Incarnate Word Cardinals football

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Incarnate Word Cardinals football
AmericanFootball current event.svg 2025 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team
Incarnate Word UIW logo.png
First season 2009; 16 years ago
Athletic directorRichard Duran
Head coach Clint Killough
3rd season, 20–5 (.800)
Stadium Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium
(capacity: 6,000)
Year built2008
Field surface FieldTurf Classic HD
Location San Antonio, Texas
NCAA division Division I FCS
Conference Southland Conference
Past conferences Division II Independent (2009)
Lone Star Conference (2010–2012)
FCS Independent (2013)
All-time record86–92 (.483)
Playoff appearances4
Playoff record4–4
Conference titles4 (2018, 2021, 2022, 2024)
ColorsRed, white, and black [1]
     
Fight song"Cardinal Fight"
MascotRed Cardinal
Marching bandMarching Cardinals
Outfitter Adidas
Website UIWCardinals.com

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.

Contents

History

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

Coaches

NameSeasonsRecordPct.
Mike Santiago 2009–201110–18.357
Todd Ivicic 2011*0–3.000
Larry Kennan 2012–201720–46.303
Eric Morris 2018–202124–18.571
G. J. Kinne 202212–2.857
Clint Killough 2023–present20–5.800

*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 PVAMU vs. Incarnate Word.jpg
A Cardinals football game in 2022

Conference Championships

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

YearConferenceCoachOverall RecordConference Record
2018† Southland Conference Eric Morris 6–56–2
2021 10–37–1
2022† G. J. Kinne 12–25–1
2024 Clint Killough 11–37–0
Total Conference Championships4

† Co-champions

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

The Cardinals have participated in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs four times. Their combined record is 4–4.

YearRoundOpponentResult
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
2024 Second Round
Quarterfinals		 Villanova
South Dakota State 		W, 13–6
L, 14–55

Year-by-year results

Legend

 † Conference champions
  Playoff berth

List of Incarnate Word Cardinals football seasons
SeasonTeam Head coach ConferenceDivisionRegular season resultsPostseason resultsFinal ranking
OverallConferencePlayoff result STATS Poll Coaches' Poll
WinLossPct.WinLossPct.Finish
Incarnate Word Cardinals
2009 2009 Mike Santiago Division II Independent —55.50000—N/A———
2010 2010 Lone Star South38.27337.30012th———
2011 2011 Mike Santiago / Todd Ivicic (Interim)—28.20025.2866th———
2012 2012 Larry Kennan 29.18217.1259th———
2013 2013 FCS Independent 65.54500—N/A———
2014 2014 Southland 29.18226.2509th———
2015 2015 65.54554.5564th———
2016 2016 38.27336.3338th———
2017 2017 110.09117.1259th———
2018 2018 † Eric Morris 65.54562.750T–1st NCAA Division I FCS playoffs – first round ——
2019 2019 57.41745.444T–6th———
2020 2020 33.50033.500T–3rd———
2021 2021 †103.76961.8571st NCAA Division I FCS playoffs – second round 1213
2022 2022 † G. J. Kinne 122.85751.833T–1st NCAA Division I FCS playoffs – semifinals 33
2023 2023 Clint Killough 92.81861.8572nd—2214
2024 2024 †113.786701.0001st NCAA Division I FCS playoffs – quarterfinals 66
2025 2025 ——————————
TotalsAll-time:
86–92
(.483)		Conference:
55–54
(.505)		—Postseason:
4–4
(.500)		——

[3]

Stadium

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 51–35.

All-time record vs. Southland teams

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 601.000Won 620102024
Houston Christian 1001.000Won 1020132024
Lamar 74.636Won 520112024
McNeese 65.545Won 320142024
Nicholls 66.500Won 120142024
Northwestern State 53.571Won 320142023
Southeastern Louisiana 75.583Won 220132024
Stephen F. Austin 35.375Won 220142024
UT Rio Grande Valley 00––––
Totals5028.641

Record against FBS competition

Overall (2–8)

SeasonOpponentDivisionResultScoreRecord
2015 UTEP C-USAL17–270–1
2016 Texas State Sun BeltL17–480–2
2017 Fresno State Mountain WestL0–660–3
2018 New Mexico Mountain WestL30–620–4
2018 North Texas C-USAL16–580–5
2019 UTSA C-USAL7–350–6
2019 New Mexico State FBS IndependentL28–410–7
2021Texas StateSun BeltW42–341–7
2022 Nevada Mountain WestW55–412–7
2023UTEPC-USAL14–282–8
2025UTSAAmerican
2026Texas StateSun Belt
2027 Baylor Big 12
2029 Texas Tech Big 12
Total2–8

Individual awards

Walter Payton Award winners

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

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

FCS All-Americans

YearPlayerPositionFirst teamSecond teamThird team
2015 Myke Tavarres LBSTATS, AFCAAP—
2017 Joseph Zema PAP, STATS, HEROAFCA—
2017Desmond HiteKR—STATS, HERO—
2018Ra’Quanne DickensRB——STATS, HERO
2020 Kevin Brown RB / AP—STATS, AFCA—
2021 Cam Ward QB—STATS—
2021Taylor GrimesWR—AP, STATS, HERO—
2021Kelechi AnyalebechiLB——AP, STATS
2022 Lindsey Scott Jr. QBAP, STATS, HERO, AFCA——
2022Darion ChafinWR——AP, STATS
2022Taylor GrimesWR—AP, STATS—
2022Caleb JohnsonOL——AP
2022Kelechi AnyalebechiLB—AP, STATS—
2023Brandon PorterWR—AP, STATS, FCS Football Central—
2023Steven ParkerDL PFF AFCASTATS, FCS Football Central
2024Roy AlexanderWR——STATS, FCS Football Central, Phil Steele/Draftscout
2024 Zach Calzada QB—STATSAP, FCS Football Central, Phil Steele/Draftscout
2024Mason ChambersDBSTATSFCS Football Central, Phil Steele/DraftscoutAP
2024Jalen WalthallWRAP, STATS, FCS Football Central, Phil Steele/Draftscout——

[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Players in the NFL

Player namePositionYears at UIWYears in NFLNFL Team
Justin Alexandre DE 2017–20182019 Jets
Kelechi Anyalebechi LB 2018–20222023 Rams
Taylor Grimes WR 2021–20222023 Broncos
Alex Jenkins DE 2013–20162017–2019 Saints, Giants
Silas Stewart LB 2017–20182019 Ravens
Myke Tavarres LB 2014–20152016 Eagles
Cole Wick TE 2012–20152016–2020 Lions, 49ers, Titans, Raiders, Saints
National Football League (NFL)

[16] [17] [18]

Players in the CFL

Player namePositionYears at UIWYears in CFLCFL Team
Kelechi Anyalebechi LB 2018-20222025–present Calgary Stampeders
Kevin Brown RB 2019–20212022–present Edmonton Elks, Toronto Argonauts
Trevor Begue WR 20212023Edmonton Elks
Olivier Charles–Pierre DT 20222023Edmonton Elks
Robert Hayes, Jr. DB 20162022 Montreal Alouettes
Jamari Gilbert DB 2013–20172019Calgary Stampeders
Silas Stewart DL 2017–20182021–presentCalgary Stampeders, Ottawa Redblacks
Myke Tavarres LB 2014–20152017 Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Joseph Zema P 20172021–presentMontreal Alouettes
Canadian Football League (CFL)

[19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]

Future non-conference opponents

Announced non-conference opponents as of January 14, 2025. [25]

20252026202720282029
Eastern Washington Samford at Baylor Montana at Texas Tech
at UTSA at Northern ArizonaNorthern Arizonaat Montana
at Northern Arizona at Texas State at Eastern Washington
Abilene Christian

See also

References

  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's Roy Alexander Named Southland Football Student-Athlete of the Year; All-Academic Team Announced".
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "Two Cardinals Named to AP FCS All-America Team". uiwcardinals.com. University of the Incarnate Word. December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Veteran QB Lindsey Scott of UIW leads FCS All-America team". Associated Press. December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  13. ↑ "2023 FCS Football Central All-American Team". Associated Press. December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Widespread Talent Fills 2023 Stats Perform FCS All-America, Freshman Teams". Associated Press. December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Montana St QB Tommy Mellott, Southern Utah RB Targhee Lambson lead FCS AP All-America team". Associated Press. December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Momentous Day for UIW Football". UIW Athletics. April 30, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Jenkins Promoted from UIW Cardinal to New Orleans Saint". UIW Athletics. May 25, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Going Pro: Five Cardinals Get Closer to NFL Dreams". UIW Athletics. May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Jamari Gilbert".
  20. ↑ "Silas Stewart".
  21. ↑ "Joseph Zema".
  22. ↑ "Kevin Brown".
  23. ↑ "Trevor Begue".
  24. ↑ "Olivier Charles-Pierre".
  25. ↑ "Incarnate Word Cardinals Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
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