Eastern Kentucky Colonels football
2023 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team
First season1909
Athletic directorMatt Roan
Head coachWalt Wells
3rd season, 17–14 (.548)
StadiumRoy Kidd Stadium
(capacity: 20,000)
FieldCG Bank Field
Year built1969
Field surfaceSF II Synthetic Turf
LocationRichmond, Kentucky
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceUnited Athletic Conference
All-time record60238638 (.605)
Bowl record43 (.571)
Playoff appearances22
Claimed national titles2
Conference titles22
RivalriesWestern Kentucky (rivalry)
Morehead State (rivalry)
Consensus All-Americans46
ColorsMaroon and white[1]
   
Fight songHail, Hail and Yea, Eastern
MascotThe Colonel
Marching bandEastern Kentucky University Marching Colonels
OutfitterNike
WebsiteEKUSports

The Eastern Kentucky Colonels football program represents Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) in college football, competing at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC). The school has traditionally had much success on the football field, having won 21 OVC conference titles and two Division I FCS National Championships (then called Division I-AA) in 1979 and 1982, and reaching the finals in 1980 and 1981. Much of the success came during the long tenure of head coach Roy Kidd from 1964 to 2002. In 1990, Eastern honored Kidd by naming the school's football stadium Roy Kidd Stadium. Eastern Kentucky's football team was able to secure 31 consecutive winning seasons before finally posting a losing season record in 2009.

In September 2013, the Lexington Herald-Leader, the daily newspaper of nearby Lexington, reported that EKU was considering moving its program to the top-level Football Bowl Subdivision. However, under NCAA rules, such a move would require that EKU receive an invitation from an existing FBS conference.[2] In the end, no such move was made.

EKU left the OVC for the ASUN Conference in July 2021. At the time, the ASUN did not sponsor football, but had committed to launching an FCS football league in the near future.[3] During the 2021 season, EKU competed as a de facto associate member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in a football partnership between the two leagues officially branded as the "ASUN–WAC Challenge".[4] While the ASUN launched its own football league in 2022, it maintained its partnership with the WAC for the 2022 season. Shortly after that season, the two conferences fully merged their football leagues,[5][6] announcing the new branding of United Athletic Conference in April 2023.[7]

Conference affiliation

Championships

National championships

Eastern Kentucky went to four consecutive national championship games, winning twice in 1979 and 1982 while finishing as runner-up in 1980 and 1981 to Boise State and Idaho State, respectively.

Season Coach Selector Record Opponent Result
1979Roy KiddNCAA I-AA Playoff11–2LehighW 30–7
1982Roy KiddNCAA I-AA Playoff13–0DelawareW 17–14

Conference championships

Eastern Kentucky has won 22 conference championships, 16 outright and 6 shared.[8]

Year Conference Head Coach Overall Record Conference Record
1954Ohio Valley ConferenceGlenn Presnell8–1–15–0
1962Glenn Presnell6–34–2
1967Roy Kidd8–1–25–0–2
1968Roy Kidd8–27–0
1974Roy Kidd8-26–1
1976Roy Kidd8–36–1
1981Roy Kidd12–28–0
1982Roy Kidd13–07–0
1983Roy Kidd7–3-16–1
1984Roy Kidd8–46–1
1986†Roy Kidd10–3–16–1
1987†Roy Kidd9–35–1
1988Roy Kidd11–36–0
1990†Roy Kidd10–25–1
1991Roy Kidd12–27–0
1993Roy Kidd8–48–0
1994Roy Kidd10–38–0
1997Roy Kidd8–47–0
2007Danny Hope9–38–0
2008Dean Hood8–47–1
2011Dean Hood7–56–2
2022Atlantic SunWalt Wells7-53-2

† Co-champion

Bowl games

Eastern Kentucky has participated in six bowl games. Four of these bowl games served as a sort of championship game, whether as a regional championship game or as the NCAA Division I Football Championship. The EKU Colonels played in the inaugural Opportunity Bowl presented by Raising Cane's, and in memory of Dr. Sheila Pressley, on Nov. 21, 2020. Eastern Kentucky University hosted the second annual Opportunity Bowl presented by Dinsmore & Shohl on Nov. 20, 2021. The game was matchup EKU and Jacksonville State University.

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1954Glenn PresnellTangerine BowlOmahaL 7–6
1967Roy KiddGrantland Rice BowlBall StateW 27–13
1980Roy KiddCamellia BowlBoise StateL 29–31
1981Roy KiddPioneer BowlIdaho StateL 23–34
1982Roy KiddPioneer BowlDelawareW 17–14
2020Walt WellsOpportunity BowlWestern CarolinaW 49-17
2021Walt WellsOpportunity BowlJacksonville StateW 39-31

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

Eastern Kentucky University football is considered the first dynasty in FCS football. Including a four-year run to the championship game from 1979 to 1982. During this time period they went 46–7 under legendary coach Roy Kidd. Eastern Kentucky is third all time in the FCS for playoff appearances with 21 total appearances (Montana 26/UNI 22). Below is a list of all playoff appearances.

Season Round Opponent Result
1979Semifinals
Championship
Nevada
Lehigh
W 33–30 2OT
W 30–7
1980Semifinals
Championship
Lehigh
Boise State
W 23–20
L 29–31
1981Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Championship
Delaware
Boise State
Idaho State
W 35–28
W 23–17
L 23–34
1982Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Championship
Idaho
Tennessee State
Delaware
W 38–30
W 13–7
W 17–14
1983First RoundBoston UniversityL 20–24
1984First RoundMiddle TennesseeL 10–27
1986First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Furman
Eastern Illinois
Arkansas State
W 23–10
W 24–22
L 10–24
1987First Round
Quarterfinals
Western Kentucky
Northeast Louisiana
W 40–17
L 32–33
1988First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
UMass
Western Kentucky
Georgia Southern
W 28–17
W 41–24
L 17–21
1989First RoundYoungstown StateL 24–28
1990First RoundFurmanL 17–45
1991First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Appalachian State
Middle Tennessee
Marshall
W 14–3
W 23–13
L 7–14
1992First RoundMarshallL 0–44
1993First RoundGeorgia SouthernL 12–14
1994First Round
Quarterfinals
Boston University
Youngstown State
W 30–23
L 15–18
1995First RoundMontanaL 0–48
1997First RoundWestern KentuckyL 14–42
2007First RoundRichmondL 14–31
2008First RoundRichmondL 10–38
2011First RoundJames MadisonL 17–20
2014First RoundIndiana StateL 16–36
2022First RoundGardner–WebbL 41–52

NCAA Division II

The Colonels made one appearance in the Division II playoffs, with a record of 0–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
1976 Quarterfinals North Dakota State L, 7–10

Head coaches

Years Coach Record Conference championships
1909Jim Park0–0–40
1910–1911Clyde H. Wilson2–7–10
1912Charles A. Keith3–4–10
1913–1916Ben Barnard8–13–20
1919–1921Clyde McCoy3–6–10
1922–1928George Hembree21–29–40
1929–1934Turkey Hughes8–29–60
1935–1946Rome Rankin56–24–60
1947–1953Tom Samuels41–24–20
1954–1963Glenn Presnell42–49–32
1964–2002Roy Kidd315–123–816
2003–2007Danny Hope35–221
2008–2015Dean Hood55–382
2016-2019Mark Elder21–240
2020-currentWalt Wells17-141

Rivalries

Western Kentucky

The Battle of the Bluegrass is the name given to the Eastern Kentucky–Western Kentucky football rivalry. Both schools were formerly members of the Ohio Valley Conference, and played against each other regularly until Western Kentucky's transition from the NCAA's FCS to FBS in 2008. The two teams have met 84 times on the football field, with Western Kentucky currently holding a 47–35–3 edge in the all-time series. This rivalry has been known to be particularly competitive with neither team gaining an edge until recent history with Western moving up to the FBS level. It is known as the oldest and most fierce rivalry the commonwealth of Kentucky has, even more so than larger schools of the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville's Governors Cup game because of how many times the teams met, the longevity of the rivalry, and the important conference implications the annual game used to hold.

After a nearly nine year pause, the series resumed again in 2017, when Western Kentucky hosted Eastern Kentucky in a game played at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium. The two teams will meet again on September 7, 2024

Morehead State

The Old Hawg Rifle is the name of the rivalry trophy between the Eastern Kentucky Colonels and the Morehead State Eagles. This rivalry was important because the schools are in such close proximity and are serving the same general Eastern Kentucky region. The gun is an antique, pre-Revolutionary War muzzleloader that is rumored to have once been used in Kentucky's Rowan County War. The rifle has not been actively used in the rivalry since 1962, though the two teams have continued to play against each other since then. The rifle is currently kept on display in the Morehead State student center. The two teams have met 73 times on the football field, with Eastern Kentucky currently holding a 53–16–4 edge in the all-time series. Eastern Kentucky has won 28 out of the last 29 matchups.

Program records

Team records

  • Consecutive winning seasons: 31, 1977–2008
  • Consecutive wins: 18, 1982–1983
  • Consecutive National Title appearances: 4, 1979–1982

Individual records

  • Most rushing yards (game): 300 Markus Thomas against Marshall 1989
  • Most rushing yards (season): 1,998 Elroy Harris in the 1988 season
  • Most rushing yards (career):' 5,532 Markus Thomas 1989–1992
  • Most passing yards (game): 464 Bennie Coney against Tennessee Tech 2015
  • Most passing yards (season): 2,861 Josh Greco in the 2005 season
  • Most passing yards (career): 5,992 Josh Greco 2004–2007
  • Most receiving yards (game): 316 Aaron Marsh against Northwood 1967
  • Most receiving yards (season): 1,150 Andre Ralston in the 2005 season
  • Most receiving yards (career): 3,095 Andre Ralston 2002–2005
  • Most completions (season):225 Bennie Coney 2015

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of November 26, 2022.[9]

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
at Cincinnati at Mississippi State at Louisville at Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
at Kentucky at Western Kentucky Houston Christian
Western Carolina Western Illinois at Western Illinois
Southeast Missouri State Robert Morris
at Gardner–Webb

References

  1. Eastern Kentucky University Brand Guide. December 5, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  2. Story, Mark (September 14, 2013). "Mark Story: EKU is 'discussing' moving its football program up to the FBS". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  3. "ASUN Conference Announces Three New Institutions; Adds Football as 20th Sport" (Press release). ASUN Conference. January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "ASUN, WAC Conferences Announce Football Partnership for 2021" (Press release). ASUN Conference. February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  5. "@ASUN_Football and WAC Release 2023 Schedule" (Press release). ASUN Conference. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  6. "ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  7. "ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands As The United Athletic Conference" (Press release). ASUN Conference. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  8. "Ohio Valley Conference" (PDF). ovcsports.com.
  9. "Eastern Kentucky Colonels Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
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