Incarnate Word Cardinals football | |||
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First season | 2009; 15 years ago | ||
Athletic director | Richard Duran | ||
Head coach | Clint Killough 2nd season, 19–5 (.792) | ||
Stadium | Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium (capacity: 6,000) | ||
Year built | 2008 | ||
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 record | 85–92 (.480) | ||
Playoff appearances | 4 | ||
Playoff record | 4–4 | ||
Conference titles | 4 (2018, 2021, 2022, 2024) | ||
Colors | Red, white, and black [1] | ||
Fight song | "Cardinal Fight" | ||
Mascot | Red Cardinal | ||
Marching band | Marching 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.
UIW held its first team practice on August 27, 2008, and began competing as an NCAA Division II independent on August 29, 2009.
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 | 19–5 | .792 |
*Ivicic served as interim head coach for the final three games of 2011, completing Santiago's third season as coach [2]
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 | 11–3 | 7–0 | |
Total Conference Championships | 4 |
† Co-champions
The Cardinals have participated in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs four times. Their combined record is 4–4.
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 |
2024 | Second Round Quarterfinals | Villanova South Dakota State | W, 13–6 L, 14–55 |
Legend | |
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† Conference champions |
Season | Team | Head coach | Conference | Division | Regular season results | Postseason results | Final ranking | ||||||||
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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 † | 11 | 3 | .786 | 7 | 0 | 1.000 | 1st | NCAA Division I FCS playoffs – quarterfinals | — | — | ||||
Totals | All-time: 85–92 (.480) | Conference: 55–54 (.505) | — | Postseason: 4–4 (.500) | — | — |
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 50–35.
Official record (including any NCAA imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current Southland opponents:
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Overall (2–8)
Season | Opponent | Division | Result | Score | Record |
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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 |
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.
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.
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Year | Player | Position | First team | Second team | Third team |
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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 |
2024 | Zach Calzada | QB | — | — | AP |
2024 | Mason Chambers | DB | — | — | AP |
2024 | Jalen Walthall | WR | AP | — | — |
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) |
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) |
Announced non-conference opponents as of August 19, 2024. [24]
2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
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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 |
The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is a private, Catholic university with its main campus in San Antonio and Alamo Heights, Texas. Founded in 1881 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, the university's main campus is located on 154 acres (0.6 km2). It is the largest Catholic university in Texas.
The Incarnate Word Cardinals, also known as UIW Cardinals, are composed of 25 teams representing the University of the Incarnate Word in intercollegiate athletics, including men and women's basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, and track and field. Men's sports include baseball and football. Women's sports include softball, synchronized swimming, and volleyball. The Cardinals compete in NCAA Division I and are members of the Southland Conference. UIW has sent multiple fencers to compete in multiple NCAA Fencing Championships ., On November 12, 2021, Incarnate Word accepted their invitation to join the Western Athletic Conference in 2022. However, on June 24, 2022, just one week before the change of conferences was scheduled to take place, Incarnate Word announced that it would remain in the Southland Conference.
Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium is a stadium in San Antonio, Texas. It is the home field for the men's and women's soccer, track and field, and American football teams of the University of the Incarnate Word. The stadium currently seats 6,000 people. It is named after Tom Benson and his wife Gayle. Record stadium attendance of 6,498 was recorded in a game vs Houston Baptist on November 17, 2016.
The 2013 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word in the 2013 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals played their first season of a transition to the FCS level. However, they were not considered a FCS team for scheduling purposes until 2014. They were led by second-year head coach Larry Kennan. Home games were played at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium. This was a transition season for the Cardinals. As a transitioning school from D2 to D1, the Cardinals were ineligible for the FCS Playoffs and the D2 playoffs. They played a mixed schedule of schools from the FCS, NAIA, and D-II. The Cardinals joined the Southland Conference for football in the 2014 season, and it counted as the 2nd year in a 4-year transition into the D1 level that will make them eligible for the FCS Playoffs in 2017–18. They finished the season 6–5.
The 2014 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word in the 2014 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals played their first season in the Southland Conference. They were led by third-year head coach Larry Kennan. Home games were played at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium. They finished the season 2–9, 2–6 in Southland play to finish in ninth place.
The 2015 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word in the 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals were in their third transition season of collegiate football at the FCS level. They were led by fourth-year head coach Larry Kennan. This was the Cardinals second season with a full Southland Conference schedule since becoming members of the conference. They played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium. They finished the season 6–5, 5–4 in Southland play to finish in fourth place.
The 2016 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word in the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season. This was the Cardinals' final transition season of collegiate football at the FCS level. They were led by fifth-year head coach Larry Kennan. They played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium. They finished the season 3–8, 3–6 in Southland play to finish in a tie for eighth place.
The 2017 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals were in their first full season of FCS and Southland Conference eligibility, as they had completed their four-year transition to Division I from Division II. They were led by sixth-year head coach Larry Kennan. They played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium. They finished the season 1–10, 1–7 in Southland play to finish in ninth place.
The 2012 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word in the 2012 NCAA Division II football season. This was the Cardinals' final season in the Lone Star Conference as they began the transition to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in 2013. Home games were played at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium. They finished the season 2–9, 1–7 in Lone Star play to finish in a tie for eighth place.
The 2018 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. They were led by first year head coach Eric Morris. They finished the season 6–5, 6–2 in Southland play to win a share of the Southland Conference championship. They received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs, where they lost in the first round to Montana State. The Cardinals were set to play the Iowa State Cyclones during the first weekend in December, but the game was cancelled.
The 2019 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. They were led by second-year head coach Eric Morris. They finished the season 5–7, 4–5 in Southland play to finish in a tie for 6th place.
The 2020 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. They were led by third-year head coach Eric Morris. On August 13 Incarnate Word announced they would postpone all competition for the Fall 2020 and instead opted for a Spring 2021 season.
The 2021 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. They were led by fourth-year head coach Eric Morris.
Cameron Anthony Ward is an American football quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes. He previously played for the Washington State Cougars, and prior to that the Incarnate Word Cardinals, winning the 2020 Jerry Rice Award.
The 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season, part of college football in the United States, is organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. The regular season began on August 27 and ended on November 19. The postseason began on November 26, and ended on January 8, 2023, with the 2023 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. South Dakota State defeated defending champion North Dakota State, 45-21, to win the title.
The 2022 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. They were led by first-year head coach G. J. Kinne.
The 2022 McNeese State Cowboys football team represented McNeese State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Gary Goff, the Cowboys compiled an overall record of 4–7 with a mark of 2–4 in conference play, placing sixth in the Southland. McNeese State played home games at Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Lindsey Scott Jr. is an American professional football quarterback for the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). He began his career with the LSU Tigers before transferring to the East Mississippi Lions, where he threw for over 3,400 yards and 29 touchdowns. After one year he transferred for a second time to the Missouri Tigers where he sat a year due to an injury. He transferred once again for a third time to FCS team, the Nicholls Colonels. Scott transferred as a graduate transfer for a fourth and final time to the Incarnate Word Cardinals and set FCS records for touchdown passes and touchdowns responsible for.
The 2023 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. They were led by first-year head coach Clint Killough.
The 2024 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. They were led by second-year head coach Clint Killough.