Central Arkansas Bears football

Central Arkansas Bears
2016 Central Arkansas Bears football team
First season	1908
Athletic director	Brad Teague
Head coach	Steve Campbell 2nd year, 6–6 (.500)
Stadium	Estes Stadium
Seating capacity	8,035
Field surface	Fieldturf (striped purple & gray)
Location	Conway, Arkansas
NCAA division	NCAA Division I (FCS)
Conference	Southland Conference
All-time record	528–363–42 (.588)
Bowl record	0–0 (–)
Claimed nat'l titles	3 (NAIA)
Conference titles	19
Division titles	0
Heisman winners	0
Colors	Purple and Gray[1]
Rivals	McNeese State
Website	UCASports.com

For information on all University of Central Arkansas sports, see Central Arkansas Bears and Sugar Bears

The Central Arkansas Bears football program is the intercollegiate American football team for University of Central Arkansas located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Southland Conference. Central Arkansas's first football team was fielded in 1908. The team plays its home games at the 8,035 seat Estes Stadium in Conway, Arkansas. The Bears are coached by Steve Campbell, in his second year.

History

The Central Arkansas Bears were formed in 1901 by William Hawkins. Although they finished 1-4-3 in their first season, and have an unusual record of 23-54-22 in its first twenty years of existence, the Bears would play for 7 championships in that span.

UCA would enjoy its greatest success over a fourteen-year period from 1979 to 1992, when the Bears won or shared thirteen of the fourteen conference championships, as member's of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC). The AIC included in-state schools such as Arkansas Tech, Harding University, Henderson State University, Ouachita Baptist, Southern Arkansas University, University of Arkansas at Monticello, and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. During that time frame, UCA won or shared twelve consecutive AIC titles from 1981 - 1992, as well as three NAIA national championships, in 1984, 1985, and 1991. The Bears were a constant presence in the NAIA Top 20, and made the playoffs twelve out of fourteen seasons.

In 1993, the Bears left the AIC and the NAIA, and moved up in competition to the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference. Central Arkansas would stay in the West Division of the GSC through the 2006 season, winning the GSC title in 2005. UCA moved up yet again in 2007, joining the Southland Conference, a member of the NCAA Division I-AA, where they currently compete. The Bears have since won two Southland championships in 2008 and 2012. Central Arkansas also made the playoffs in 2011 and 2012, winning their first I-AA playoff game in 2011 over Tennessee Tech.

Notable former players

Notable alumni include:

• Nathan Brown
• Monte Coleman
• Willie Davis
• Charlie Strong

Championships

Conference championships

1939, 1959, 1960, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2005, 2008, 2012

The conference championships won between 1979 and 1992, were as members of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC), an NAIA Division I conference.

The 2005 conference championship was as a member of the Gulf South Conference, an NCAA Division II conference.

The 2008 and 2012 conference titles were as a member of the Southland Conference, an NCAA Division I-AA conference, or Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

National Championships

1984, 1985, 1991

All three national titles were won on the NAIA Division I level. The head coach in 1984 and 1985 was Harold Horton. The head coach in 1991 was Mike Isom.

UCA was the national runners-up in 1976, after losing to Texas A&I in the national championship game.

FCS Playoffs results

The Bears have appeared in the FCS playoffs two times with an overall record of 1–2.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
2011	First Round Second Round	Tennessee Tech Montana	W 34–14 L 14–41
2012	Second Round	Georgia Southern	L 16–24

Division II Playoffs results

The Bears have appeared in the Division II playoffs two times with an overall record of 2–2.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
2001	First Round	Catawba	L 34–35
2005	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals	Albany State (GA) Presbyterian North Alabama	W 28–20 W 52–28 L 38–41

NAIA Playoffs results

The Bears have appeared in the NAIA playoffs 12 times with an overall record of 12–9–2. They are three time NAIA National Champions (1984, 1985, 1991), with 1984 and 1985 being Co–Champions after ending in a tie in the National Championship Game.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1976	Semifinals National Championship Game	Elon Texas A&M-Kingsville	W 10–7 L 0–26
1978	Quarterfinals	Western State	L 17–22
1980	Quarterfinals	Texas A&M-Commerce	L 21–27
1981	Quarterfinals	Cameron	L 27–48
1983	Quarterfinals Semifinals	Northeastern State (OK) Mesa State	W 18–7 L 17–34
1984	Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game	Moorhead State (MN) Central Washington Carson-Newman	W 30–6 W 44–6 T 19–19
1985	Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game	Pittsburg State Henderson State Hilldale	W 32–22 W 21–9 T 10–10
1987	First Round Quarterfinals	Northwestern Oklahoma State Cameron	W 31–7 L 7–14
1988	First Round	Southeastern Oklahoma State	L 14–21
1990	Quarterfinals Semifinals	Northeastern State (OK) Mesa State	W 26–14 L 9–10
1991	Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game	Northeastern State (OK) Moorhead State (MN) Central State	W 30–14 W 38–18 W 19–16
1992	Quarterfinals Semifinals	Southwestern Oklahoma State Central State	W 14–2 L 23–30

Rivalries

McNeese State

The two teams have met 9 times on the football field with series led by McNeese State 5–4. Due to conference scheduling requirements, the most recent game was played in 2015.

McNeese State–Central Arkansas: All-Time Record

Games played	First meeting	Last meeting	Central Arkansas wins	Central Arkansas losses	Win %
9	September 17, 1994 (lost 7-21)	October 17, 2015 (lost 13-28)	4	5	.444

References

1. UCA Standards Guide (PDF). 2015-03-28. Retrieved 2016-04-02.

External links

• Official website