Hardin–Simmons Cowboys football

Hardin–Simmons Cowboys football
First season1897; 127 years ago (1897)[a]
Head coachJesse Burleson
14th season, 106–33 (.763)
StadiumShelton Stadium
LocationAbilene, Texas
NCAA divisionDivision III
ConferenceASC
Bowl record5–2–1 (.688)
Playoff appearances13
Playoff record4–13
Conference titles12
ColorsPurple and gold[1]
   

The Hardin–Simmons Cowboys football team represents Hardin–Simmons University in the sport of college football.[2]

Hardin–Simmons began competing in intercollegiate football in 1897.[3] The program rose to prominence under Frank Kimbrough who compiled a 47–8–3 record (.836) as head coach from 1935 to 1940. Kimbrough's teams played in the 1936 and 1937 Sun Bowls, and his undefeated and untied 1940 team was ranked No. 17 in the final AP Poll.

From 1941 to 1961, the team competed as a member of the Border Conference.[4] During this time, the Cowboys won three conference championships: 1942 (shared with Texas Tech) and 1946 under head coach and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Warren B. Woodson, and 1958 under head coach and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Sammy Baugh.[5] During the period of its membership in the Border Conference, the team appeared in seven bowl games, including a record three bowl games (Grape, Shrine, and Camellia Bowls) for the 1948 team.[6]

From 1960 to 1963, the football program compiled a record of 3–35–1 and was outscored by a total of 999 to 313. In January 1964, the university trustees ordered the elimination of the university football program. The chairman of the board said the move was necessitated by "financial difficulties and losses" in the athletic program.[7]

The school did not field a football team from 1964 to 1989. The football program returned in 1990, but the school now competes at the NCAA Division III level. Jimmie Keeling was the head coach for 21 years from 1990 to 2010, winning 11 American Southwest Conference championships and compiling a record of 172–53 (.764). Jesse Burleson has been the head coach since 2011.[8]

Postseason appearances

Bowl games

The Hardin–Simmons Cowboys have played in 8 NCAA-sanctioned bowl games with a record of 5–2–1.[9][dead link‍]

Season Date Bowl W/L Opponent PF PA Coach Notes
1935 January 1, 1936 Sun Bowl T New Mexico A&M 14 14 Frank Kimbrough notes
1936 January 1, 1937 Sun Bowl W Texas Western 34 6 Frank Kimbrough notes
1942 January 1, 1943 Sun Bowl L Second Air Force 7 13 Clark Jarnagin notes
1946 January 4, 1947 Alamo Bowl W Denver 20 0 Warren B. Woodson notes
1947 January 1, 1948 Harbor Bowl W San Diego State 53 0 Warren B. Woodson
1948 December 11, 1948 Grape Bowl† T Pacific (CA) 35 35 Warren B. Woodson
1948 December 18, 1948 Shrine Bowl W Ouachita Baptist 41 12 Warren B. Woodson
1948 December 30, 1948 Camellia Bowl W Wichita State 49 12 Warren B. Woodson
1958 December 31, 1958 Sun Bowl L Wyoming 7 14 Sammy Baugh notes
Total 9 games 5–2–2 260 106

† The Grape Bowl is listed in NCAA records, but was not an NCAA-sanctioned bowl game.[9]

NCAA Division III playoffs

The Cowboys have made thirteen appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs, with a combined record of 4–13.

Year Round Opponent Result
1999 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals 		Washington (MO)
Washington & Jefferson
Trinity (TX) 		W, 28–21
W, 51–3
L, 33–40
2000 Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals 		Western Maryland
Trinity (TX)
Saint John's (MN) 		W, 32–10
W, 33–30
L, 14–38
2001 First Round Wittenberg L, 35–38 OT
2004 Second Round Mary Hardin–Baylor L, 28–42
2006 First Round Mary Hardin–Baylor L, 21–33
2008 First Round Mary Hardin–Baylor L, 35–38
2015 First Round Mary Hardin–Baylor L, 19–37
2016 First Round Linfield L, 10–24
2017 First Round Linfield L, 13–27
2018 First Round Mary Hardin–Baylor L, 6–27
2022 First Round Trinity (TX) L, 7–14
2023 First Round Trinity (TX) L, 6–20
2024 Second Round Mary Hardin–Baylor L, 13–17

Notes and references

  1. ^ The school did not field a football team from 1964 to 1989. It was relaunched in 1990; 34 years ago (1990).
  1. ^ Hardin–Simmons Athletics/Spirit Style Guide (PDF). January 1, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  2. ^ "Football". Hardin-Simmons University. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  3. ^ "2007 Cowboy Football Media Guide" (PDF). Hardin-Simmons University. p. 69. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 28, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  4. ^ "Hardin-Simmons Cowboys School History". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  5. ^ "Conference Championships: Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 13, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  6. ^ "Hardin-Simmons made bowl season history in '48". Houston Chronicle. December 26, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  7. ^ "H-SU Drops Grid Sport". The Abilene Reporter-News. January 10, 1964. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Year-By-Year Record". Hardin-Simmons University. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2017-01-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)