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 (1946)
Athletic director Jason Carmichael
Head coach Joel Taylor
1st season, 0–0 (–)
Stadium University Stadium
(capacity: 10,000)
Year built2009
Field surfaceGrass
Location Carrollton, Georgia
NCAA division Division I FCS
Conference United Athletic Conference
Past conferences
Playoff appearances11
Claimed national titles1 (NCAA Division III: 1982)
Conference titles4
Rivalries Valdosta State
ColorsBlue and red [1]
   
Website Official website

The West Georgia Wolves football program represents the University of West Georgia (UWG) in college football. Previously an NCAA Division II team, they will become 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

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<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 II intercollegiate sports. The Wolves compete as members of the Gulf South Conference for all 13 varsity sports. West Georgia has been a member of the GSC since 1983. On September 8, 2023, West Georgia announced they would be joining NCAA Division I as members of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN), effective July 1, 2024. The football team will join the United Athletic Conference, a football-only partnership between the ASUN and the Western Athletic Conference, at the same time.

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<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 will represent the University of West Georgia in the 2018 NCAA Division II football season. They will be led by second-year head coach David Dean. The Wolves will play 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">United Athletic Conference</span> American college athletics conference

The United Athletic Conference (UAC) is an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) conference. The conference is a merger of the existing football leagues of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) and Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The UAC covers the southwestern, western, and southern United States with member institutions located in Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah, with a future member located in Georgia.

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

The 2024 West Georgia Wolves football team will represent 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 will be coached by first-year head coach Joel Taylor and play at University Stadium in Carrollton, Georgia.

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 .