Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football

Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football
2024 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team
First season1970; 54 years ago (1970)
Athletic directorAndrew T. Goodrich
Head coachCris Reisert
1st season, 0–0 (–)
StadiumErnest W. Spangler Stadium
(capacity: 9,000)
Field surfaceTurf
LocationBoiling Springs, North Carolina
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceBig South–OVC
All-time record270–309–2 (.466)
Conference titles6
ColorsRed and black[1]
   
Marching bandThe Sounds of the Springs

The Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Gardner–Webb University in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The team competes in the Division I FCS and are members of the Big South–OVC Football Association.[2] Gardner–Webb's first football team was fielded in 1970. The team plays its home games at the 9,000-seat Ernest W. Spangler Stadium in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The Runnin' Bulldogs are coached by Cris Reisert.

History

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Classifications

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  • 1970–1992: NAIA Division I
  • 1991–1999: NCAA Division II
  • 2000–present: NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

Conference affiliations

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Conference championships

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Year Coach Conference Overall record Conference record
1987 Woody Fish South Atlantic Conference 11–2 6–1
1992 12–2 7–0
2002 Steve Patton Big South Conference 9–1 3–0
2003 8–4 4–0
2022 Tre Lamb 7–6 5–0
2023† Big South–OVC Football Association 7–5 5–1
Conference Championships 6

† denotes co-championship

Playoff results

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NAIA

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The Runnin' Bulldogs appeared in the NAIA playoffs two times, with an overall record of 3–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
1987 First Round
Quarterfinals
Moorhead State
Carson–Newman
W, 27–7
L, 24–27
1992 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game
Concord
Shepherd
Central State
W, 28–21
W, 22–7
L, 16–19

Division I FCS

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The Runnin' Bulldogs have appeared in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs two times, with an overall record of 1–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
2022 First Round
Second Round
Eastern Kentucky
William & Mary
W, 52–41
L, 14–54
2023 First Round Mercer L, 7–17

Notable former players

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Notable alumni include:

Future non-conference opponents

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Future non-conference opponents announced as of January 19, 2023.[4]

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028
at Appalachian State at James Madison at Western Carolina at The Citadel
Elon at Charlotte at Georgia Tech
at East Carolina The Citadel
at Austin Peay at Ohio
Eastern Kentucky

References

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  1. ^ "Gardner-Webb Colors". April 28, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "Gardner-Webb Historical Data". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  3. ^ "Gabe Wilkins Stats, News and Video - DE". NFL.com.
  4. ^ "Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
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