West Georgia Wolves football

Last updated

West Georgia Wolves football
AmericanFootball current event.svg 2024 West Georgia Wolves football team
West Georgia Wolves logo.svg
First season1946;78 years ago (1946)
Athletic directorJason Carmichael
Head coach Joel Taylor
1st season, 4–7 (.364)
Stadium University Stadium
(capacity: 10,000)
Year built2009
Field surfaceGrass
Location Carrollton, Georgia
NCAA division Division I FCS
Conference United Athletic Conference
Past conferences
All-time record236–231–0 (.505)
Playoff appearances11
Playoff record10–9
Claimed national titles1 (NCAA Division III: 1982)
Conference titles4
Rivalries Valdosta State
ColorsBlue and red [1]
   
Website uwgathletics.com

The West Georgia Wolves football program represents the University of West Georgia (UWG) in college football. Previously an NCAA Division II team, they became a Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC), effective July 1, 2024.

Contents

History

The West Georgia football team, originally known as the Braves (which was the nickname until 2006), was founded in 1946, when the school, then known as West Georgia College, was a two-year institution. [2] They had their first practice on September 30, 1946, with 54 players reporting, and ended their first season with a record of 2–5–1. [2] Prior to the 1958 season, the school became a four-year institution, and the football team played one year with only freshmen and sophomores before being discontinued. [3] [4] In total, from 1946 to 1958, West Georgia won only 13 games. [5]

On May 14, 1980, it was announced that West Georgia was reviving its football team, with intentions to play in 1981 as an NCAA Division III independent. [6] Bobby Pate was hired as head coach and the team had around 385 players try out, with 115 making the squad. [7] Despite them being in their first season in 23 years, West Georgia compiled a perfect 9–0 regular season record and reached the Division III playoffs, where they lost in the first round to the ultimate national champions Widener, by one score. [8] [9] In their second season back, West Georgia compiled a perfect 12–0 record and won the national championship with a shutout win over Augustana (IL). [8] [10]

The team moved up to the NCAA Division II level after two years in Division III, joining the Gulf South Conference (GSC), where they remained through 2023. [11] [12] In their GSC tenure, the Braves / Wolves won four conference championships (1997, 1998, 2000, 2015), two NCAA regional championships (2014, 2015) and reached the Division II playoffs nine times. [13] [14]

In 2023, it was announced that the team was moving to the NCAA Division I FCS level as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC), an alliance of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) and Western Athletic Conference (WAC), effective July 1, 2024. [15]

Classifications

Conference affiliations

Program achievements

Gulf South Conference Champions1997, 1998, 2000, 2015
NCAA Division II Team Playoff Participants1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021
NCAA Division II Regional Championships2014, 2015
NCAA Division III Team Playoff Participants1981, 1982
NCAA Division III Regional Championships1982
NCAA Division III National Championships1982

Future non-conference opponents

Future non-conference opponents announced as of July 9, 2024. [16]

20242025202620272028
Samford at Samford at Arkansas State at Cincinnati at Troy
Shorter East Tennessee at East Tennessee
Lincoln (CA)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulf South Conference</span> Collegiate athletic conference

The Gulf South Conference (GSC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, which operates in the Southeastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NCAA Division I Football Championship</span> Annual post-season college football game

The NCAA Division I Football Championship is an annual post-season college football game, played since 2006, used to determine a national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). From 1978 to 2005, the game was called the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship, during the period when the FCS was known as NCAA Division I-AA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NCAA Division I</span> Highest division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major collegiate athletic powers, with large budgets, more elaborate facilities and more athletic scholarships than Division II and Division III as well as many smaller schools committed to the highest level of intercollegiate competition.

The North Alabama Lions football program represents the University of North Alabama (UNA) in college football as the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC). The conference, which played its first season in 2023, is a merger of the football leagues of UNA's primary home of the ASUN Conference and the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). UNA had played the 2022 season in the ASUN, and before that had played football in the Big South Conference for three seasons. UNA plays its home games at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama. The team's head coach is Brent Dearmon. UNA was an NCAA Division II member from 1972 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision</span> Level of college football in the US

The NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly known as Division I-AA, is the second-highest level of college football in the United States, after the Football Bowl Subdivision. Sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the FCS level comprises 129 teams in 13 conferences as of the 2024 season. The FCS designation is relevant only for football; members of the subdivision compete in NCAA Division I in all other sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Arkansas Bears football</span> College football team for University of Central Arkansas

The Central Arkansas Bears football program is the intercollegiate American football team for University of Central Arkansas (UCA) located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC), which started play in 2023. For the 2021 season, UCA was a de facto associate member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), and in 2022 it played in its full-time home of the ASUN Conference. Central Arkansas's first football team was fielded in 1908. The team plays its home games at the 12,000-seat Estes Stadium in Conway, Arkansas. The Bears are coached by Nathan Brown, in his seventh year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football</span> Intercollegiate American football team

The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) located in the U.S. state of Texas. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as members of the Southland Conference, which SFA rejoins for the 2024 season after a three-year absence. SFA had played the 2023 season in the United Athletic Conference (UAC), newly formed for the 2023 season as a merger of the football leagues of SFA's previous home of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN). It replaced an alliance between the two conferences that operated in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Georgia Wolves</span> Athletic teams representing the University of West Georgia

The West Georgia Wolves are the athletic teams that represent the University of West Georgia, located in Carrollton, Georgia, in NCAA Division I intercollegiate sports. The Wolves compete as members of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) for 15 of their 16 varsity sports. West Georgia had been a member of the Gulf South Conference since 1983, when it announced that it would be joining NCAA Division I as an ASUN member starting in 2024. The football team joined the United Athletic Conference, a football-only partnership between the ASUN and the Western Athletic Conference, at the same time.

The 2006 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division II level, began on September 2, 2006, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 16, 2006, at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 West Georgia Wolves football team</span> American college football season

The 2016 West Georgia Wolves football team represented the University of West Georgia in the 2016 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by head coach Will Hall, who was in his third season at West Georgia. The Wolves played their home games at University Stadium and were members of the Gulf South Conference. They finished the season with a record of 7 wins and 4 losses, defeating one top 25 ranked team, ranked as high as #2 in the nation before falling in the middle of the season. West Georgia were not invited in the 2016 playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 West Georgia Wolves football team</span> American college football season

The 2017 West Georgia Wolves football team represented the University of West Georgia in the 2017 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by first-year head coach David Dean. The Wolves played their home games at University Stadium and were members of the Gulf South Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 West Georgia Wolves football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 West Georgia Wolves football team represented the University of West Georgia in the 2018 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by second-year head coach David Dean. The Wolves played their home games at University Stadium and were members of the Gulf South Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 West Georgia Wolves football team</span> American college football season

The 2021 West Georgia Wolves football team represented the University of West Georgia as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 2021 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach David Dean. The Wolves played their home games at University Stadium in Carrollton, Georgia.

The 2022 Gulf South Conference football season was the season of college football played by the eight member schools of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) as part of the 2022 NCAA Division II football season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season</span> American college football season

The 2024 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 24 and ends in November. The postseason begins in November and, aside from any all-star games that are scheduled, will end on January 6, 2025, with the 2025 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 West Georgia Wolves football team</span> American college football season

The 2024 West Georgia Wolves football team represented the University of West Georgia as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Wolves were coached by first-year head coach Joel Taylor and played at University Stadium in Carrollton, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024–25 West Georgia Wolves men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2024–25 West Georgia Wolves men's basketball team represents the University of West Georgia during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Wolves, led by seventh-year head coach Dave Moore, play their home games at The Coliseum in Carrollton, Georgia as first-year members of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

References

  1. ↑ University of West Georgia Visual Brand Identity Guide (PDF). Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Marlar, Sheryl. "The History of Homecoming". UWG Perspective.
  3. ↑ "West Georgia College Braves Open Season Here". Talladega Daily Home and Our Mountain Home . September 11, 1958. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  4. ↑ Reese, Earnest (May 15, 1980). "W. Georgia To Play in '81". The Atlanta Constitution . p. 72 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  5. ↑ "West Georgia football enjoys rebirth". Asbury Park Press . Associated Press. October 22, 1981. p. 75 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  6. ↑ "WGC Football Coach Tells Rotarians About New Team". Newnan Times-Herald . August 13, 1981. p. 48 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  7. ↑ Heys, Sam (September 18, 1981). "West Georgia Worry: Reality's On Horizon". The Atlanta Constitution . p. 55 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. 1 2 "West Georgia to Honor 1982 National Championship Team". West Georgia Wolves. August 6, 2019.
  9. ↑ "West Georgia loses in playoffs". The Anniston Star . Associated Press. November 22, 1981. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  10. ↑ Outlar, Jesse (December 6, 1982). "Pate gets last laugh after unique success at West Ga". The Atlanta Constitution . p. 33 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  11. ↑ "West Georgia Is Playing Wait and See". The Pensacola News . Associated Press. June 20, 1983 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  12. ↑ "Division II West Georgia moving up to Div. I Atlantic Sun, United Athletic Conference". Associated Press News . September 8, 2023.
  13. ↑ "2023 Game Notes" (PDF). West Georgia Wolves. September 5, 2023. p. 1.
  14. ↑ "UWG Championship History". West Georgia Wolves.
  15. ↑ Chavkin, Daniel (September 8, 2023). "University of West Georgia Announces Move to NCAA Division I". Sports Illustrated .
  16. ↑ "West Georgia Wolves Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 16, 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.