East Tennessee State Buccaneers football

Intercollegiate American football team

For information on all East Tennessee State University sports, see East Tennessee State Buccaneers.

East Tennessee State Buccaneers football

| | 2024 East Tennessee State Buccaneers football team

|

First season| 1920; 104 years ago
Athletic director| Richard Sander
Head coach| Will Healy
1st season, 0–0 (–)
Stadium| William B. Greene Jr. Stadium
(capacity: 7,694)
Field surface| Artificial
Location| Johnson City, Tennessee
NCAA division| Division I FCS
Conference| Southern Conference
All-time record| 394-454-27 (.466)
Bowl record| 4-2 (.667)
Conference titles| 5 (1 SMAC, 2 OVC, 2 SoCon)
Rivalries| Chattanooga Mocs, Western Carolina Catamounts
Colors| Navy blue and gold[1]

Mascot| Bucky
Website| etsubucs.com/football

The East Tennessee State Buccaneers football program is the intercollegiate American football team for East Tennessee State University (ETSU) located in Johnson City, Tennessee. The team was dormant from the end of the 2003 season until being reinstated for the 2015 season. They played all of their 2015 home games and all but one of their 2016 home games at Kermit Tipton Stadium before the opening of the new William B. Greene Jr. Stadium for the 2017 season.[2] The remaining 2016 home game, against Western Carolina on September 17, was played at nearby Bristol Motor Speedway, which was already set up for football due to a game the prior week between the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech.[3] Before ETSU dropped football, it competed in NCAA Division I as a Southern Conference (SoCon) football program. The revived program played as an independent in 2015 before returning to the SoCon in 2016.[4]

## History

[edit]

East Tennessee State Normal School fielded its first football team in 1920. Navy blue and old gold, chosen in 1911, were the school colors. The team only played five games that year including two against local high school teams. W.R. Windes was the head coach for the first two seasons. In 1925, the school's name was changed to East Tennessee State Teachers College. The athletic teams were named "The Teachers". John Robinson was the head coach for the next 5 years.

In 1930, the school's name changed again to State Teachers College, Johnson City. In 1932, Gene McMurray was named the head coach. He coached for 10 straight seasons until the school stopped playing due to World War II. He came back to coach the team in 1946. His winning percentage during his 11 seasons was the highest in the history of Buc football. During his tenure, the team won the Smoky Mountain Conference championship in 1938[5] and the team's name changed to the "Buccaneers" (1935).

In 1943, the school's name changed to East Tennessee State College. In 1952, Star Wood became head coach. He led the team for 13 seasons; 1952 to 1953 and then 1955 to 1965. Coach Wood tops the list of total wins with 64. From 1952 to 1956, the team made five consecutive appearances in the Burley Bowl, compiling a 3–2 record. East Tennessee State College joined the Ohio Valley Conference in 1957.

In 1963, the college gained university status to become East Tennessee State University. Coach John Robert Bell led the team to a 10–0–1 record in 1969. They won the Ohio Valley Conference Championship and defeated Louisiana Tech, led by quarterback Terry Bradshaw, in the Grantland Rice Bowl. The Memorial Center opened in 1977 and was nicknamed the "Mini-Dome". The football team played their homes games indoors until the program was discontinued. In 1978, ETSU joined the Southern Conference.

The 1996 ETSU football team led by Coach Mike Cavan had a record of 10–3 and participated for the first time in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, defeating Villanova in a first-round game.

In 2003, ETSU decided to discontinue the football team due to financial reasons. The last game was played at home on November 22, 2003, against The Citadel. ETSU won the game 16–13 with a last second field goal. The school further left the Southern Conference.[6]

On January 29, 2013, the Student Government Association voted 22–5 to a $125 per semester fee increase that would fund the re-instatement of the football program. University President Dr. Brian Noland, who was in attendance for the vote, said that fee would be sufficient to support football and Title IX requirements that support additional women's athletics. Noland crafted a football proposal to submit to the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR). The Regents passed it in March 2013.[7]

On March 29, 2013, the TBR approved a $125 fee increase to reinstate football at ETSU. It had also become widely known across the campus that the Mini-Dome would not host home games. ETSU is building a brand new football stadium to play host to all of its home games. On May 30, 2013, ETSU accepted an invitation to rejoin the Southern Conference in 2014 and reinstated football, with operations beginning shortly thereafter and the first class signed in 2014 in preparation for the first game in the 2015 season.[8]

### The Carl Torbush era

[edit]

Veteran coach Carl Torbush was chosen to helm the rebuilding of the program, and signed the first class in 2014 in preparation for the 2015 season debut.[9] For the first two years, they played home games at Kermit Tipton Stadium/Steve Spurrier Field located on the campus of Science Hill High School in Johnson City.[2] It was announced on February 6, 2015, that ETSU would play Tennessee at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018, the first meeting between the two schools. ETSU will receive a $500,000 payment for the game.[10] The Carl Torbush era began on September 3, 2015, as the Bucs took on the Kennesaw State Owls. On July 15, 2015, it was announced that the first game against Kennesaw State and the homecoming game against Emory & Henry had sold out, and that standing-only tickets were then available.[11] Torbush and the fledgling Bucs finished the 2015 season with a 2–9 record, with the wins over Warner and Kentucky Wesleyan. Torbush then lead a much improved Bucs team to a 5–6 (2–6 SoCon) in 2016 including a revenge win against Kennesaw State, a win over Western Carolina at Bristol Motor Speedway (the most attended game in the program's history), and an upset against then 18th-ranked Samford. In 2017, the Bucs returned on campus to William B. Greene Jr. Stadium, where they were mostly successful. However, the Bucs finished with a disappointing 4–7 record. After the season, Torbush decided to retire on December 8, 2017, citing his age as key factor in not signing a contract [12] In three years as the Buccaneers head coach, Torbush finished with an 11–22 (4–12 SoCon) record.

### The Randy Sanders era

[edit]

On December 17, 2017, following the retirement of Carl Torbush earlier in the month, the East Tennessee State Buccaneers named, former Florida State Seminoles football offensive coordinator, Randy Sanders as their eighteenth head coach.[13] On September 1, 2018, Sanders won his first game as a head coach defeating Mars Hill 28–7. On September 4, 2021, Sanders led the Buccaneers to their first FBS win since 1987, defeating Vanderbilt 23–3. The season ended with a loss to North Dakota State in the Quarterfinals.

## Conference history

[edit]

### Classifications

[edit]

* 1952–1956: NAIA
* 1957–1972: NCAA College Division
* 1973–1977: NCAA Division II
* 1978–2003: NCAA Division I–AA (now FCS)
* 2004–2014: No team
* 2015–present: NCAA Division I FCS

### Conference memberships

[edit]

* 1920–1929, 1946–1948: Independent
* 1930–1941, 1949–1951: Smoky Mountain Conference
* 1949–1957: Volunteer State Athletic Conference
* 1957–1978: Ohio Valley Conference
* 1979–2003: Southern Conference
* 2004–2014: No team
* 2015: FCS independent
* 2016–present: Southern Conference

Note: ETSU was a full member of the Southern Conference in the 2015–16 school year, but played the 2015 football season as an FCS independent.

## Conference championships

[edit]

The Buccaneers have won five conference championships, with one coming in the Smoky Mountain Conference, two in the Ohio Valley Conference and two in the Southern Conference.

Season  | Conference  | Coach  | Overall record  | Conference record

|
|
|
|

1938 | Smoky Mountain Conference | Gene McMurray | 6–2 | 5–1
1962† | Ohio Valley Conference | Star Wood | 8–2 | 4–2
1969 | John Robert Bell | 10–0–1 | 6–0–1
2018† | Southern Conference | Randy Sanders | 8–4 | 6–2
2021 | 11–1 | 7–1

† Co-champions

## Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs results

[edit]

The Buccaneers have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs three times with an overall record of 2–3.

Year  | Round  | Opponent  | Result

|
|
|

1996 | First Round
Quarterfinals | Villanova
Montana | W 35–29
L 14–44
2018 | First Round | Jacksonville State | L 27–34
2021 | Second Round
Quarterfinals | Kennesaw State
North Dakota State | W 32–31
L 3–27

## Notable former players

[edit]

Main article: List of East Tennessee State Buccaneers in the NFL draft

Notable alumni include:

* Donnie Abraham
* Nate Adkins
* Chris Beatty
* Jorge Cimadevilla
* Jamey Chadwell
* Mack Cummings
* Dave Ewart
* Earl Ferrell
* Thane Gash
* Austin Herink
* Steven Jackson
* Maurice Kelly
* Jerry Kirk
* Dennis Law
* George Litton
* Jerry Mynatt
* Steve Parker
* Nasir Player
* Dalton Ponchillia
* Marcus Satterfield
* Gerald Sensabaugh
* Dainon Sidney
* Sam Streiter
* Mike Smith
* Tony Tiller
* Jack Vest
* Van Williams

## Yearly results

[edit]

Year  | Coach  | Win  | Loss  | Tie  | Pct.  | PF  | PA  | Delta

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1920 | William R. Windes  | 3  | 2  | 0  | .600  | 18  | 85  | -67
1921 | William R. Windes  | 4  | 3  | 0  | .571  | 95  | 137  | -42
1922 | James Karl Luck | 6  | 3  | 0  | .667  | 142  | 152  | -10
1923 | James Karl Luck  | 3  | 6  | 0  | .333  | 105  | 343  | -238
1924 | James Karl Luck  | 3  | 4  | 1  | .437  | 79  | 158  | -79
1925 | John Robinson  | 3  | 4  | 0  | .428  | 57  | 109  | -52
1926 | John Robinson  | 3  | 4  | 1  | .437  | 65  | 163  | -98
1927 | John Robinson  | 1  | 7  | 0  | .125  | 26  | 162  | -136
1928 | John Robinson  | 4  | 3  | 0  | .571  | 65  | 113  | -48
1929 | John Robinson  | 2  | 5  | 1  | .312  | 31  | 116  | -85
1930 | Jack S. Batey | 0  | 7  | 0  | .000  | 13  | 161  | -148
1931 | Jack S. Batey  | 1  | 4  | 2  | .285  | 42  | 106  | -64
1932 | Gene McMurray | 3  | 3  | 1  | .500  | 74  | 56  | 18
1933 | Gene McMurray  | 6  | 1  | 2  | .778  | 131  | 45  | 86
1934 | Gene McMurray  | 4  | 3  | 1  | .562  | 56  | 47  | 9
1935 | Gene McMurray  | 5  | 3  | 0  | .625  | 80  | 68  | 12
1936 | Gene McMurray  | 5  | 3  | 0  | .625  | 82  | 32  | 50
1937 | Gene McMurray  | 5  | 5  | 0  | .500  | 77  | 107  | -30
1938 | Gene McMurray  | 6  | 2  | 0  | .750  | 112  | 75  | 37
1939 | Gene McMurray  | 5  | 3  | 0  | .625  | 61  | 83  | -22
1940 | Gene McMurray  | 4  | 4  | 0  | .500  | 65  | 61  | 4
1941 | Gene McMurray  | 2  | 5  | 0  | .285  | 21  | 85  | -64
1946 | Gene McMurray  | 7  | 1  | 0  | .875  | 125  | 56  | 69
1947 | Loyd Roberts | 5  | 4  | 0  | .555  | 148  | 130  | 18
1948 | Loyd Roberts  | 6  | 2  | 1  | .722  | 98  | 73  | 25
1949 | Loyd Roberts  | 5  | 4  | 0  | .555  | 125  | 135  | -10
1950 | Loyd Roberts  | 3  | 5  | 1  | .389  | 126  | 125  | 1
1951 | Loyd Roberts  | 4  | 5  | 0  | .444  | 115  | 148  | -33
1952 | Star Wood | 5  | 2  | 2  | .667  | 188  | 125  | 63
1953  | Star Wood  | 5  | 4  | 0  | .555  | 220  | 164  | 56
1954  | Hal Littleford | 5  | 4  | 1  | .550  | 165  | 160  | 5
1955  | Star Wood  | 6  | 3  | 1  | .650  | 145  | 111  | 34
1956  | Star Wood  | 4  | 5  | 0  | .444  | 108  | 133  | -25
1957  | Star Wood  | 5  | 6  | 0  | .454  | 160  | 151  | 9
1958  | Star Wood  | 5  | 4  | 0  | .555  | 133  | 120  | 13
1959  | Star Wood  | 6  | 3  | 0  | .667  | 135  | 119  | 16
1960  | Star Wood  | 3  | 4  | 2  | .444  | 126  | 120  | 6
1961  | Star Wood  | 3  | 7  | 0  | .300  | 136  | 214  | -78
1962  | Star Wood  | 7  | 3  | 0  | .700  | 182  | 102  | 80
1963  | Star Wood  | 7  | 2  | 0  | .777  | 167  | 121  | 46
1964  | Star Wood  | 5  | 5  | 0  | .500  | 135  | 139  | -4
1965  | Star Wood  | 2  | 6  | 1  | .277  | 129  | 208  | -79
1966  | John Robert Bell | 3  | 6  | 0  | .333  | 112  | 119  | -7
1967  | John Robert Bell  | 3  | 6  | 1  | .350  | 133  | 145  | -12
1968  | John Robert Bell  | 5  | 5  | 0  | .500  | 151  | 170  | -19
1969 | John Robert Bell  | 10  | 0  | 1  | .954  | 219  | 114  | 105
1970  | John Robert Bell  | 7  | 1  | 2  | .800  | 161  | 81  | 80
1971  | John Robert Bell  | 0  | 9  | 1  | .050  | 108  | 242  | -134
1972  | John Robert Bell  | 3  | 7  | 0  | .300  | 203  | 221  | -18
1973  | Roy Frazier | 4  | 7  | 0  | .363  | 244  | 263  | -19
1974  | Roy Frazier  | 4  | 6  | 1  | .409  | 125  | 152  | -27
1975  | Roy Frazier  | 2  | 8  | 1  | .227  | 157  | 239  | -82
1976  | Roy Frazier  | 3  | 7  | 0  | .300  | 112  | 204  | -92
1977  | Roy Frazier  | 3  | 8  | 0  | .272  | 233  | 356  | -123
1978  | Jack Carlisle | 4  | 7  | 0  | .363  | 230  | 272  | -42
1979  | Jack Carlisle  | 7  | 4  | 0  | .636  | 278  | 150  | 128
1980  | Jack Carlisle  | 2  | 9  | 0  | .181  | 144  | 250  | -106
1981  | Jack Carlisle  | 6  | 5  | 0  | .545  | 191  | 242  | -51
1982  | Jack Carlisle  | 2  | 9  | 0  | .181  | 123  | 217  | -94
1983  | Buddy Sasser | 3  | 8  | 0  | .272  | 173  | 178  | -5
1984  | Buddy Sasser | 6  | 5  | 0  | .545  | 144  | 167  | -23
1985  | Mike Ayers | 0  | 10  | 1  | .045  | 150  | 271  | -121
1986  | Mike Ayers | 6  | 5  | 0  | .545  | 264  | 266  | -2
1987  | Mike Ayers | 5  | 6  | 0  | .454  | 232  | 244  | -12
1988  | Don Riley  | 3  | 8  | 0  | .272  | 180  | 363  | -183
1989  | Don Riley  | 4  | 7  | 0  | .363  | 218  | 325  | -107
1990  | Don Riley  | 2  | 9  | 0  | .181  | 240  | 330  | -90
1991  | Don Riley  | 1  | 10  | 0  | .090  | 183  | 396  | -213
1992  | Mike Cavan | 5  | 6  | 0  | .454  | 219  | 313  | -94
1993  | Mike Cavan | 5  | 6  | 0  | .454  | 213  | 222  | -9
1994  | Mike Cavan | 6  | 5  | 0  | .545  | 306  | 266  | 40
1995  | Mike Cavan | 4  | 7  | 0  | .363  | 224  | 305  | -81
1996 | Mike Cavan | 10  | 3  | 0  | .769  | 378  | 286  | 92
1997  | Paul Hamilton | 7  | 4  | 0  | .636  | 340  | 242  | 98
1998  | Paul Hamilton | 4  | 7  | 0  | .363  | 269  | 340  | -71
1999  | Paul Hamilton | 6  | 5  | 0  | .545  | 272  | 251  | 21
2000  | Paul Hamilton | 6  | 5  | 0  | .545  | 282  | 267  | 15
2001  | Paul Hamilton | 6  | 5  | 0  | .545  | 193  | 226  | -33
2002  | Paul Hamilton | 4  | 8  | 0  | .333  | 167  | 286  | -119
2003  | Paul Hamilton | 5  | 7  | 0  | .416  | 270  | 233  | 37
2015 | Carl Torbush | 2  | 9  | 0  | .182  | 180  | 416  | -236
2016 | Carl Torbush | 5  | 6  | 0  | .454  | 174  | 308  | -134
2017 | Carl Torbush | 4  | 7  | 0  | .363  | 211  | 313  | -102
2018 | Randy Sanders | 8  | 4  | 0  | .667  | 312  | 304  | 8
2019 | Randy Sanders | 3  | 9  | 0  | .250  | \-  | \-  | \-
2020 | Randy Sanders | 4  | 2  | 0  | .666  | 126  | 113  | 13
2021 | Randy Sanders | 11  | 2  | 0  | .846  | 425  | 295  | 130
2022 | George Quarles | 3  | 8  | 0  | .272  | 323  | 336  | -13
2023 | George Quarles | 3  | 8  | 0  | .272  | 200  | 350  | -150
Total  |  | 371  | 446  | 27  | .454  | 13981  | 16459  | -2478

[14]

## Future non-conference opponents

[edit]

Future non-conference opponents announced as of July 9, 2024.[15]

2024  | 2025  | 2026  | 2027  | 2028

|
|
|
|

at Appalachian State | Murray State | at North Dakota State | Virginia–Wise | at Murray State
Virginia–Wise | at Tennessee | at North Carolina |  |
North Dakota State | at West Georgia | West Georgia |  |
at Elon | Elon |  |  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ East Tennessee State University Brand Guidelines. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
2. ^ a b "ETSU looks to Science Hill for home field advantage over next 2 seasons".
3. ^ "ETSU, WCU to Play at Bristol Motor Speedway" (Press release). Southern Conference. January 29, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
4. ^ "College Football Data Warehouse". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on April 19, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
5. ^ "ETST TAKE FIRST SMOKY MOUNTAIN TITLE". Kingsport Times. Kingsport, Tennessee. AP. November 20, 1938. Retrieved March 26, 2017 - via newspapers.com.
6. ^ History bucfootball.com
7. ^ "Johnson City Press: News".
8. ^ "ETSU among three invited to join Southern Conference in 2014". Hilton Head, SC. June 1, 2013.
9. ^ Carl Torbush coach ETSU knoxnews.com June 19, 2013[dead link‍]
10. ^ "ETSU football to face Tennessee during 2018 season". Johnson City, TN. February 6, 2015.
11. ^ "ETSU football opener, Homecoming sellout in minutes". Johnson City, TN. July 15, 2015.
12. ^ "Torbush announces retirement as ETSU football coach". Johnson City, TN. December 8, 2017.
13. ^ Randy Sanders named the East Tennessee State Buccaneers 18th head football coach wjhl.com
14. ^ "East Tennessee State Yearly Totals". Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
15. ^ "East Tennessee State Buccaneers Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 16, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

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East Tennessee State Buccaneers football

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East Tennessee State University

Academics|

* James H. Quillen College of Medicine

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Athletics|

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|

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Related articles|

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Southern Conference football

Teams|

* Chattanooga Mocs
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* East Tennessee State Buccaneers
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Former teams|

* Former Southern Conference teams

Championships & awards|

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Seasons|

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