Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football

College football team

Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football

| | 2024 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football team

|

First season| 1925; 99 years ago (1925)
Head coach| Raymond Woodie Jr.
2nd season, 5–18 (.217)
Stadium| Daytona Stadium
(capacity: 10,000)
Field surface| Artificial turf
Location| Daytona Beach, Florida
NCAA division| Division I FCS
Conference| SWAC
All-time record| 505-348-26 (.589)
Claimed national titles| 2 (Black College): 2010, 2013
Unclaimed national titles| 2 (Black College): 2002, 2012
Conference titles| 14
Rivalries| Florida A&M
Colors| Maroon and gold[1]

Fight song| Let's Go Wildcats
Mascot| Wil D Cat
Marching band| The Marching Wildcats
Website| bcuathletics.com

The Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football team represents Bethune–Cookman University in the sport of college football. The Wildcats compete in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Starting with the fall 2021 season, they compete in the East Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), after having been members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) since 1979.[2] They play their home games at Daytona Stadium. The Wildcats have won two black college football national championships and seven MEAC titles in the history of their football program.

## History

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### Classifications

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* 1956–1972: NCAA College Division
* 1973–1979: NCAA Division II
* 1980–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

### Conference memberships

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* 1925–1945: Independent
* 1946–1949: Southeastern Athletic Conference
* 1950–1979: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* 1979–2020: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
* 2021–present: Southwestern Athletic Conference

## Conference championships

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Year  | Conference  | Overall record  | Conference record  | Head coach

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1942 | SEAC | 6–1 | 6–1 | Thomas E. Morris
1947 | SEAC | 10–2 | 0–0 | Bunky Matthews
1952 | SIAC | 9–1 | 5–1 | Bunky Matthews
1973 | SIAC | 9–2 | 5–0 | Cy McClairen
1975 | SIAC | 10–1 | 4–1 | Charles W. Moore
1976 | SIAC | 9–2 | 4–1 | Andy Hinson
1984 | MEAC | 7–3 | 4–0 | Larry Little
1988* | MEAC | 5–6 | 4–2 | Larry Little
2002 | MEAC | 11–2 | 7–1 | Alvin Wyatt
2010* | MEAC | 10–2 | 7–1 | Brian Jenkins
2012 | MEAC | 8–3 | 8–0 | Brian Jenkins
2013* | MEAC | 10–3 | 5–1 | Brian Jenkins
2014* | MEAC | 9–3 | 6–2 | Brian Jenkins
2015* | MEAC | 9–2 | 7–1 | Terry Sims
Total | 14
* Denotes a tie for first place and conference co-champion

## Black college football national championships

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The Wildcats have won two black college football national championships.

Year  | Conference  | Overall record  | Conference record  | Head coach

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2010 | MEAC | 10–2 | 7–1 | Brian Jenkins
2013 | MEAC | 10–3 | 5–1 | Brian Jenkins
Total | 2

## Playoff appearances

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### NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

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The Wildcats have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs five times with an overall record of 0–5.

Year  | Round  | Opponent  | Result

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|
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2002 | First Round | Georgia Southern | L 0–34
2003 | First Round | Florida Atlantic | L 24–32
2010 | Second Round | New Hampshire | L 20–45
2012 | First Round | Coastal Carolina | L 14–24
2013 | First Round | Coastal Carolina | L 24–48

### NCAA Division II

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The Wildcats appeared in the Division II playoffs one time, with an overall record of 0–1.

Year  | Round  | Opponent  | Result

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1977 | Quarterfinals | UC Davis | L, 16–34

## Alumni in the NFL

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Over 31 Bethune–Cookman alumni have played in the NFL,[3] including:

* Leroy Allen
* Boobie Clark
* Nick Collins
* Charles Cornelius
* Jawill Davis
* Ryan Davis
* Roger Jackson
* Larry Little
* Rashean Mathis
* Jack "Cy" McClairen
* Maulty Moore
* Booker Reese
* Tony Samuels
* Howard Smothers
* Eric Weems
* Lee Williams
* Alvin Wyatt
* Antwuan Wyatt

## Pro Football Hall of Fame

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One former BCU football player has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Year inducted | Player | POS | Seasons at BCU | NFL team(s) | Years with NFL team(s)

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|
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1993 | Larry Little | G | 1963–1966 | San Diego Chargers | 1967–1968
Miami Dolphins | 1969–1980

## Buck Buchanan Award

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The Buck Buchanan Award is given to the most outstanding defensive player in Division I FCS. In 2002, Rashean Mathis of Bethune–Cookman won the award.[4] Mathis holds the NCAA FCS/ I-AA records for most interceptions in a season (14), most interceptions during a career (31), most yards on interception returns in a season (455), and most yards on interception returns in a career (682).[5]

## See also

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* Florida Classic

## References

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1. ^ Bethune-Cookman Digital Media Guide. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
2. ^ "SWAC Announces Addition of Bethune-Cookman as Full Member" (Press release). Southwestern Athletic Conference. June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
3. ^ "Bethune-Cookman Players/Alumni | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
4. ^ "College Football Awards: Buck Buchanan Award Winners". EDSFOOTBALL. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
5. ^ "Football Championship Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved July 11, 2023.

## External links

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* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football

Venues|

* Daytona Stadium (1988–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Florida A&M: Florida Classic

Culture & lore|

* Wil D Cat
* "Let's Go Wildcats"

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees

Seasons|

* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

Southwestern Athletic Conference football

East Division|

* Alabama A&M Bulldogs
* Alabama State Hornets
* Bethune–Cookman Wildcats
* Florida A&M Rattlers
* Jackson State Tigers
* Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils

West Division|

* Alcorn State Braves
* Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions
* Grambling State Tigers
* Prairie View A&M Panthers
* Southern Jaguars
* Texas Southern Tigers

Championships & awards|

* SWAC Championship Game
* All-time standings

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