Southwestern Moundbuilders football

The Southwestern Moundbuilders football team represents Southwestern College in college football.

Southwestern Moundbuilders football
First season1903
Head coachBrad Griffin
10th season, 54–42 (.563)
LocationWinfield, Kansas
LeagueNAIA
ConferenceKansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Bowl record2–2 (.500)
Conference titles12
Consensus All-Americans40
ColorsPurple and white[1]
   

Conference affiliations

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Years Conference
1895–1923 Independent
1924–1926 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
1927–1927 Independent
1928–1958 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
1959–1959 Independent
1960–present Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

[2]

History

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The team began in 1903 with 9 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie under coach J. J. Thiel.[3] Since then the Builders have posted three undefeated seasons: 1913, 1918, and 1967. There has never been a season of Southwestern College Football without at least one victory.

Coaches

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1913 Southwestern Moundbuilders football team won the Kansas State Championship[4]
See also List of Southwestern College Moundbuilders head football coaches

The current head football coach is Brad Griffin, who took over the program in 2015. Griffin was the defensive coordinator for eleven seasons with William Penn University prior to his arrival to Southwestern College. Other coaches during the program's history include Art Kahler, Harold Elliott, and Dennis Franchione.[5]

Conference championships

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Southwestern football teams have won the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference eleven times since 1929: 1964, 1967, 1968, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2021.[6] They also were declared the Kansas State Champions in 1913.[4]

Post-season and bowl games

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Southwestern has participated in 4 bowl games with an overall record of 2 wins and 2 losses. The team has also advanced to the NAIA Football National Championship five times, with a record of 2 wins and 5 losses. The Moundbuilder's total post-season record is 4 wins and 7 losses in 11 post-season games.

In 1982, head coach Dennis Franchione led the Moundbuilders to 9 wins and 2 losses, with a conference championship and a win in the Sunflower Bowl. Charlie Cowdrey followed up the next year with an appearance in the Sunflower bowl, and then again in 1985.

1984 was the first year that Southwestern qualified for the NAIA Football National Championship. The first round the team defeated conference rival Bethel 17–14, but then lost to Northwestern College by a score of 45-23.[7]

1996 saw Southwestern post its second bowl victory in the Wheat Bowl, defeating Baker University 28-20 under head coach Monty Lewis.[8]

After the 1997 regular season, the team played in the National Championship, losing 53–28 to Doane College.[9]

It was in 1998 when Southwestern saw some post-season success once again and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA Football National Championship. The Moundbuilders defeated the Lindenwood Lions 12–10 in the first round and then lost 52–6 to Si Tanka (SD).[10]

For the 1999 NAIA Football National Championship, the team lost in the first round to Northwestern Oklahoma State by a score of 44–10.[11]

Date Result Bowl Opponent Score Head Coach
1982 W Sunflower Bowl Oklahoma Panhandle State University 15 – 0 Dennis Franchione
1983 L Sunflower Bowl Missouri Valley College 21 – 51 Charlie Cowdrey
1984 W
L
1st round National Championship
Quarterfinals National Championship
Bethel
Northwestern (Iowa)
17 – 14
23 – 45
Charlie Cowdrey
1985 L Sunflower Bowl Baker University 0 – 29 Charlie Cowdrey
1996 W Wheat Bowl Baker University 28 – 20 Monty Lewis
1997 L 1st round National Championship Doane 53 – 29 Monty Lewis
1998 W
L
1st round National Championship
Quarterfinals National Championship
Lindenwood Lions
Si Tanka (SD)
12 – 10
6 – 52
Monty Lewis
1999 L 1st round National Championship Northwestern Oklahoma State 44 – 10 Monty Lewis

References

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  1. ^ Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Style Guide (PDF). July 6, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  2. ^ DeLassus, David. "Southwestern History". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  3. ^ Southwestern College - Winfield, KS Archived 2007-09-05 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b "1913 Moundbuilders Football Team to be Recognized Saturday". KCACSports.com. September 10, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  5. ^ DeLassus, David. "Southwestern College Coaching Records". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  6. ^ Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Archived 2006-09-03 at the Wayback Machine "KCAC Football Championships by School since 1929"
  7. ^ "Coach: Charlie Cowdrey (1984)". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  8. ^ NAIAFOOTBALL.NET-The Nation's Home for NAIA Football Archived 2007-12-04 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Coach: Monty Lewis (1997)". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  10. ^ "Coach: Monty Lewis (1998)". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  11. ^ "Coach: Monty Lewis (1999)". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
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