Incarnate Word Cardinals football

The Incarnate Word Cardinals football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) located in San Antonio, Texas. The program began in 2009 and originally competed in NCAA Division II as members of the Lone Star Conference. In 2013, the school moved to Division I. For the 2013 season, UIW competed as a member of the Southland Conference for all sports except football. Football competed with an 11-game schedule as an Independent. UIW began playing Southland football in the 2014 season. The team plays its home games at the 6,000 seat Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.

Incarnate Word Cardinals football
2024 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team
First season2009; 15 years ago
Athletic directorRichard Duran
Head coachClint Killough
2nd season, 17–4 (.810)
StadiumGayle and Tom Benson Stadium
(capacity: 6,000)
Year built2008
Field surfaceFieldTurf Classic HD
LocationSan Antonio, Texas
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Past conferencesDivision II Independent (2009)
Lone Star Conference (2010–2012)
FCS Independent (2013)
All-time record83–91 (.477)
Playoff appearances3
Playoff record3–3
Conference titles4 (2018, 2021, 2022, 2024)
ColorsRed, white, and black[1]
     
Fight song"Cardinal Fight"
MascotRed Cardinal
Marching bandMarching Cardinals
OutfitterAdidas
WebsiteUIWCardinals.com

History

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UIW held its first team practice on August 27, 2008, and began competing as an NCAA Division II independent on August 29, 2009.

Conference Affiliations

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Coaches

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Name Seasons Record Pct.
Mike Santiago 2009–2011 10–18 .357
Todd Ivicic 2011* 0–3 .000
Larry Kennan 2012–2017 20–46 .303
Eric Morris 2018–2021 24–18 .571
G. J. Kinne 2022 12–2 .857
Clint Killough 2023–present 17–4 .810

*Ivicic served as interim head coach for the final three games of 2011, completing Santiago's third season as coach[2]

 
A Cardinals football game in 2022

Conference Championships

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UIW has won 4 Southland Conference championships, two shared and two outright.

Year Conference Coach Overall Record Conference Record
2018 Southland Conference Eric Morris 6–5 6–2
2021 10–3 7–1
2022 G. J. Kinne 12–2 5–1
2024 Clint Killough 9–2 6–0
Total Conference Championships 4

† Co-champions

Playoff appearances

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NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

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The Cardinals have participated in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs three times. Their combined record is 3–3.

Year Round Opponent Result
2018 First Round Montana State L, 14–35
2021 First Round
Second Round
Stephen F. Austin
Sam Houston
W, 35–28 OT
L, 42–49
2022 Second round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Furman
Sacramento State
North Dakota State
W, 41–38
W, 66–63
L, 32–35

Year-by-year results

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Legend

  Conference champions
  Playoff berth

List of Incarnate Word Cardinals football seasons
Season Team Head coach Conference Division Regular season results Postseason results Final ranking
Overall Conference Playoff result STATS Poll Coaches' Poll
Win Loss Pct. Win Loss Pct. Finish
Incarnate Word Cardinals
2009 2009 Mike Santiago Division II Independent 5 5 .500 0 0 N/A
2010 2010 Lone Star South 3 8 .273 3 7 .300 12th
2011 2011 Mike Santiago / Todd Ivicic (Interim) 2 8 .200 2 5 .286 6th
2012 2012 Larry Kennan 2 9 .182 1 7 .125 9th
2013 2013 FCS Independent 6 5 .545 0 0 N/A
2014 2014 Southland 2 9 .182 2 6 .250 9th
2015 2015 6 5 .545 5 4 .556 4th
2016 2016 3 8 .273 3 6 .333 8th
2017 2017 1 10 .091 1 7 .125 9th
2018 2018 Eric Morris 6 5 .545 6 2 .750 T–1st NCAA Division I FCS playoffs – first round
2019 2019 5 7 .417 4 5 .444 T–6th
2020 2020 3 3 .500 3 3 .500 T–3rd
2021 2021 10 3 .769 6 1 .857 1st NCAA Division I FCS playoffs – second round 12 13
2022 2022 G. J. Kinne 12 2 .857 5 1 .833 T–1st NCAA Division I FCS playoffs – semifinals 3 3
2023 2023 Clint Killough 8 2 .800 6 1 .857 2nd 22 14
2024 2024 9 2 .818 6 0 1.000 NCAA Division I FCS playoffs
Totals All-time:
83–91
(.477)
Conference:
55–54
(.505)
Postseason:
3–3
(.500)

[3]

Stadium

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UIW home football games are played on campus at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium. Benson Stadium was dedicated on September 1, 2008 and currently seats 6,000 people. It is named after Tom Benson and his wife Gayle, whose generous monetary donations helped start up the UIW football program. Record stadium attendance of 6,498 was recorded in a game against Houston Baptist on November 17, 2016.[4] UIW currently has an overall home record at the stadium of 49–35.

All-time record vs. Southland teams

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Official record (including any NCAA imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current Southland opponents:

Opponent Won Lost Percentage Streak First Last
East Texas A&M 5 0 1.000 Won 5 2010 2023
Houston Christian 10 0 1.000 Won 10 2013 2024
Lamar 7 4 .636 Won 5 2011 2024
McNeese 6 5 .545 Won 3 2014 2024
Nicholls 6 6 .500 Won 1 2014 2024
Northwestern State 5 3 .571 Won 3 2014 2023
Southeastern Louisiana 7 5 .583 Won 2 2013 2024
Stephen F. Austin 3 5 .375 Won 2 2014 2024
Totals 49 28 .636

Record against FBS competition

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Overall (2–8)

Season Opponent Division Result Score Record
2015 UTEP C-USA L 17–27 0–1
2016 Texas State Sun Belt L 17–48 0–2
2017 Fresno State Mountain West L 0–66 0–3
2018 New Mexico Mountain West L 30–62 0–4
2018 North Texas C-USA L 16–58 0–5
2019 UTSA C-USA L 7–35 0–6
2019 New Mexico State FBS Independent L 28–41 0–7
2021 Texas State Sun Belt W 42–34 1–7
2022 Nevada Mountain West W 55–41 2–7
2023 UTEP C-USA L 14–28 2–8
2025 UTSA American
2026 Texas State Sun Belt
2027 Baylor Big 12
2029 Texas Tech Big 12
Total 2–8

Individual awards

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Walter Payton Award winners

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The Walter Payton Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding college offensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) as chosen by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors.

Jerry Rice Award winners

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The Jerry Rice Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding freshman player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) of college football as chosen by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors.

Southland Conference Award winners

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FCS All-Americans

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Year Player Position First team Second team Third team
2015 Myke Tavarres LB STATS, AFCA AP
2017 Joseph Zema P AP, STATS, HERO AFCA
2017 Desmond Hite KR STATS, HERO
2018 Ra’Quanne Dickens RB STATS, HERO
2020 Kevin Brown RB / AP STATS, AFCA
2021 Cam Ward QB STATS
2021 Taylor Grimes WR AP, STATS, HERO
2021 Kelechi Anyalebechi LB AP, STATS
2022 Lindsey Scott Jr. QB AP, STATS, HERO, AFCA
2022 Darion Chafin WR AP, STATS
2022 Taylor Grimes WR AP, STATS
2022 Caleb Johnson OL AP
2022 Kelechi Anyalebechi LB AP, STATS
2023 Brandon Porter WR AP, STATS, FCS Football Central
2023 Steven Parker DL PFF AFCA STATS, FCS Football Central

[9][10][11][12][13]

Players in the NFL

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Player name Position Years at UIW Years in NFL NFL Team
Justin Alexandre DE 2017–2018 2019 Jets
Kelechi Anyalebechi LB 2018–2022 2023 Rams
Taylor Grimes WR 2021–2022 2023 Broncos
Alex Jenkins DE 2013–2016 2017–2019 Saints, Giants
Silas Stewart LB 2017–2018 2019 Ravens
Myke Tavarres LB 2014–2015 2016 Eagles
Cole Wick TE 2012–2015 2016–2020 Lions, 49ers, Titans, Raiders, Saints
National Football League (NFL)

[14] [15][16]

Players in the CFL

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Player name Position Years at UIW Years in CFL CFL Team
Kevin Brown RB 2019–2021 2022–present Edmonton Elks
Trevor Begue WR 2021 2023 Edmonton Elks
Olivier Charles–Pierre DT 2022 2023 Edmonton Elks
Robert Hayes, Jr. DB 2016 2022 Montreal Alouettes
Jamari Gilbert DB 2013–2017 2019 Calgary Stampeders
Silas Stewart DL 2017–2018 2021–present Calgary Stampeders, Ottawa Redblacks
Myke Tavarres LB 2014–2015 2017 Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Joseph Zema P 2017 2021–present Montreal Alouettes
Canadian Football League (CFL)

[17][18][19][20][21][22]

Future non-conference opponents

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Announced non-conference opponents as of August 19, 2024.[23]

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029
Eastern Washington Samford Northern Arizona Montana at Texas Tech
at UTSA at Northern Arizona at Eastern Washington at Montana
at Northern Arizona at Texas State
Abilene Christian

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 2019 UIW Athletics Style Guide (PDF). April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  2. ^ "Santiago out as UIW football coach; defensive coordinator to replace him". KENS 5. October 25, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  3. ^ "Incarnate Word Cardinals Football Statistics". University of the Incarnate Word. 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  4. ^ "Football vs Houston Baptist on 11/17/2016 - Box Score".
  5. ^ "UIW QB Lindsey Scott Jr. Receives 2022 Walter Payton Award as FCS Offensive Player of the Year". theanalyst.com. January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "UIW's Cameron Ward Wins 10th Jerry Rice Award as FCS Freshman of the Year". theanalyst.com. May 3, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  7. ^ "Southland Announces 2023 All-Conference Football Team and Superlatives". November 22, 2023.
  8. ^ "UIW's Anyalebechi is Southland Football Student-Athlete of the Year, leading all-academic team".
  9. ^ "UIW Football's Zema Selected to AP All-America First Team". uiwcardinals.com. University of the Incarnate Word. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  10. ^ "Two Cardinals Named to AP FCS All-America Team". uiwcardinals.com. University of the Incarnate Word. December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  11. ^ "Veteran QB Lindsey Scott of UIW leads FCS All-America team". Associated Press. December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  12. ^ "2023 FCS Football Central All-American Team". Associated Press. December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  13. ^ "Widespread Talent Fills 2023 Stats Perform FCS All-America, Freshman Teams". Associated Press. December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  14. ^ "Momentous Day for UIW Football". UIW Athletics. April 30, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  15. ^ "Jenkins Promoted from UIW Cardinal to New Orleans Saint". UIW Athletics. May 25, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  16. ^ "Going Pro: Five Cardinals Get Closer to NFL Dreams". UIW Athletics. May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  17. ^ "Jamari Gilbert".
  18. ^ "Silas Stewart".
  19. ^ "Joseph Zema".
  20. ^ "Kevin Brown".
  21. ^ "Trevor Begue".
  22. ^ "Olivier Charles-Pierre".
  23. ^ "Incarnate Word Cardinals Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
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