Lenoir–Rhyne Bears football

For information on all Lenoir–Rhyne University sports, see Lenoir–Rhyne Bears.

Football program representing Lenoir–Rhyne University in North Carolina, U.S.A.

Lenoir–Rhyne Bears football

First season| 1907; 118 years ago (1907)
Head coach| Doug Socha
1st season, 10–3 (.769)
Stadium| Moretz Stadium
(capacity: 8,200)
Location| Hickory, North Carolina
NCAA division| Division II
Conference| South Atlantic Conference
All-time record| 546–467–34 (.538)
Claimed national titles| NAIA: 1 (1960)
Conference titles| 23 (10 SAC, 8 NSC, 5 CC)
Rivalries| Newberry, Wingate, Catawba
Colors| Cardinal and black[1]

Mascot| Joe and Josie Bear
Marching band| Spirit of Lenoir-Rhyne
Website| LRBears.com

The Lenoir–Rhyne Bears football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Lenoir–Rhyne University located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The team competes in the NCAA Division II and are members of the South Atlantic Conference. Lenoir–Rhyne's first football team was fielded in 1907. The team plays its home games at the 10,000 seat Moretz Stadium in Hickory, North Carolina.

## History

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This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2012)

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## Conference history

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* 1954–1969: NAIA
* 1970–1992: NAIA Division I
* 1989–present: NCAA Division II

### Conference affiliations

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* 1907–1930: Independent
* 1931–1960: North State Conference
* 1961–1974: Carolinas Conference
* 1975–present: South Atlantic Conference

The Bears had no team from 1912–1920 and 1942–1945.

## Postseason appearances

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### Bowl games

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The Bears have participated in five postseason bowl games, compiling a 3–2 record.[2]

Season  | Game  | Date  | Opponent  | Result  | Location

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1951 | Pythian Bowl | December 8, 1951 | California (PA) | W 13–7 | Salisbury, North Carolina
1952 | Cigar Bowl | December 13, 1952 | Tampa | L 12–21 | Tampa, Florida
1955 | Palmetto Shrine | December 10, 1955 | Newberry | W 14–13 | Columbia, South Carolina
1959 | Holiday Bowl (NAIA) | December 19, 1959 | Texas A&I | L 20–7 | St. Petersburg, Florida
1960 | Holiday Bowl (NAIA) | December 10, 1960 | Humboldt State | W 15–14 | St. Petersburg, Florida

### NCAA Division II playoffs

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The Bears have made eight appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Their combined record is 12–8, with one appearance in the NCAA Division II championship game (2013).

Year  | Round  | Opponent  | Result

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2012 | First Round
Second Round  | Fort Valley State
Carson–Newman | W, 21–6
L, 35–38
2013 | Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship  | Carson–Newman
North Alabama
West Chester
NW Missouri State | W, 27–20
W, 42–39
W, 42–14
L, 28–43
2014 | Second Round  | Valdosta State | L, 21–23
2018 | First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals  | Florida Tech
Wingate
Valdosta State  | W, 43–21
W, 21–17
L, 21–61
2019 | First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals  | Miles
Carson–Newman
West Florida | W, 36–7
W, 49–21
L, 38–43
2021 | First Round  | Bowie State | L, 10–31
2023 | First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals  | Shepherd
Benedict
Valdosta State
Harding | W, 63–17
W, 35–25
W, 35–7
L, 14–55
2024 | First Round
Second Round  | West Alabama
Virginia Union | W, 37–34
L, 12–44

## Coaches

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Clarence Stasavich has the most victories as coach of the Bears.

* Tom Warlick (1907–1908)
* Burton H. Schoeff (1909)
* Daniel M. Williams (1910–1911)
* Phil Utley (1921)
* Norman Lamotte (1922–1923)
* Dick Gurley (1924–1931)
* Robert M. Shores (1932–1936)
* Albert Spurlock (1937)
* Robert M. Shores (1938–1941)
* D. M. Williams (1942–1945)
* Clarence Stasavich (1946–1961)
* Hanley Painter (1962–1972)
* Danny Williams (1973)
* Jack Huss (1974–1979)
* Henry Vansant (1980–1983)
* John Perry (1984–1990)
* Charles Forbes (1991–1996)
* Bill Hart (1997–2001)
* Wayne Hicks (2002–2006)
* Fred Goldsmith (2007–2010)
* Mike Houston (2011–2013)
* Ian Shields (2014–2015)
* Mike Kellar (2016–2017)
* Drew Cronic (2018–2019)
* Mike Jacobs (2020–2023)
* Doug Socha (2024–present)

## Notable former players

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* Kyle Dugger, drafted 2nd round (37th overall) in the 2020 NFL draft by the New England Patriots
* Perry Fewell, former NFL coach
* Craig Keith, former tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars (1993–1995)
* John Milem, former defensive end for the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers (2000–2002)
* Terence Steward, former wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys (1987)
* Dareke Young, drafted 7th round (233rd overall) in the 2022 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks

## Year-by-year results

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Year W-L-T 1907 (0-3), 1908 (5-2-1), 1909 (3-5), 1910 (1-2), 1911 (3-3), —-NO TEAM 1912-1920—- 1921 (2-3), 1922 (1-5), 1923 (0-5), 1924 (5-4), 1925 (6-3), 1926 (7-2), 1927 (3-6-1), 1928 (2-6-1), 1929 (4-5-1), 1930 (3-6-1),

1939* (6–1–3), 1951 (10–1), 1952 (8–1), 1955 (9–0–1), 1956 (10–0), 1958 (9–1), 1959 (10–1), 1960 (12–0), 1961 (8–1–1), 1962 (11–1), 1965 (7–3), 1966* (6–3), 1967 (8–1), 1975 (7–3–1), 1988* (7–4), 1994* (8–2), 2005 (5–5), 2006 (3–8), 2007 (2–9), 2008 (3–8), 2009 (5–6), 2010 (7–4), 2011* (7–3), 2012 (9–3), 2013* (13–2), 2014* (11–1), 2015 (5–5), 2016 (3–8), 2017 (3–7), 2018* (12–2), 2019* (13–1), Spring 2020 (3-1)

## Championship appearances

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The Bears made three appearances in the NAIA championship game during their tenure, winning in 1960, and appeared in the NCAA Division II championship game in 2013.

Year  | Division  | Coach  | Opponent  | Record  | Score

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1959 | NAIA Playoffs | Clarence Stasavich | Texas A&I Javelinas | 10–1 | L 7–20
1960 | NAIA Playoffs | Clarence Stasavich | Humboldt State | 12–0 | W 15–14
1962 | NAIA Playoffs | Hanley Painter | Central State (OK) | 11–1 | L 13–28
2013 | NCAA Division II Playoffs | Mike Houston | Northwest Missouri State | 13–2 | L 28–43

## Conference championships

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1939* (6–1–3), 1951 (10–1), 1952 (8–1), 1955 (9–0–1), 1956 (10–0), 1958 (9–1), 1959 (10–1), 1960 (12–0), 1961 (8–1–1), 1962 (11–1), 1965 (7–3), 1966* (6–3), 1967 (8–1), 1975 (7–3–1), 1988* (7–4), 1994* (8–2), 2011* (7–3), 2012 (9–3), 2013 (13–2), 2014 (11–1), 2018 (12–2), 2019 (13–1)

*denotes co-championship. The Bears won 8 titles in the North State Conference, 5 in the Carolinas Conference, and 9 in the South Atlantic Conference.

## References

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1. ^ "Brand Style Guide". Retrieved April 3, 2023.
2. ^ "BOWL/ALL STAR GAME RECORDS" (PDF). NCAA. 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2017.

## External links

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* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Lenoir–Rhyne Bears football

Venues|

* Moretz Stadium (1924–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games

Culture & lore|

* Joe and Josie Bear

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees

Seasons|

* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912–1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 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

National championships in bold

* v
* t
* e

South Atlantic Conference

Full members|

* Anderson Trojans
* Carson–Newman Eagles
* Catawba Indians
* Coker Cobras
* Emory and Henry Wasps
* Lenoir–Rhyne Bears
* Limestone Saints* 4
* Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters
* Mars Hill Lions
* Newberry Wolves
* Tusculum Pioneers
* UVA Wise Cavaliers
* Wingate Bulldogs

Affiliate members|

* Barton Bulldogs1
* Belmont Abbey Crusaders2
* Converse Valkyries2
* Emmanuel Lions3
* Erskine Flying Fleet3
* Lander Bearcats2
* Mount Olive Trojans2

* 1football
* 2field hockey
* 3beach volleyball
* 4leaving in 2025

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