Morgan State Bears football explained

Teamname:	Morgan State Bears football
Currentseason:	2024 Morgan State Bears football team
Headcoach:	Damon Wilson
Headcoachyear:	3rd
Hcwins:	8
Hclosses:	13
Stadium:	Hughes Stadium
Stadcapacity:	10,001
Stadsurface:	Turf
Location:	Baltimore, Maryland
Conference:	MEAC
Pastaffiliations:	CIAA (1929–1970)
Atwins:	448
Atlosses:	444
Atties:	38
Bowlwins:	2
Bowllosses:	3
Natltitles:	7 (Black College): 1933, 1937, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1949, 1967
Conftitles:	21
Mascotdisplay:	Bears
Rivalries:	Howard (rivalry) Towson (rivalry)
Websitename:	morganstatebears.com
Websiteurl:	https://morganstatebears.com/sports/football

The Morgan State Bears football team competes in American football on behalf of Morgan State University. The Bears compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, currently as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).^[1] The Bears play their home games at Hughes Stadium, a 10,000-seat facility in Baltimore.

Morgan State began playing football in 1898, 31 years after the school was founded. The team's all-time record is 405 wins, 379 losses and 38 ties.^[2] 173 of those wins came between 1929 and 1959 when Edward P. Hurt was the head coach and the Bears won 14 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships. Earl Banks won four CIAA championships during the 1960s and an additional championship in 1971 after Morgan entered the MEAC. The Bears have won three MEAC Championships (1976, 1979 and 2014).^[3]

History

Eddie Hurt era (1929–1959)

Coach Edward P. Hurt took over the Morgan Bears football team in 1929. The next year his teams won the first of the 14 CIAA championships they would win with him at the helm. More importantly, Hurt, and his assistant coach Talmadge L. Hill, built a program that allowed black athletes to show case their talents where such a venue had been non-existent before.^[4] From 1931 to 1938, Hurt coached the Bears to a 54-game win streak without a single loss.^[5] During his tenure, Morgan's football teams completed 11 seasons undefeated and, in the 1943 season, opponents failed to score a single point against the Bears.^[6] Hurt is a member of the HBCU coaches Hall of Fame ^[7] and in 1952 Morgan named its new $1 million gymnasium facility after him.^[5]

Earl "Papa Bear" Banks era (1960–1973)

Earl Banks succeeded Hurt and took Morgan football to the next level. Banks was the Head coach from 1960 to 1973. He coached the Bears to a 31-game winning streak, three unbeaten regular seasons, four CIAA titles, a MEAC championship, and four bowl games. Twice during his tenure, Morgan led the nation in total defense.^[8] 35 of Bank's players went on to play in the NFL, including Pro Football Hall of Famers Leroy Kelly and Willie Lanier; two more players played professional ball in the CFL.^{[3] [9]} Banks was inducted into five sports Halls of Fame^[8] including the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Modern era (1974–present)

Only two coaches have had winning records at Morgan since the departure of Banks at the end of the 1973 season. The Bears had suffered 23 straight seasons with a losing record until the arrival of former coach Donald Hill-Eley whose first team had a 7–5 record in the 2002 season. Lee Hull was named head coach on January 8, 2014 and his first team would also finish with a 7–5 record, would win a share of the MEAC championship and played in the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs where they would lose to Richmond in the first round.

Classifications

• 1956–1972: NCAA College Division
• 1973–1977: NCAA Division II
• 1978–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference memberships

• 1899–1928: Independent
• 1929–1970: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
• 1971–1979: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
• 1980–1983: Independent
• 1984–present: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

Historic first

• 1976, Morgan State played Grambling State in the first American college football game in Asia. Morgan State lost 42–16 in Tokyo, Japan.^[10]

Championships

National

Morgan State claims seven Black college football national championships.

			9–0	CIAA
			7–0
			5–0
			6–1
			8–0
			8–0
			8–0

Conference championships

Morgan State has won 23 conference championships.^[11]

1930			8–1
1932			7–0–1
			9–0
1934			5–0–3
1935			8–0
			7–0
1940			7–0–1
1941			6–1
1942			6–1–1
			5–0
			6–1
			8–0
			8–0
1956			5–2–1
1962			8–1
1965			9–0
1966			9–0
			8–0
1968			8–1
1971			6–4–1
1976†			6–4
1979			9–2
2014†			7–6

† co-champions

Rivals

Morgan State and Howard participate in the Howard–Morgan State football rivalry.^{[12] [13] [14]}

Towson and Morgan State share a rivalry called The Battle for Greater Baltimore.^{[15] [16]}

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

The Bears have made one appearance in the Division I-AA/FCS playoffs, with a combined record of 0–1.

NCAA Division II

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

1979

Quarterfinals

Alabama A&M

L, 7–27

Head coaches

Dr. John Camper	1920–1923	3	14	1
Jim F. Law	1924–1925	6	3	2
Dr. Charles R. Drew	1926–1927	8	2	2
Bill Taylor	1928	5	2	3
Eddie Hurt	1929–1959	173	54	18
Earl Banks	1960–1973	95	30	2
Nat Taylor	1974–1975	9	10	1
Henry Lattimore	1976–1977	10	10	1
Clarence Thomas	1978–1980	17	15	1
Thomas Morris	1981	4	5	0
Nat Taylor	1982	4	7	0
James Phillips	1983–1984	2	18	0
Jesse Thomas	1985–1987	2	27	0
Edmund Wyche	1988–1990	6	26	1
Ricky Diggs	1991–1995	10	45	0
Stump Mitchell	1996–1998	8	24	1
Stanley Mitchell	1999–2001	5	27	0
Donald Hill-Eley	2002–2013	59	76	0
Lee Hull	2014–2016	11	12	0
Fred Farrier	2016–2017	4	18	0
Ernest T. Jones	2018	4	7	0
Tyrone Wheatley	2019–2021	5	18	0
Damon Wilson	8	13	0

Notable alumni

Fifty three former Morgan players have gone on to play professional football. Thirty nine players went to the NFL, eight to the CFL, three to the WFL and one each to the AAFC, the Arena Football League and the AIFA. At least one player has gone to the NFL every decade since 1950 from Morgan State.^[17]

Former Morgan Bears Len Ford, Leroy Kelly, Willie Lanier and Rosey Brown are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Professional players

Player	Position	League	Team	Years	Ref
1940s
Elmore Harris	RB	AAFC	Brooklyn Dodgers	1947	^[18]
1950s
Len Ford ^†	DE	NFL	Cleveland Browns	1950
Charlie Robinson	G	NFL		1951	^[19]
Rosey Brown ^†	OT	NFL	New York Giants	1952	^[20]
1960s
Oliver Dobbins	DB	NFL	Buffalo Bills	1964	^[21]
Leroy Kelly ^†	RB	NFL	Cleveland Browns	1964	^[22]
Willie Lanier ^†	LB	NFL	Kansas City Chiefs	1966	^[23]
Tom Carr	DT	NFL	New Orleans Saints	1967	^[24]
Carlton Dabney	DT	NFL	Atlanta Falcons	1968	^[25]
Daryl Johnson	CB	NFL	Boston Patriots	1968	^[26]
Alvin Mitchell	CB	NFL	Cleveland Browns	1968	^[27]
Jeff Queen	LB	NFL	San Diego Chargers	1969	^[28]
Clarence Scott	CB	NFL	Boston Patriots	1968	^[29]
Bob Wade	CB	NFL	Pittsburgh Steelers	1969	^[30]
George Nock	RB	NFL	New York Jets	1969	^[31]
John "Frenchy" Fuqua	RB	NFL	Pittsburgh Steelers	1969	^[32]
1970s
Raymond Chester	TE	NFL	Oakland Raiders	1970
Ed Hayes	S	NFL	Philadelphia Eagles	1970	^[33]
Mark Washington	CB	NFL	Dallas Cowboys	1970	^[34]
Willie Germany	S	NFL	Atlanta Falcons	1972	^[35]
Ara "Sonny" Person	TE	NFL	St. Louis Cardinals	1971	^[36]
John Sykes	RB	NFL	San Diego Chargers	1972	^[37]
John "Tiny" Andrews	DE	NFL	Miami Dolphins	1972	^[38]
Maurice Tyler	CB	NFL	Buffalo Bills	1972	^[39]
Ron Mayo	TE	NFL	Houston Oilers	1973	^[40]
Stan Cherry	LB	NFL	Baltimore Colts	1973	^[41]
Greg Latta	TE	NFL	Chicago Bears	1975	^[42]
Mike Collier	RB	NFL	Pittsburgh Steelers	1975	^[43]
Bobby Hammond	RB	NFL	New York Giants	1976	^[44]
Tim Baylor	S	NFL	Baltimore Colts	1976	^[45]
1980s
Elvis Franks	DE	NFL	Cleveland Browns	1980
Mike Holston	WR	NFL	Houston Oilers	1981	^[46]
	CB	NFL	Dallas Cowboys	1986	^[47]
1990s
Kelvin Moore	S	NFL	Cincinnati Bengals	1998	^[48]
2000s
Willie Jones	DT	NFL	Kansas City Chiefs	2001	^[49]
Visanthe Shiancoe	TE	NFL	Minnesota Vikings	2003	^[50]
Cliff Johnson	DB	NFL	Detroit Lions	2005	^[51]
Cliff Louis	OT	NFL	Cleveland Browns	2007	^[52]
Chad Simpson	RB	NFL	Indianapolis Colts	2007	^[53]
2010s
Joshua Miles	OT	NFL	Arizona Cardinals	2019	^[54]
2020s

Alfnzo Graham: SIgned to Stelers in 2022

External links

• Official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Morgan State Historical Data. College Football Data Warehouse. 2014-02-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222052126/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa/mideastern/morgan_state/index.php. 2014-02-22. dead.
2. Web site: Morgan State University Directory. The Sports Network. 2008-07-12. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110525200129/http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2%2Fteams%2Fdirect642.htm. 2011-05-25.
3. Book: Morgan State University Football Media Guide. Leonard L. Haynes IV. Morgan State University. Baltimore, Maryland. 2007. 2008-07-02. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081029051632/http://www.morganstatebears.com/sidebar.asp?id=412&path=foot. 2008-10-29.
4. Book: Wade, Herman L.. Run From There. Word Association. United States. 2004-06-01. 211. 978-1-932205-78-7. The arrival of the black athlete on the national sports scene in the 1940s and 50s goes directly back to Edward P. Hurt. There is not a single black sports figure in the world today who is not in some small way in the debt of Coach Hurt..
5. Web site: The Edward P. Hurt Gymnasium Continues a Tradition. Spring 2004. Morgan Magazine. 2008-07-05. 2020-04-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20200410030057/https://dbukjj6eu5tsf.cloudfront.net/sidearm.sites/morganstatebears.com/documents/2007/4/23/MagSpr2004Hurt2r.pdf. live.
6. Web site: Morgan Legend: Eddie P. Hurt. Jennifer. Jacob. 2002-03-22. The Spokesman (University's newspaper). 2008-07-05. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110714125638/http://media.www.msuspokesman.com/media/storage/paper270/news/2002/03/22/Sports/Morgan.Legend.Eddie.P.Hurt-221040.shtml. 2011-07-14.
7. Web site: Hall Of Fame Induction List. The Onnidan Group. 2008-07-05. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080602082004/http://www.hbcusports.com/r2k/HBCU_Heritage_Hall/Nominees/nominees.htm. 2008-06-02.
8. Web site: Earl C. Banks. Morgan State University Sports Information. 2008-07-05. 2008-10-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20081029051625/http://www.morganstatebears.com/Sports/foot/2003/LegendsBanks.asp. live.
9. Web site: Sports of The Times; Weaving Threads Of History. Rhoden. William C.. 1992-12-05. The New York Times. 2008-07-05.
10. Web site: Back in the day: 40 years ago, Morgan State and Grambling played in Tokyo. Huggins. Gerald J.. theundeafeated.com. Andscape. September 23, 2016. October 2, 2016. April 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220419073402/https://andscape.com/features/back-in-the-day-40-years-ago-morgan-state-and-grambling-played-in-tokyo/. live.
11. Web site: History & Records. Morgan State University Athletics.
12. News: Wilbon. Michael. Howard-Morgan State: The Game. The Washington Post. Washington. November 21, 1980. December 27, 2016. February 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202011819/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/11/21/howard-morgan-state-the-game/f501dd39-eda6-424b-980c-a94fae6b345a/. live.
13. News: Freeman. Rasheim. Rivalry And Revelry. The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore. October 2, 2005. December 27, 2016. December 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161227130443/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2005-10-02/news/0509270168_1_homecoming-morgan-soden. live.
14. News: . Howard & Morgan Take Rivalry North to a Big Stage in the Big Apple. The Afro (Baltimore). September 25, 2011. December 27, 2016. December 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161227195539/http://afro.com/howard-morgan-take-rivalry-north-to-a-big-stage-in-the-big-apple/. live.
15. Web site: Towson-Morgan State 'Battle for Greater Baltimore' football series to resume Sept. 2. 2019-12-05. 2019-12-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20191205020546/https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bs-sp-towson-morgan-state-football-series-0719-story.html. live.
16. Web site: Towson-Morgan State Hold Battle for Greater Baltimore Press Conference. 2019-12-05. 2019-12-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20191205020549/https://towsontigers.com/news/2017/7/18/football-towson-morgan-state-hold-battle-for-greater-baltimore-press-conference.aspx. live.
17. Web site: Morgan State University Football Media Guide. Leonard L. Haynes IV. Morgan State University. 2008-07-04.
18. Web site: Elmore Harris . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070210103311/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HARRIELM01 . 2007-02-10 .
19. Web site: All-Time players: Charlie Robinson. NFL Enterprises. 2008-07-06.
20. Web site: Rosey Brown . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930063936/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BROWNROS01 . 2007-09-30 .
21. Web site: All-Time Players: Ollie Dobbins. NFL Enterprises. 2008-07-06. 2008-04-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20080410225401/http://www.nfl.com/players/olliedobbins/profile?id=DOB276860. live.
22. Web site: Leroy Kelly enshrined in Black College Football Hall of Fame . morganstatebears.com . 7 July 2019 . 7 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190707021553/https://morganstatebears.com/news/2014/3/24/FB_0324145301.aspx . live .
23. Web site: Famous Alumni . Morgan State University Alumni Association . 24 September 2019.
24. Web site: Tom Carr . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070210102148/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=CARRTOM01 . 2007-02-10 .
25. Web site: Carlton Dabney . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070208135427/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DABNECAR01 . 2007-02-08 .
26. Web site: Daryl Johnson . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070209003734/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JOHNSDAR01 . 2007-02-09 .
27. Web site: Alvin Mitchell . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070208110259/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MITCHALV01 . 2007-02-08 .
28. Web site: Jeff Queen . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070205145442/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=QUEENJEF01 . 2007-02-05 .
29. Web site: Clarence Scott . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070208150933/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SCOTTCLA01 . 2007-02-08 .
30. Web site: Bob Wade. Pro Football Reference. December 17, 2017. April 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190421135812/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WadeBo20.htm. live.
31. Web site: All-Time Players: George Nock. NFL Enterprises. 2008-07-06.
32. Web site: All-Time Players: John Fuqua. NFL Enterprises. 2008-07-06.
33. Web site: Ed Hayes . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070209000109/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HAYESED01 . 2007-02-09 .
34. Web site: All-Time Players: Mark Washington. NFL Enterprises. 2008-07-06. 2008-04-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20080413100246/http://www.nfl.com/players/markwashington/profile?id=WAS532425. live.
35. Web site: All-Time Players: Willie Germany. NFL Enterprises. 2008-07-06.
36. Web site: All-Time Players: Ara Person. NFL Enterprises. 2008-07-06.
37. Web site: All-Time Players: John Sykes. NFL Enterprises. 2008-07-06.
38. Web site: All-Time Players: John Andrews. NFL Enterprises. 2008-07-06. 2009-02-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20090206172232/http://www.nfl.com/players/johnandrews/profile?id=AND688772. live.
39. Web site: Maurice Tyler . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930030001/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=TYLERMAU01 . 2007-09-30 .
40. Web site: Ron Mayo . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070209000405/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MAYORON01 . 2007-02-09 .
41. Web site: All-Time Players: Stan Cherry. NFL Enterprises. 2008-07-06. 2023-12-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20231212010625/https://www.nfl.com/players/. live.
42. Web site: All-Time Players: Greg Latta. NFL Enterprises. 2008-07-06. 2023-12-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20231212010627/https://www.nfl.com/players/greg-latta/. live.
43. Web site: All-Time Players: Mike Collier. NFL Enterprises. 2008-07-06. 2008-04-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20080410224927/http://www.nfl.com/players/mikecollier/profile?id=COL420414. live.
44. Web site: Bobby Hammond . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100212194010/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HAMMOBOB01 . 2010-02-12 .
45. Web site: All-Time Players: Tim Baylor. NFL Enterprises. 2008-07-06. 2023-12-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20231212010628/https://www.nfl.com/players/tim-baylor/. live.
46. Web site: Mike Holston . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111122051742/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HOLSTMIK01 . 2011-11-22 .
47. Web site: Cornell Gowdy . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070208185344/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=GOWDYCOR01 . 2007-02-08 .
48. Web site: Kelvin Moore . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070209040803/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MOOREKEL01 . 2007-02-09 .
49. Web site: Willie Jones . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070209034549/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JONESWIL04 . 2007-02-09 .
50. Web site: Vishante Shiancoe . databaseFootball.com . 2008-07-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930024922/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SHIANVIS01 . 2007-09-30 .
51. Web site: All-Time Players: Cliff Johnson. NFL Enterprises. 2008-07-06. 2023-12-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20231212011134/https://www.nfl.com/players/. live.
52. Web site: Team Roster: Cliff Louis . 2008 Cleveland Browns . 2008-07-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080530214109/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/player.php?id=3146 . 2008-05-30 . dead .
53. Web site: Team Roster: Chad Simpson. 2009 NFL Enterprises. 2009-11-15. 2009-10-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20091031225945/http://www.nfl.com/players/chadsimpson/profile?id=SIM482496. live.
54. Web site: Team Roster: Joshua Miles. 2019 NFL Enterprises. 2020-06-18. 2020-06-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20200605133257/https://www.nfl.com/players/joshua-miles/. live.