Missouri Southern Lions football

Last updated
Missouri Southern Lions football
Missouri Southern football logo.png
First season1968;58 years ago (1968)
Athletic directorRob Mallory
Head coach Atiba Bradley
4th season, 13–21 (.382)
Stadium Fred G. Hughes Stadium
(capacity: 7,000)
Year built1975
Location Joplin, Missouri
NCAA division Division II
Conference The MIAA
All-time record231–270–7 (.462)
Claimed national championships
NAIA Div. II: 1 (1972)
Conference championships
2 (1976, 1993)
Rivalries Pittsburg State Missouri Western, and University of Central Missouri
ColorsGreen and gold [1]
   
Fight songSouthern Fight Song
MascotRoary the Lion
Marching bandLion Pride Marching Band
Outfitter Nike
Website www.mssulions.com

The Missouri Southern Lions football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Missouri Southern State University located in the U.S. state of Missouri. The team competes in the NCAA Division II and are members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The team plays its home games at the 7,000 seat Fred G. Hughes Stadium in Joplin, Missouri. Atiba Bradley was named the 14th head football coach in the history of Missouri Southern on February 5, 2021.

Contents

History

The Lions football program began in 1968. Their first head coach was Jim Johnson. Under coach Jim Frazier the Lions won the 1972 NAIA Division II football championship. [2]

Conferences

From its inaugural season in 1968 until 1975, Missouri Southern played as an independent program. In 1976, it joined the Central States Intercollegiate Conference in which the school won one conference championships before leaving to play as an NCAA Division II member of the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association (later renamed Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) in 1989, where the Lions have since remained a member and have won one conference championship.

Championships

National championship seasons

[3]

SeasonCoachSelectorsRecordBowl
1972 Jim Frazier NAIA Division II Playoffs12–0Won NAIA Championship
National Championships1

Conference championship seasons

YearConferenceCoachOverall recordConference record
1976† Central States Intercollegiate Conference Jim Frazier 8–24–1
1993 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Jon Lantz 9–1–19–0
Total Conference championships:2
† Denotes co-champions

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division II

Missouri Southern has made one appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 0-1.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1993 First Round Mankato State L, 13–34

NAIA Division II playoffs

Missouri Southern made one appearance in the NAIA playoffs, with a total record of 2–0.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1972 Semifinals
National Championship		 Doane
Northwestern (IA) 		W, 24–6
W, 21–14

All-time record vs. current MIAA teams

Official record (including any NCAA imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current MIAA opponents as of the end of the 2015 season:

OpponentWonLostTiedPercentageStreakFirst Meeting
Central Missouri 15222.410Lost 41973
Central Oklahoma 240.333Lost 42012
Emporia State 21224.489Lost 61970
Fort Hays State 150.167Lost 52012
Lindenwood 140.200Lost 32012
Missouri Western 22260.458Lost 51970
Nebraska–Kearney 890.471Lost 11977
Northeastern State 7140.333Lost 21968
Northwest Missouri State 4250.138Lost 231989
Pittsburg State 10391.210Lost 41968
Washburn 20251.446Lost 31970
Totals1232055.377

Notable former players

Retired numbers

The Lions has retired only one number. [4]

Missouri Southern Lions retired numbers
No.PlayerPos.Tenure
9 Rod Smith WR 1988–1993

Additionally, Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009. [4]

Other players

References

  1. ↑ Missouri Southern State University Official Brand Guidelines (PDF). June 1, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Missouri Southern State Historical Data". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  3. ↑ DeLassus, David (2014). "Missouri Southern State Championships". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Rod Smith (2009)". footballfoundation.org. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
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