The Citadel Bulldogs

Last updated
The Citadel Bulldogs
Citadel Bulldogs logo.svg
University The Citadel
Conference Southern (primary)
NCAA Division I (FCS)
Athletic director Mike Capaccio
Location Charleston, South Carolina
Varsity teams14 (8 men's, 5 women's, 1 co-ed)
Football stadium Johnson Hagood Stadium
Basketball arena McAlister Field House
Baseball stadium Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park
Soccer stadiumWLI Field
MascotGeneral and Boo IX (live), Spike
NicknameBulldogs
Fight song"The Fighting Light Brigade"
ColorsInfantry blue and white [1]
   
Website citadelsports.com
SoCon's logo in Citadel's colors SoCon logo in Citadel colors.svg
SoCon's logo in Citadel's colors

The Citadel Bulldogs are the athletic teams that represent The Citadel. All sports participate in the NCAA Division I except football, which competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Since 1936, varsity sports have competed in the Southern Conference. The Citadel fields teams in sixteen sports, nine for men and seven for women.

Contents

The Citadel is one of only two Division I schools that do not sponsor women's basketball; the other is fellow Southern Conference member and senior military college VMI.

Conference affiliations

The Citadel competes in the Southern Conference for all sports.

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association

From 1909 to 1935, The Citadel played as a part of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, a conglomerate of many schools which gave birth to the Southern Conference during a clash over freshman eligibility. The Citadel remained in the SIAA after eight schools joined with six non-SIAA members to create the SoCon in 1921.

Southern Conference

Shortly after thirteen schools departed the Southern Conference to form the Southeastern Conference (SEC), The Citadel and six other schools joined the conference. Furman also joined in 1936, making them and The Citadel the schools with the longest current continuous tenure in the conference. (VMI joined even earlier in 1924 but was not a member from 2003 to 2014.)

Timeline

Southern ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationThe Citadel Bulldogs

Sports sponsored

Men's sportsWomen's sports
Baseball Cross country
Basketball Golf
Cross country Soccer
Football Track & field
Tennis Volleyball
Track & field
Wrestling
Co-ed sports
Rifle
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.

A member of the Southern Conference, The Citadel sponsors teams in nine men's and seven women's NCAA sanctioned sports.

Baseball

The Citadel's most successful athletics program, the baseball team has won thirteen Southern Conference championships and eight Southern Conference baseball tournament championships. The 1990 team advanced to the College World Series, becoming the first military school to do so; they finished with a record of 46–14 and were ranked sixth in the final Collegiate Baseball poll that season. The Bulldogs are coached by Tony Skole. As of the end of the 2015 season, 49 players have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.

Basketball

McAlister Field House CitadelBasketball.JPG
McAlister Field House

The Citadel Bulldogs basketball team dates to the 1900–01 season, posting an all-time record of 914–1176. The Citadel's 1966–67 season is chronicled in Pat Conroy's My Losing Season . The 2008–09 squad won 20 games for just the second time in school history and participated in the postseason for the first time, playing in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament; they were defeated in the first round by eventual champion Old Dominion. The team has never played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

The current Head Coach is Ed Conroy '89, cousin of bestselling author Pat Conroy '67. Recent head coaches have included Duggar Baucom and Chuck Driesell, son of coaching legend Lefty Driesell.

Football

Johnson Hagood Stadium CitadelStadium.jpg
Johnson Hagood Stadium

The Citadel has won four Southern Conference Championships in 1961, 1992, 2015 and 2016. In 1960, the Bulldogs won the Tangerine Bowl, defeating Tennessee Tech 27–0. The Bulldogs have appeared in the FCS Playoffs five times, advancing to the second round in 1992 before losing to eventual runner-up Youngstown State. The 1992 squad finished with a record of 11–2 and was ranked #1 in the final regular season I-AA poll.

The current Head Coach is Brent Thompson who has compiled a record of 15–7 including an 11–5 mark and one Conference Championship in his two season.

Since 2005, three Bulldog players have been drafted by NFL teams. Several alumni have played in the pro ranks including former ESPN analyst Paul Maguire, a tight end and punter with the LA/San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills; running back Stump Mitchell with the St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals, kicker Greg Davis who played for several teams including Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Arizona; running back Travis Jervey who played in 2 Super Bowls with Green Bay and fullback Nehemiah Broughton who played for Washington, the New York Giants and Arizona. Wide receiver Andre Roberts of the Bills and cornerback Cortez Allen of Pittsburgh are currently active.

Rifle

Inouye Marksmanship Center Inouye Hall - Rifle Range.JPG
Inouye Marksmanship Center

The Rifle team is coached by William Smith, in his 17th season in 2017–18. Under Smith's leadership, the team returned to varsity status in 2001 after 9 years at the club level. The Bulldogs have claimed SEARC championships in 2001–02 and 2010–11 and National Championships in 1939, 1953, 1963, and 1965. The team also claimed eight Southern Conference titles between 1960 and 1974. The pre-NCAA sponsoring body, the National Rifle Association of America, credits The Citadel with one Intercollege Rifle Team Trophy, in 1963. [2] The team competes at the Inouye Marksmanship Center, a highly advanced $3.2 million facility that is also utilized by The Citadel's club pistol team, ROTC, local law enforcement and the South Carolina National Guard [3] [4] [5]

Women's soccer

The women's soccer team was established in 2001 and is currently coached by Ciaran Traquair. The team plays its home games at WLI Field.

Volleyball

The volleyball team was the first women's team sport sponsored by The Citadel, established in 1998, shortly after the integration of women into the Corps of Cadets in 1996. The team is currently led by Dave Zelenock and competes in McAlister Field House.

Wrestling

The Citadel Bulldogs wrestling team has claimed Southern Conference championships in 1967 and 2004, and have 4 All-Americans, with 2 from the 2013 squad. They are currently coached by Ryan LeBlanc. Vandiver Hall is the practice facility on campus for the wrestling team, while the McAlister Field House hosts home dual meets and tournaments, also located on campus.

Defunct teams

Facilities

The Citadel football team plays in Johnson Hagood Stadium, a 11,500-seat stadium just to the south of campus. The stadium is undergoing a long-term renovation and rebuilding, which includes the Altman Athletic Center, completed in 2001, and the rebuilt west stands, 2006 and club tower, 2008. The team practices at the Mayberry Triplets Practice facility on the north edge of campus, and utilizes Seignious Hall, on campus behind McAlister Field House and Vandiver Hall, for locker rooms, team meeting space, and weightlifting.

The baseball team shares 6,000 seats Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park with the professional Charleston RiverDogs of the Class-A South Atlantic League for games, and practices at College Park, on Rutledge Avenue. The Citadel owns College Park and has considered a number of future uses for it, including a stadium for the women's soccer team and a tennis complex.

The basketball, wrestling, and volleyball teams use McAlister Field House, a 6,000-seat facility on campus for games and practices. The basketball team's locker room is also in McAlister.

The women's soccer team practices and plays on WLI Field, located on campus to the west of the mess hall and Indian Hill. WLI Field is the former home of the baseball team and men's soccer team.

The rifle team uses the Inouye Marksmanship Center, which is situated behind WLI field on the banks of the Ashley River.

The tennis team competes at the Earle Tennis Center, completed in 1990. Comprising ten courts, the facility is located between Stevens Barracks and the infirmary.

All teams, other than football, baseball and basketball, utilize Vandiver Hall, located behind McAlister Field House is home to track offices, golf offices, wrestling offices, various locker rooms, an indoor golf practice facility, indoor batting cages for baseball and the wrestling practice facility. [6]

Rivalries

The Citadel's most heated rivalries are with the VMI Keydets, Furman Paladins, Charleston Southern Buccaneers and College of Charleston Cougars. Furman has been the longest running rivalry, although the Paladins have led the series in football for many decades. While The Citadel has played VMI in many sports for decades, the rivalry has only developed since the creation of the Silver Shako trophy for football in 1976. The football game is now known as the Military Classic of the South. Crosstown rival College of Charleston has become a major rivalry in basketball and baseball, although the Cougars have controlled the games in basketball since joining the Southern Conference (the Cougars left for the Colonial Athletic Association in 2013).

Other historical rivalries include Clemson, South Carolina, Wofford, Presbyterian College, and Newberry College.

Championships

The Bulldogs claim four national championships in rifle, including two individual national championships. In addition, varsity Bulldog teams have claimed 41 conference championships and record 224 individual conference championships. [7]

SportTitles
BaseballCollege World Series Appearance: 1990
SoCon Tournament Champions: 1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2010
SoCon Regular Season Champions: 1960, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2010
BasketballSIAA Tournament Champions: 1927
BoxingSoCon Champions: 1949
SoCon Individual Champions: 4
FootballPlayoff appearances: 1988, 1990, 1992, 2015, 2016
SoCon Champions: 1960, 1992, 2015, 2016
GolfMen'sSoCon Champions: 1964
RifleNational champions: 1939, 1953, 1963, 1965
William Randolph Hearst Trophy: 1963, 1965
SEARC Champions: 1999, 2001, 2002, 2010
SoCon Champions: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1969, 1973, 1974
TennisSoCon Champions: 1964
SoCon Singles Champions: 19
SoCon Doubles Champions: 9
Track and FieldMen'sSoCon Champions: 1959, 1960, 1961
SoCon Indoor Event Champions: 36
SoCon Outdoor Event Champions: 88
Women'sSoCon Indoor Event Champions: 3
SoCon Outdoor Event Champions: 3
VolleyballSoCon Tournament Champions: 2021
WrestlingAll-Americans: 4
SoCon Champions: 1967, 2004
SoCon Individual Champions: 69

Club sports

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pittsburgh Panthers</span> Athletic teams of the University of Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Panthers, commonly also referred to as the Pitt Panthers, are the athletic teams representing the University of Pittsburgh, although the term is colloquially used to refer to other aspects of the university such as alumni, faculty, and students. Pitt fields 19 university-sponsored varsity teams at the highest level of competitive collegiate athletics in the United States: the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for American football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McAlister Field House</span>

McAlister Field House is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. It was built in 1939 and is home to The Citadel Bulldogs basketball, wrestling and volleyball teams. Office space in the facility houses athletic department staff as well as several coaches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iowa State Cyclones</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Iowa State University

The Iowa State Cyclones are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Iowa State University, located in Ames. The university is a member of the Big 12 Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 16 varsity teams in 12 sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Diego State Aztecs</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of San Diego State University

The San Diego State Aztecs are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent San Diego State University (SDSU). San Diego State sponsors six men's and eleven women's sports at the varsity level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akron Zips</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of Akron (Ohio)

The Akron Zips are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, United States. The Zips compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East division. Akron sponsors 17 varsity teams across six men's, 10 women's, and one coed NCAA sanctioned sports. The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level of competition for college football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Lady Techsters</span> Collegiate sports club in the United States

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Lady Techsters, commonly abbreviated La. Tech and Dawgs, refer to the sports teams of Louisiana Tech University, in Ruston, Louisiana. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports. Since 2013, Louisiana Tech has been a member of Conference USA (C-USA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Utah Valley Wolverines</span> Athletic teams of Utah Valley University

The Utah Valley Wolverines represent Utah Valley University in NCAA DI collegiate athletics and sponsor 16 sporting programs. The Wolverines participate in the Western Athletic Conference. The school mascot is the Wolverine, and the colors are green and white. The UVU student section is called The Den. A name change from The Mawl, the student section's previous name, was enacted in 2017. All UVU students can get their Den pass, which includes free admission to all athletic events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholls Colonels</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Nicholls State University

The Nicholls Colonels are the 15 teams representing Nicholls State University, a university in Louisiana, in intercollegiate athletics. The Colonels compete in the NCAA Division I and the Colonels football team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Colonels sports teams are members of the Southland Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Oklahoma Bronchos</span>

The Central Oklahoma Bronchos, are the intercollegiate athletic teams representing University of Central Oklahoma, located in Edmond, Oklahoma. The five men's and nine women's varsity teams are called the "Bronchos". The school's identification as Bronchos dates back to 1922, when the wife of football coach Charles W. Wantland suggested it for the school's mascot. The official colors of the teams are bronze and blue, which the institution adopted in 1895. The Bronchos compete in the NCAA's Division II and in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association in all sports except women's rowing, which competes in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Bronchos have won 22 national championships, with the most recent coming in 2023 as the wrestling program won the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. The university's current athletic director is Stan Wagnon, who has served in the position since 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMI Keydets</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Virginia Military Institute

The VMI Keydets are the athletic teams that represent the Virginia Military Institute. All sports participate in the NCAA Division I, and all but three compete in the Southern Conference (the exceptions being men's and women's swimming and diving in the America East Conference, and women's water polo in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. VMI fields teams in sixteen different sports, ten for men and six for women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Citadel Bulldogs basketball</span>

The Citadel Bulldogs basketball team represents The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina in the sport of men's college basketball. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Southern Conference South Division. Ed Conroy is in his second stint as the head coach, having previously held the position from 2006–2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Citadel Bulldogs wrestling</span>

The Citadel Bulldogs wrestling team represents The Citadel of Charleston, South Carolina. The squad is led by head coach Ryan LeBlanc, and assistant coach Luke Welch. The Bulldogs are members of the Southern Conference and have won conference championships in 1967 and 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Classic of the South</span> American college football rivalry

The Military Classic of the South is an American college football rivalry game played between The Citadel and the Virginia Military Institute. The first game between the two military schools was in 1920. The game has been played nearly continuously since World War II; since then, only five seasons have seen the game not played.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Citadel Bulldogs football</span> American football team in South Carolina

The Citadel Bulldogs football program represents The Citadel in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Bulldogs play in the Southern Conference, as they have since 1936. The Bulldogs are coached by Maurice Drayton, who was hired on January 12, 2023, to replace Brent Thompson, whose contract was not renewed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Citadel Bulldogs baseball</span>

The Citadel Bulldogs baseball team represents The Citadel in college baseball. They are classified as NCAA Division I and play in the Southern Conference. The Bulldogs are led by Tony Skole, who began his first season in 2018. They made their one appearance in the College World Series in 1990. They are the first and through 2022 only military school to appear in the College World Series. The Citadel has claimed eight Southern Conference baseball tournament titles and produced seven major league players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Citadel–Furman football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Citadel–Furman football rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played by The Citadel Bulldogs football team of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina and the Furman Paladins football team of Furman University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Georgia Nighthawks</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of University of North Georgia

The North Georgia Nighthawks are the athletic teams that represent the University of North Georgia, located in Dahlonega, Georgia, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Peach Belt Conference since the 2005–06 academic year. North Georgia's rifle team competes at the Division I level as affiliate members of the Southern Conference (SoCon).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 The Citadel Bulldogs basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2014–15 The Citadel Bulldogs basketball team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulldogs were led by fifth year head coach Chuck Driesell and played their home games at McAlister Field House. They played a member of the Southern Conference, as they have since 1936–37. They finished the season 11–19, 6–12 in SoCon play to finish in a three-way tie for seventh place. They lost in the first round of the SoCon tournament to Furman. Driesell was not retained after the season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 The Citadel Bulldogs basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2015–16 The Citadel Bulldogs basketball team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulldogs were led by first year head coach Duggar Baucom and played their home games at McAlister Field House. Baucom was previously the head coach at military rival VMI. They again played as a member of the Southern Conference, as they have since 1936–37. They finished the season 10–22, 3–15 in SoCon play to finish in last place. They lost in the first round of the SoCon tournament to Mercer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Citadel–Wofford football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Citadel–Wofford football rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played by The Citadel Bulldogs football team of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina and the Wofford Terriers football team of Wofford College. The Citadel is located in Charleston, South Carolina, while Wofford is located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The schools were two of the last colleges in the United States to integrate women into their respective student bodies, with Wofford admitting women in 1976 and The Citadel in 1996. The two schools are also both highly ranked academically by reviewers such as U.S. News & World Report.

References

  1. "Colors: Thw Citadel Brand Guidelines" . Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  2. "Intercollegiate Rifle Team Trophy" (PDF). National Rifle Association of America. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  3. "2011-12 Rifle Quick Facts" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  4. "2011-12 Rifle Media Guide" . Retrieved 2012-02-08.[ dead link ]
  5. Jeff Hartsell. "Citadel rifle team targets perfection at $3.2m shooting range". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on 2012-02-11. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  6. "Citadel Vandiver Hall". The Citadel Athletic Facilities. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  7. "Citadel Championships". The Citadel. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  8. "Citadel Club Sports".