The Dayton Flyers football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Dayton located in the U.S. state of Ohio. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Pioneer Football League. Dayton's first football team was fielded in 1905. The team plays its home games at the 11,000 seat Welcome Stadium in Dayton, Ohio. The Flyers are coached by Trevor Andrews.

Dayton Flyers football
2024 Dayton Flyers football team
First season1905; 119 years ago
Athletic directorNeil Sullivan
Head coachTrevor Andrews
2nd season, 4–7 (.364)
StadiumWelcome Stadium
(capacity: 11,000)
LocationDayton, Ohio
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferencePioneer Football League
All-time record705–391–40 (.638)
Bowl record0–1 (.000)
Playoff appearances1 (Division I FCS) 11 (Division III)
Playoff record0-1 (Division I FCS) 16-9 (Division III)
Claimed national titles2 (Division III)
Conference titles12 (1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015)
Division titles2 (2001, 2002)
ColorsRed and blue[1]
   
MascotRudy Flyer
WebsiteDaytonFlyers.com

History

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Classifications

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  • 1906–1955: NCAA
  • 1956–1972: NCAA University Division
  • 1973–1976: NCAA Division I
  • 1977–1992: NCAA Division III
  • 1993–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference memberships

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Notable former players

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Notable alumni include:

Championships

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National championships

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Dayton has won two national championships, both during their tenure in Division III. Dayton has made five appearances in the NCAA Division III National Championship Game, also known as the Stagg Bowl. The Flyers defeated Ithaca, 63–0 in the 1980 championship game, and defeated Union (NY) 17–7 in the 1989 championship game. The Flyers were unsuccessful in three other championship game appearances, losing 17–10 to Widener in 1981, 19–3 to Wagner in 1987, and 34–20 to Ithaca in 1991.

Season Coach Selector Record Score Opponent
1980 Rick Carter Division III 14–0 63–0 Ithaca
1989 Mike Kelly 13–0–1 17–7 Union (NY)

Conference championships

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Dayton has won 12 conference championships, six outright and six shared.

Season Conference Coach Overall Record Conference Record
1993 Pioneer Football League Mike Kelly 9–1 5–0
1994 8–2 4–1
1996 11–0 5–0
1997 9–1 5–0
1999 6–4 4–0
2000 8–3 3–1
2001 10–1 4–0
2002 11–1 4–0
2007 11–1 6–1
2009 Rick Chamberlin 9–2 7–1
2010 10–1 8–0
2015 10–2 7–1

† denotes co-champions

Divisional championships

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From 2001–2005, the Pioneer Football League was divided into North and South Divisions, with the winners of those divisions participating in a conference championship game. As winners of the Pioneer Football League's North Division, Dayton has made two appearances in the Pioneer Football League Championship Game, in 2001 and 2002.

Season Division Opponent Result
2001 PFL North Jacksonville W, 46–14
2002 PFL North Morehead State W, 28–0

Bowl game appearances

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Dayton has participated in one bowl game, with the Flyers having a record of 0–1.

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1951 Joe Gavin Salad Bowl Houston L, 21–26

They also played in the Gridiron Classic in 2007 against Northeast Conference opponent Albany, winning 42–21.

The Sports Network Cup was a way of determining the best mid major team in Division I FCS, with first place votes determining the winner between teams from the Pioneer Football League, the Northeast Conference, and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Season Champion Runner-up
2001[2] Sacred Heart Pioneers 15 Dayton Flyers 6
2002[3] Dayton Flyers 17 Albany Great Danes 7
2005[4] San Diego Toreros 26 Dayton Flyers 0
2007[5] Dayton Flyers 30 San Diego Toreros 0

Playoff appearances

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NCAA Division I FCS

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Dayton has made one appearance in the FCS playoffs. Their record is 0–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
2015 First Round Western Illinois L, 7–24

NCAA Division III

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The Flyers made eleven appearances in the NCAA Division III football playoffs. Their combined record was 16–9.

Year Round Opponent Result
1978 Quarterfinals Carnegie Mellon L, 21–24
1980 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Stagg Bowl
Baldwin Wallace
Widener
Ithaca
W, 34–0
W, 28–24
W, 63–0
1981 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Stagg Bowl
Augustana (IL)
Lawrence
Widener
W, 19–7
W, 38–0
L, 10–17
1984 Quarterfinals Augustana (IL) L, 13–14
1986 First Round Mount Union L, 36–42
1987 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Stagg Bowl
Capital
Augustana (IL)
Central (IA)
Wagner
W, 28–52
W, 38–36
W, 34–0
L, 3–19
1988 First Round Wittenberg L, 28–35 OT
1989 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Stagg Bowl
John Carroll
Millikin
Saint John's (MN)
Union (NY)
W, 35–10
W, 28–16
W, 28–0
W, 17–7
1990 First Round
Quarterfinals
Augustana (IL)
Allegheny
W, 24–14
L, 23–31
1991 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Stagg Bowl
Baldwin Wallace
Allegheny
Saint John's (MN)
Ithaca
W, 27–10
W, 28–25 OT
W, 19–7
L, 20–34
1992 First Round Mount Union L, 10–27

References

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  1. ^ "Color Palette". UDayton.edu/Brand. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  2. ^ "The Sports Network - I-AA College Football". June 13, 2002. Archived from the original on June 13, 2002.
  3. ^ "The Sports Network - I-AA College Football". February 10, 2003. Archived from the original on February 10, 2003.
  4. ^ "The Sports Network - I-AA College Football". February 2, 2006. Archived from the original on February 2, 2006.
  5. ^ "The Sports Network - Football Championship Subdivision". www.sportsnetwork.com. Archived from the original on November 19, 2011.
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