1910–1911Corliss Buchanan2-10.167
1912–1917Arthur W. Briggs15-9-2.615
1918Paul Andrews1-2.333
1919–1933Arthur W. Briggs61-50-8.546
1934–1937A.J. McDonald5-22-5.234
1938–1946Red Blair38-21-6.631
1947–1948Tommy O'Boyle16-4-1.786
1949–1952Fred Thomsen19-17-4.525
1953–1954Bill Dellastatious5-12.294
1955Harold "Tuffy" Stratton2-6-1.278
1956–1960Aldo Sebben17-27-1.389
1961–1964Orville Pottenger24-12-2.658
1965–1968Jim Mentis20-21.488
1969–1975Don Cross23-45-3.345
1976–1985Rich Johanningmeier58-44-5.565
1986–1994Jesse Branch55-44-1.555
1995–1998Del Miller21-23.477
1999–2005Randy Ball34-42.447
2006–2014Terry Allen37-64.366
2015–2019Dave Steckel13-42.236
2020–presentBobby Petrino0-0.000
Total470-519-39.476

Facilities

Plaster Stadium

Missouri State plays all home games at Plaster Stadium, which has been their home since 1941. From its opening in 1941 to 1991 the stadium was known as Briggs Stadium. The stadium currently seats 17,500 people. It has undergone several major renovations in 1991 and, most recently, in 2014. After the 1991 renovation which added an upper deck on the west side and a row of sky-boxes and press box, the stadium was renamed in honor of Robert W. Plaster who provided the major gift for the project. The Stadium was updated in 2008 with a new video board behind the south endzone. The 2014 renovation made significant changes to the East side of the stadium and the playing surface. The track was removed and the East side was completely rebuilt. The stadium record attendance is 18,386 which was at the 2014 home opener versus North Dakota.

Post-2014 renovation view of Plaster Stadium from the south endzone

Top 5 largest crowds
RankDateAttendanceOpponentResult
1September 13, 201418,386North DakotaW, 38–0
2September 12, 201717,835Chadron StateW, 21–13
3October 28, 199715,672Pittsburg StateL, 8–9
4November 2, 199615,878Western IllinoisL, 17–23
5September 9, 200015,647Missouri SouthernW, 48–3

Retired numbers

Missouri State has retired 4 jerseys which are memorialized on the second level of the stadium's West side.[6]

No. Player Position Career
CArthur W. BriggsCoach1912–1933
1DeAndre SmithQB1987–1990
27Ray HaleyRB1947–1951
71Rich JohanningmeierT
Coach		1960–1963
1976–1985

Championships

Conference championships

Missouri State has won nine conference championships in their history. The Bears won 7 championships in the MIAA and 2 championships in the Gateway. The first conference championship was won in 1928 under coach Arthur Briggs. Jesse Branch is the only coach to win multiple conference championships. The 1928 and 1990 championships were shared titles.[7]

Season Conference Coach Overall Record Conference Record
1928†Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationArthur Briggs7–1–13–0–1
1940Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationRed Blair10–05–0
1948†Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationTommy O'Boyle9–24–1
1951Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationFred Thomsen6–3–14–0–1
1963Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationOrville Pottenger9–15–0
1966Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationJim Mentis7–45–0
1978Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationRich Johanningmeier8–36–0
1989Gateway Football ConferenceJesse Branch12–19–0
1990†Gateway Football ConferenceJesse Branch8–36–2
Total Conference Championships: 8
† Denotes co-champions

Postseason appearances

FCS playoffs

Missouri State has appeared in the FCS playoffs twice. Under head coach Jesse Branch, the Bears made two straight trips in 1989 and 1990. In 1989 they drew a first round matchup with the Maine Black Bears. Missouri State won 38–35 and advanced to play the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks in the Quarterfinals where they lost 55–25. Missouri State made it to the playoffs again in the 1990 season. They played at home against the Idaho Vandals and lost 41–35. Their all time record is 1–2.[8]

Season Coach Playoff Opponent Result
1989Jesse BranchFirst Round
Quarterfinals		Maine
Stephen F. Austin		W 38–35
L 55–25
1990Jesse BranchFirst RoundIdahoL 35–41

Bowl games

Missouri State has appeared in four bowl games and are 0–4 all time.

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1948Tommy O'BoyleMissouri-Kansas BowlEmporia StateL 20–34
1963Orville PottengerMineral Water BowlNorthern IllinoisL 14–21
1966Jim MentisMineral Water BowlAdams StateL 8–14
1989Jesse BranchPecan BowlStephen F. AustinL 25–55

Note: The 1989 Pecan Bowl was the Midwest Regional Championship (FCS Playoff Quarterfinal).

Records

Record vs. MIAA teams

[6]

Opponent Won Lost Tied Percentage First Meeting
Central Missouri33425.4441912
Lincoln1050.6671970
Missouri S&T27293.4831935
Northwest Missouri32224.5861912
Southeast Missouri46280.6221912
Truman State21337.4021912
Totals 196 159 12 .550

Record vs. former MVFC teams
Opponent Won Lost Tied Percentage First Meeting
Eastern Illinois5131.2891985
Western Kentucky280.2002001
Totals 7 21 1 .259

Record vs. current MVFC teams
Opponent Won Lost Tied Percentage First Meeting
Illinois state17221.4381985
Indiana State20140.5881986
North Dakota110.5002017†
North Dakota State2100.1672008
Northern Iowa5350.1251985
South Dakota240.3332012
South Dakota State1110.0832008
Southern Illinois20220.4761985
Western Illinois18181.5001985
Youngstown State5150.2501997
Totals 91 152 2 .376

†note: North Dakota will join the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2020. The Bears have played them twice in non-conference.

Notable players

Current NFL players
Player Position 1st Year Draft Round Teams
Dylan ColeMLB2017UndraftedHouston Texans

Former NFL players
Player Position 1st Year Draft Round Teams
Charlie MitchellC1945Chicago Bears
Henry MayT195117Chicago Cardinals
Bob DeesT195218Los Angeles Rams
Paul MullinsT1953New York Giants
Ben KoenemanC1957San Francisco 49ers
Bill KaczmarekT195825San Francisco 49ers
Glenn SowderT1961Denver Broncos
Rich JohanningmeierT1964Houston Oilers
Pat TalburtDT196616Kansas City Chiefs
Sam McDowellT19689Miami Dolphins
Tom MullenT19742New York Giants
Tom McIntyreFB1974Houston Oilers
Fred TabronRB19747Minnesota Vikings
Bob GranaTE1975St. Louis Cardinals
Dennis HeimDT197811New York Giants
Mike MurphyLB19796Houston Oilers
Tim RiesDB19797Houston Oilers
Jan StahleK1979Houston Oilers
Chris SellaLB1979New Orleans Saints
John FindersFB1983Dallas Cowboys
Darrin NewboldLB19837New York Jets
Mike ArmentroutDB19859Kansas City Chiefs
Rick FultonDT1985New York Giants
Keith WilliamsRB19866Atlanta Falcons
Brad SellenrickT1986Green Bay Packers
Steve AcheLB1987Minnesota Vikings
Matt SoraghanLB1988Green Bay Packers
Clay HarborTE20064Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Team 9 (XFL)

Future opponents

Announced schedules as of February 6, 2020[9]

Week 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029
Week 1 at Oklahoma State (FBS) at Central Arkansas# at Montana at Murray State at Missouri
Week 2 Central Arkansas UT Martin at UT Martin at Murray State Murray State
Week 3 at Arkansas (FBS) at Texas Tech Murray State
Week 4 South Dakota* South Dakota State* Dixie State Dixie State
Week 5 at Illinois State* at North Dakota*
Week 6 Southern Illinois at North Dakota* at Indiana State*
Week 7 Indiana State* South Dakota State*
Week 8 at North Dakota State* at Northern Iowa* South Dakota* South Dakota*
Week 9 North Dakota†* Western Illinois Northern Iowa*
Week 10 at Southern Illinois at South Dakota* at Southern Illinois
Week 11 Northern Iowa* North Dakota* Illinois State*
Week 12 at Dixie State at Indiana State* at Western Illinois

Note: † Homecoming, # Thursday night game, * Conference match-up

References
  1. "Robert W. Plaster Stadium". Missouri State.
  2. "Media Guide" (PDF). s3.amazonaws.com. 2019. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  3. "2015 Missouri State Football Guide". Issuu.
  4. "Our Colors". brand.missouristate.edu.
  5. "Petrino Named Missouri State Head Football Coach". Missouri State.
  6. "2017 Media Guide (PDF)" (PDF). Missouri State.
  7. "Missouri State Bears Year by Year Summary". Missouri State Bears. 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  8. "FCSb Champ" (PDF). fs.ncaa.org. 2012. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  9. "Future Missouri State Football Schedules". FBSchedules.com.
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