Livingstone Blue Bears football explained

Currentseason:2023 Livingstone Blue Bears football team
Teamname:Livingstone Blue Bears football
Firstyear:1892
Athleticdirector:Clifton Huff
Headcoach:Sean Gilbert
Headcoachyear:3rd
Hcwins:9
Hclosses:20
Stadium:Alumni Memorial Stadium
Stadiumbuilt:2022
Stadcapacity:6,000
Stadsurface:Artificial Turf
Location:Salisbury, North Carolina
Ncaadivision:II
Conference:CIAA
Pastaffiliations:Independent (1892–1931)
Conftitles:2 (1997, 1998)
Mascotdisplay:Blue Bear
Marchingband:Marching Blue Bear Band
Pagfreelabel2:Outfitter
Pagfreevalue2:Under Armour
Websitename:bluebearathletics.com
Websiteurl:https://bluebearathletics.com/sports/football

The Livingstone Blue Bears football program is an intercollegiate American football team for Livingstone College located in Salisbury, North Carolina. The team competes in NCAA Division II as a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The school's first team was fielded in 1892 as the first historically black college to play football.[1] The team plays its home games at Alumni Memorial Stadium.[2]

History

1892: Founding

The Livingstone Blue Bears football team was founded in the fall of 1892. The members of the team all chipped in and purchased the first uniforms. They played their first game against Biddle on their front lawn, marking the first time two HBCUs faced off for a football game.[3] They played two 45-minute halves with Biddle winning, 5–0.[4] They have since made a rivalry named the "Commemorative Classic" which is played every year.[5]

1883–1930: Early years

In 1903, the Blue Bears were featured in The Charlotte Observer, which stated: "Livingstone has defeated all comers this year, and claims the championship of the colored colleges of the state".[6] They finished that season with a known record of 3–0, defeating Bennett College twice and Y.M.I. once.[7] [8]

In 1906, the Livingstone self-proclaimed themselves "The Colored College Champions" under head coach Benjamin Butler Church.[9]

In 1913, Livingstone finished the season with a 5–0 record, their second and final undefeated season in school history.

In 1926, the Blue Bears finished the season with a 2–5 record. This would be their last season under Church before James Meeks took over in 1927. Church finished with a 42–20–9 during his 16 seasons with Livingstone.

1931–1973: Reclassification

The Blue Bears were Southern Independents from 1892 to 1930, joining the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association (now the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) in 1931, finishing that season 0–5–3 (0–3–2).

In 1973, Livingstone College reclassified from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II along with the CIAA. They would finish the season 7–2–1.

1974–present: Rise to fame

In 1992, the 1892 football team was inducted into the Livingstone College Athletics Hall of Fame.[10]

In 1994, the Blue Bears hired Rudy Abrams, a Livingstone alumni, as their head coach. In 1997, he led them to an 8–2 (6–2) regular season record and a CIAA co-championship before losing in the inaugural Pioneer Bowl to Kentucky State, 30–26. In 1998, he led them to another CIAA co-championship with a 7–3 (6–2) regular season record before again losing in the Pioneer Bowl, this time to Tuckegee, 23–9. After the 1998 season, Abrams was hired to be the head football coach of the North Carolina Central Eagles, where he coached for four seasons before retiring in 2002. He finished his tenure at Livingstone with a 33–18–1 record. In 2005, Abrams was inducted into the Livingstone College Athletics Hall of Fame.[11]

In 2006, Tony Veal was inducted into the Livingstone College Athletics Hall of Fame.[12]

In 2019, both Charles Cooley and Michael Posey were inducted into the Livingstone College Athletics Hall of Fame.[13] [14]

In 2020, Livingstone hired 1992 third overall pick, Sean Gilbert, as their new head football coach.[15] His first season would be cancelled after the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. In his second season (first full) as head coach, Gilbert finished with a 1–8 (1–5) record.

Affiliations

Classifications

Conference memberships

Championships

Conference

1997† 8–3 5–2
1998† 7–4 5–2
† Co-champion

Season-by-season records

= National champions
= Conference champions
= Conference co-champions
= Conference division champions and championship game berth
= Undefeated season

1892Unknown0–1N/AN/A
1893No team
1894No team
1895No team
1896No team
1897No team
1898No team
1899No team
1900No team
1901Unknown3–0N/AN/A
1902No team
1903Unknown3–0N/AN/A
1904No team
1905Unknown1–0N/AN/A
1906Benjamin Butler Church4–0–1N/AN/A
1907Benjamin Butler Church0–1N/AN/A
1908Benjamin Butler Church1–0N/AN/A
1909Benjamin Butler Church0–1N/AN/A
1910No team
1911No team
1912Benjamin Butler Church3–1–1N/AN/A
1913Benjamin Butler Church5–0N/AN/A
1914Benjamin Butler Church5–1N/AN/A
1915 Benjamin Butler Church3–0–2N/AN/A
1916Benjamin Butler Church2–2N/AN/A
1917No team
1918No team
1919No team
1920Benjamin Butler Church1–0N/AN/A
1921Benjamin Butler Church1–0–1N/AN/A
1922Benjamin Butler Church5–1–1N/AN/A
1923Benjamin Butler Church3–2–2N/AN/A
1924Benjamin Butler Church3–3–1N/AN/A
1925Benjamin Butler Church4–3–1N/AN/A
1926Benjamin Butler Church2–5N/AN/A
1927James Meeks3–3–1N/AN/A
1928James Meeks3–3–1N/AN/A
1929James Meeks3–3–3N/AN/A
1930James Meeks0–7–2N/AN/A
Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1931–1949)
1931Bertrand C. Jacobs0–5–30–3–211th
1932William Reid0–4------
1933Unknown0–1--- ---
1934Harry Parker1–5------
1935 Robert Gill0–4------
1936S.E. Barnes2–6–1------
1937S.E. Barnes2–5------
1938S.E. Barnes3–4–1------
1939S.E. Barnes3–5–1------
1940S.E. Barnes4–2–2------
1941Benjamin Hargroves2–6------
1942No team
1943Unknown0–3------
1944Unknown0–2------
1945No team
1946William Goodrum0–5------
1947William Goodrum2–5------
1948Maurice Sneed2–6------
1949Edward L. Mitchell2–4------
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1950–present)
1950Edward L. Mitchell0–6–1------
1951Luther Green0–4–2------
1952Edward L. Mitchell3–4------
1953Edward L. Mitchell3–4------
1954Edward L. Mitchell5–2------
1955Edward L. Mitchell2–6------
1956 David Shinholster4–4------
1957Edward L. Mitchell6–2–1------
1958Edward L. Mitchell6–2------
1959Arthur W. Browne5–3–1------
1960Charles R. Cox7–2–2------
1961Charles R. Cox5–4------
1962Charles R. Cox2–8------
1963Charles R. Cox0–8–1------
1964Elijah Johnson2–8------
1965John D. Marshall3–53–513th
1966John D. Marshall6–3–15–1–13rd
1967John D. Marshall3–62–413th
1968John D. Marshall4–44–38th
1969John D. Marshall5–34–38th
1970John D. Marshall2–71–4 6th (Southern)
1971John D. Marshall4–63–3T–3rd (Southern)
1972John D. Marshall2–80–4 5th (Southern)
1973Baxter Holman7–2–1------
1974Baxter Holman9–2------
1975Baxter Holman7–3–1------
1976Baxter Holman6–5------
1977 Baxter Holman4–7------
1978Andrew Littlejohn5–4–1------
1979Andrew Littlejohn3–8------
1980Andrew Littlejohn0–10------
1981Mel Rose3–7------
1982Mel Rose5–5------
1983Mel Rose5–4------
1984Mel Rose3–72–55th (Southern)
1985David Corley7–35–22nd (Southern)
1986David Corley3–5–22–4–14th (Southern)
1987William M. Spencer2–82–56th (Southern)
1988William M. Spencer3–61–55th (Southern)
1989Fletcher Jones1–81–54th (Southern)
1990Delano Tucker3–62–43rd (Southern)
1991Delano Tucker5–53–35th
1992Delano Tucker3–72–48th
1993Delano Tucker1–101–711th
1994Rudy Abrams5–55–3T–3rd
1995Rudy Abrams5–4–14–3–14th
1996Rudy Abrams8–27–12nd
1997Rudy Abrams8–35–2T–1st
1998Rudy Abrams7–45–2T–1st
1999Gregory Richardson4–72–56th
2000Gregory Richardson2–81–55th (Western)
2001Gregory Richardson1–80–65th (Western)
2002George Johnson3–72–54th (Western)
2003George Johnson3–73–43rd (Western)
2004George Johnson2–82–54th (Western)
2005Lamonte J. Massie1–91–64th (Western)
2006Lamonte J. Massie1–91–65th (Western)
2007Lamonte J. Massie0–100–75th (Western)
2008Lamonte J. Massie2–82–55th (Western)
2009Lamonte J. Massie
Eric Brown (Interim) 		0–100–76th (Western)
2010Elvis James0–110–76th (Southern)
2011Elvis James1–90–76th (Southern)
2012Elvis James2–82–55th (Southern)
2013Daryl Williams3–71–66th (Southern)
2014Daryl Williams5–52–54th (Southern)
2015Daryl Williams5–34–32nd (Southern)
2016Daryl Williams2–81–66th (Southern)
2017Daryl Williams0–100–76th (Southern)
2018Daryl Williams3–61–56th (Southern)
2019Daryl Williams4–61–66th (Southern)
2020No team
2021Sean Gilbert1–81–55th (Southern)
2022Sean Gilbert4–63–54th (Southern)

Rivalries

Elizabeth City State

Head coaches

1 1892 William J. Trent[16]
2 1901 Unknown
3 1903 Unknown
4 1906–1909
1912–1916
1920–1926 		Benjamin Butler Church
5 1927–1930 James Meeks[17]
6 1931 Bertrand C. Jacobs[18]
7 1932 William Reid[19]
8 1933 Unknown
9 1934 Harry Parker[20]
10 1935 Robert Gill[21]
11 1936–1940 Samuel E. Barnes[22]
12 1941 Benjamin Hargrave[23]
13 1943–1944 Unknown
1946–1947 William Goodrum
1948 Maurice Sneed
1949 Unknown
1950–1958 Edward L. Mitchell
1959 Ted Browne
1960–1962 Charles R. Cox
1963–1964 Unknown
1965–1972
1973–1977 Baxter D. Holman Jr.
1978–1980 Andrew Littlejohn
1981–1984 Mel Rose
1985–1986 David Corley
1987–1989 Bill Spencer
1990–1993 Delano Tucker[24]
1994–1998 Rudy Abrams[25]
1999–2001 Gregory Richardson
2002–2004 George Johnson Jr.[26]
2005 Ben Coates
2005–2006 Robert Massey[27]
2007–2009 Lamonte J. Massie[28]
2009 Eric Brown[29]
2010–2012 Elvin J. James[30]
2013–2019 Daryl Williams[31]
2020– Sean Gilbert

# Interim head coach

Individual accomplishments

All-Americans

BTR = BOXTOROW

Award winners

Joseph White – 1982

Joseph White – 1983

Joseph White – 1984

Rob Clodfelter – 1992

Wilmont Perry – 1996

Wilmont Perry – 1997

Jalen Hendricks – 2014

Drew Powell – 2015

Chris Williams – 1997

Jason Ocean – 2000

Ronnie Washburn – 1998

Jason Ocean – 2003

Robert Massey-Brice – 2008

Kevin Larkins Jr. – 2022

Drew Powell – 2012

Black College Football Hall of Fame members

TE 1987–1990 2022 [32]

CIAA Hall of Fame members

George Johnson HC - 1985 [33]
Alfred Tyler QB - 1989 [34]
TE 1987–1990 2018 [35]
Johnny Stoutamire Jr. DB 1974–1978 2021 [36]

Livingstone Athletics Hall of Fame members

1992
HC 1960–1963, 1994–1998 2005
Tony Veal - - 2006
Charles Cooley G, C, K 1995–1998 2019
Michael Posey DB 1997–2001 2019

Notable former players

1960–1963
LB 1972–1973
TE 1987–1990
OL 1990–1991
RB 1994–1998
QB 2012–2015

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Birthplace of Black College Football . Livingstone College Athletics . 10 October 2023.
  2. Web site: Speaks . Shaquira . HBCU Livingstone College unveils new football field in Salisbury . Queen City News . 10 October 2023 . 4 September 2022.
  3. Web site: The Birthplace of Black College Football . Livingstone College Athletics . 12 October 2023.
  4. Web site: Football Kickoff! . JCSU Library . 31 August 2016 . 12 October 2023.
  5. Web site: Becton . Stan . A history of every HBCU football classic . National Collegiate Athletic Association . 12 October 2023 . 23 June 2023.
  6. News: Untitled. The Charlotte Observer. Newspapers.com. December 1, 1903.
  7. News: FOOTBALL TO-DAY.. Salisbury Evening Sun. November 30, 1903. Newspapers.com.
  8. News: LIVINGSTONE DEFEATS Y. M. I. FOOTBALLERS. Asheville Citizen-Times. Newspapers.com. November 27, 1903.
  9. Web site: Images From The Past: Ben B. Church . The Black College Football Museum . 12 October 2023.
  10. Web site: 1892 Football Team (1992) - Livingstone Athletics Hall of Fame . Livingstone College Athletics . 11 October 2023.
  11. Web site: Rudy Abrams (2005) - Livingstone Athletics Hall of Fame . Livingstone College Athletics . 11 October 2023.
  12. Web site: Tony Veal (2006) - Livingstone Athletics Hall of Fame . Livingstone College Athletics . 11 October 2023.
  13. Web site: Charles Cooley (2019) - Livingstone Athletics Hall of Fame . Livingstone College Athletics . 11 October 2023.
  14. Web site: Michael Posey (2019) - Livingstone Athletics Hall of Fame . Livingstone College Athletics . 11 October 2023.
  15. News: Davidson . Dennis . Sean Gilbert named new Livingstone football coach . . . January 30, 2020 . February 18, 2020 .
  16. Black College Football Celebrates 130 Years . . 27 December 2022 . 12 October 2023.
  17. Web site: Livingstone 1927 Season . Bisonville . 12 October 2023.
  18. Web site: Livingstone 1931 Season . Bisonville . 12 October 2023.
  19. Web site: Livingstone 1932 Season . Bisonville . 12 October 2023.
  20. Web site: Livingstone 1934 Season . Bisonville . 12 October 2023.
  21. Web site: Livingstone 1935 Season . Bisonville . 12 October 2023.
  22. Web site: Livingstone 1936 Season . Bisonville . 12 October 2023.
  23. Web site: Livingstone 1941 Season . Bisonville . 12 October 2023.
  24. Web site: Who coached football in 1990 at Livingstone College? . Sports Answers . 12 October 2023.
  25. News: Wertz Jr. . Langston . Coach has Livingstone at 3-0 (continued) . . . September 24, 1994 . 23 . October 12, 2020 . .
  26. Web site: Coates to coach alma mater Livingstone . . 28 December 2004 . . 12 October 2023.
  27. Web site: Robert Massey - Head Football Coach - Staff Directory . WSSU Rams . 12 October 2023.
  28. Web site: Davidson . David . Springs retiring, Massie-Sampson hired as AD at Livingstone . . 15 December 2018 . 12 October 2023.
  29. Web site: Livingstone Announces Change in Football Leadership . Livingstone College Athletics . 21 September 2009 . 12 October 2023.
  30. Web site: Elvin J. James Named 33rd Livingstone College Football Coach . Livingstone College Athletics . 16 December 2009 . 12 October 2023.
  31. Web site: Davidson . Dennis . Williams out as Livingstone's football coach . . 17 January 2020 . 12 October 2023.
  32. Web site: Black College Football Hall Of Fame Class Of 2022 To Be Inducted On Saturday Night . Pro Football Hall of Fame . 12 October 2023.
  33. Web site: George Johnson (1985) - CIAA Hall of Fame Members . Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association . 12 October 2023.
  34. Web site: Alfred Tyler (1989) - CIAA Hall of Fame Members . Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association . 12 October 2023.
  35. Web site: Ben Coates (2018) - CIAA Hall of Fame Members . Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association . 12 October 2023.
  36. Web site: Johnny Stoutamire, Jr. (2021) - CIAA Hall of Fame Members . Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association . 12 October 2023.
  37. News: Fullwood III . Sam . The Coach: A Mix Of Ambition, Organization, And Ego (continued) . . . August 23, 1981 . 6C . October 12, 2020 . .
  38. News: Buckley . Doug . Abrams Named Head Football Coach . . . July 18, 1972 . 8A . October 12, 2020 . .
  39. News: Gowing . Dale . Garinger Hires Abrams . . . April 15, 1980 . 1C . October 12, 2020 . .
  40. News: Wertz Jr. . Langston . Abrams has Livingstone rolling at 3-0 . . . September 24, 1994 . 1B . October 12, 2020 . .

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