Robert Morris Colonials football

Last updated
Robert Morris Colonials football
AmericanFootball current event.svg 2024 Robert Morris Colonials football team
RMU Colonials logo.svg
First season 1994; 30 years ago
Head coach Bernard Clark
5th season, 13–34 (.277)
Stadium Joe Walton Stadium
(capacity: 3,000)
Location Moon Township, Pennsylvania
NCAA division Division I FBS
Conference Big South Conference
All-time record120–113–1 (.515)
Playoff appearances1
Playoff record0–1
Conference titles6
ColorsBlue, white, and red [1]
     

The Robert Morris Colonials football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the Robert Morris University located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Formerly members of the Northeast Conference, the Colonials were originally intended to compete in the 2020 season as an FCS independent before becoming a football-only member of the Big South Conference in July 2021. [2] The Colonials would ultimately join Big South football several months ahead of schedule. After COVID-19 caused the Big South to move its fall 2020 season to spring 2021, with two teams playing in the fall and a third not playing at all in 2020–21, the conference brought RMU into its football league for its spring 2021 season. [3]

Contents

The school's first football team was fielded in 1994. [4] The team plays its home games at the 3,000 seat Joe Walton Stadium. They are currently led by fifth-year head coach Bernard Clark.

History

Classifications

Conference memberships

On June 15, Robert Morris Colonials announced leaving the Northeast Conference for the Horizon League in all sports except for football starting in 2020. The football program will join the Big South Conference in football 2021. For the 2020 football team, the Colonials were originally intended to play as an FCS independent. [6] The team's 2020 schedule was to have been played as originally set, but all games would have been considered non-conference. [7] However, this would change due to COVID-19 disruptions; the Big South brought RMU into its football league for its rescheduled spring 2021 season. [3]

On November 28, 2023, Robert Morris announced a return to the Northeast Conference effective with the 2024 season as an associate member for football only. [8]

Robert Morris defenders attempt to bring down an Air Force ballcarrier during a 2023 game at Falcon Stadium Air Force vs. Robert Morris (53166991065).jpg
Robert Morris defenders attempt to bring down an Air Force ballcarrier during a 2023 game at Falcon Stadium

Championships

Conference

YearCoachConferenceOverall recordConference record
1996† Joe Walton Northeast Conference 9–23–1
1997 8–34–0
1998†4–64–1
1999 8–28–0
2000 10–08–0
2010†8–37–1
Conference championships6

† Co-champions

FCS playoffs results

The Colonials have appeared in the FCS playoffs one time with an overall record of 0–1.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2010 First roundNorth Dakota StateL 17–43

Notable former players

Notable alumni include:

Future non-conference opponents

Future non-conference opponents announced as of July 29, 2023. [9]

2023202420252026202720282029
at Air Force at Utah State at West Virginia at Akron at Youngstown State Murray State
Saint Francis at Lafayette Lafayette Towson
at Youngstown State at Eastern Kentucky at Youngstown State Norfolk State
Virginia–Lynchburg at Towson
Howard at Norfolk State

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pioneer Football League</span> Football-only athletic conference

The Pioneer Football League (PFL) is a collegiate athletic conference which operates in the United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a football-only conference. It has member schools that range from New York, North Carolina, and Florida in the east to California in the west. It is headquartered in St. Louis, in the same complex that also contains the offices of the Missouri Valley Conference and Missouri Valley Football Conference. Unlike most other Division I FCS conferences, the Pioneer League consists of institutions that choose not to award athletic scholarships ("grants-in-aid") to football players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big South Conference</span> College athletic conference in the southeastern US

The Big South Conference is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. Originally a non-football conference, the Big South began sponsoring football in 2002 as part of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), and began operating the Big South–OVC Football Association in partnership with the Ohio Valley Conference in 2023. The Big South, founded in 1983, is firmly rooted in the South Atlantic region of the United States, with full member institutions located in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Associate members are located in Georgia and South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Morris University</span> Private university in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Robert Morris University (RMU) is a private university in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1921 and is named after Robert Morris, known as the "financier of the American revolution". It enrolls nearly 5,000 students and offers 60 bachelor's degree programs and 35 master's and doctoral programs. Most students are from the Pittsburgh area, while 16 percent of freshmen in 2018 were from outside Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Walton</span> American football player and coach (1935–2021)

Joseph Frank Walton was an American football player and coach who retired after 20 years as the head coach and creator of the football program at Robert Morris University. Walton played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) as a pass catching tight end for the Redskins and Giants. He served as head coach of the New York Jets for seven seasons, guiding them to the playoffs twice. He also served as an assistant coach for the New York Giants, the Washington Redskins, the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers during a 20-year period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Morris Colonials</span> College sports teams

The Robert Morris Colonials are the athletic teams for Robert Morris University, in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The Colonials compete in NCAA Division I. In 2020, the school joined the Horizon League as a full member after leaving the Northeast Conference. Several RMU sports that are not sponsored by the Horizon League play in other conferences. Football plays in the Big South Conference, and men's and women's lacrosse respectively compete in the ASUN Conference and Mid-American Conference. The school colors are RMU Blue, RMU Red, and RMU Gray/Silver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Morris Colonials men's lacrosse</span> College lacrosse team

The Robert Morris Colonials men's lacrosse team represents Robert Morris University in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's lacrosse. The Colonials became a varsity program in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Morris Colonials women's basketball</span> College basketball team

The Robert Morris Colonials women's basketball team is the basketball team that represents Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Horizon League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season</span> American college football season

The 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season, part of college football in the United States, was organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Robert Morris Colonials football team</span> American college football season

The 2020 Robert Morris Colonials football team represented Robert Morris University during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by third-year head coach Bernard Clark and played their home games at Joe Walton Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 James Madison Dukes football team</span> American college football season

The 2020 James Madison Dukes football team represented James Madison University as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Curt Cignetti and played their home games at Bridgeforth Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 William & Mary Tribe football team</span> American college football season

The 2020 William & Mary Tribe football team represented the College of William & Mary as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Tribe, led by second-year head coach Mike London, play their home games at Zable Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Villanova Wildcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2020 Villanova Wildcats football team represented Villanova University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Mark Ferrante and played their home games at Villanova Stadium. They competed as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association.

The 2020 Rhode Island Rams football team represented the University of Rhode Island in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by seventh-year head coach Jim Fleming and played their home games at Meade Stadium. They competed as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Robert Morris Colonials football team</span> American college football season

The 2009 Robert Morris Colonials football team represented Robert Morris University in the 2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Colonials were led by 16th-year head coach Joe Walton and played their home games at Joe Walton Stadium. They were a member of the Northeast Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Robert Morris Colonials football team</span> American college football season

The 2008 Robert Morris Colonials football team represented Robert Morris University in the 2008 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Colonials were led by 15th-year head coach Joe Walton and played their home games at Joe Walton Stadium. They were a member of the Northeast Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Robert Morris Colonials football team</span> American college football season

The 2007 Robert Morris Colonials football team represented Robert Morris University in the 2007 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Colonials were led by 14th-year head coach Joe Walton and played their home games at Joe Walton Stadium. They were a member of the Northeast Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Robert Morris Colonials football team</span> American college football season

The 2006 Robert Morris Colonials football team represented Robert Morris University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Colonials were led by 13th-year head coach Joe Walton and played their home games at Joe Walton Stadium. They were a member of the Northeast Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Robert Morris Colonials football team</span> American college football season

The 2021 Robert Morris Colonials football team represented the Robert Morris University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Colonials played their home games at the Joe Walton Stadium in Moon Township, PA. The team was coached by fourth-year head coach Bernard Clark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big South–OVC Football Association</span> American college football conference

The Big South–OVC Football Association is an association of football members of the Big South Conference and Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). The Big South–OVC covers the American Midwest and South with member institutions located in Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

References

  1. ↑ "RMU Brand Style Guide" (PDF). March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Robert Morris leaves NEC for Horizon League; football moves to Big South". wtae.com. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Big South Announces Football 2021 Spring Schedule" (Press release). Big South Conference. November 9, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  4. ↑ Robert Morris Colonials Archived 2016-10-02 at the Wayback Machine , College Football Data Warehouse, retrieved October 1, 2016.
  5. ↑ Phil Axelrod (3 Sep 1994). "Ready or not, the future is here for fledgling Robert Morris". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. E-5. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  6. ↑ "Robert Morris football to join Big South Conference in 2021". fbschedules.com. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Robert Morris joins Horizon League, football heads to Big South". timesonline.com. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  8. ↑ "RMU Football to Rejoin Northeast Conference for 2024 Season". rmucolonials.com. November 28, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Robert Morris Colonials Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.