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The Minnesota Morris Cougars football program represents the University of Minnesota Morris in college football at the NCAA Division III level. The football program was founded in 1961, a year after the University of Minnesota Morris was established. Minnesota Morris first joined NCAA Division II Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) in 1966. With a conference record of 0–34 from 1999 to 2002, Minnesota Morris decided to join NCAA Division III Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). Since joining the UMAC in 2003, Minnesota Morris' conference record is 55–77.[2] The Cougars claim eight NSIC titles (two of which were later forfeited) and two UMAC titles: 1970, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1984, 1986*, 1987*, 2006, and 2023.[3] Since 2006, the Cougars have played all their home games at Big Cat Stadium in Morris, Minnesota.[4] The team's current head coach is Marty Hoffmann.[5]
| Minnesota Morris Cougars football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First season | 1961 |
| Athletic director | Matt Johnson |
| Head coach | Marty Hoffmann 8th season, 26–46 (.361) |
| Stadium | Big Cat Stadium (capacity: 1,400) |
| Field surface | Turf |
| Location | Morris, Minnesota |
| NCAA division | Division III |
| Conference | UMAC |
| All-time record | 261–335–8 (.439) |
| Bowl record | 2–3 (.400) |
| Playoff appearances | 6 |
| Playoff record | 3–6 |
| Conference titles | 10 |
| Consensus All-Americans | 1(Nathan “Gator” Gehlan) |
| Colors | Maroon and gold[1] |
| Fight song | Minnesota Rouser |
| Mascot | Pounce the Cougar |
| Outfitter | Under Armour |
| Website | morriscougars.com |
History
editThe Minnesota Morris Cougars football team played its first game in the fall of 1961, a 6–3 victory over North Dakota State College of Science under head coach Bruce Rolloff. Minnesota Morris has played against Bemidji State University 39 times, more than any other team in Cougar history. The two teams have not faced each other since 2002, Minnesota Morris' last year in Division II before dropping down. Head Coach Al Molde led the Cougars to more conference titles than any other head coach in Minnesota Morris history, winning four consecutively from 1975 to 1978. The Cougars were unstoppable from 1975 to 1981, posting a 61–12–3 record under head coaches Al Molde and Dick Smith. Minnesota Morris then experienced a painful decline from 1990 to 2002, after winning just 16 of 130 games, causing them to drop to Division III in 2003. A 2001 April Fool's issue of The University Register made fun of the losing streak in football by reporting that the recruitment of a multi-talented player named Jesus Christ had put the coach in a bind, "since they have 22 positions that need help."[6]
All-time record vs. UMAC opponents
editThis is the Cougars football record against current Upper Midwest Athletic Conference opponents.
| School | Total Games | W | L | Pct. | PF | PA | First Year | Streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | 9 | 3 | 6 | .333 | x | x | 2011 | Lost 1 |
| Northwestern | 19 | 4 | 15 | .211 | x | x | 2003 | Won 1 |
| Finlandia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | x | x | 2021 | Won 2 |
| Crown | 16 | 11 | 5 | .688 | x | x | 2003 | Won 2 |
| Westminster | 12 | 5 | 7 | .417 | x | x | 2009 | Won 1 |
| Martin Luther | 22 | 4 | 18 | .182 | x | x | 2003 | Lost 6 |
| 6 Opponents | 79 | 28 | 51 | .354 | x | x | 2003 | 19 Seasons |
Conference titles
edit| Season | Coach | Conference | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970† | Mike Simpson | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | 5–1 |
| 1975 | Al Molde | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | 6–0 |
| 1976 | Al Molde | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | 7–0 |
| 1977 | Al Molde | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | 7–0 |
| 1978 | Al Molde | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | 8–0 |
| 1984† | Jim Lind | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | 5–1 |
| 1986* | Jim Lind | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | 4–0–2 |
| 1987* | Stan Zweifel | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | 5–1 |
| 2006 | Ken Crandall | Upper Midwest Athletic Conference | 7–0 |
| 2023 | Marty Hoffmann | Upper Midwest Athletic Conference | 5–0 |
† Co-champions
*The 1986 and 1987 championships were later forfeited for use of an ineligible player.[1]
Playoff appearances
editNCAA Division III
editThe Cougars have appeared in the Division III playoffs six times, with an overall record of 3–6.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Quarterfinals Semifinals |
Albion Wabash |
W, 13–10 L, 21–37 |
| 1978 | Quarterfinals Semifinals |
St. Olaf Wittenberg |
W, 23–10 L, 14–35 |
| 1979 | Quarterfinals | Carnegie Mellon | L, 25–31 |
| 1980 | Quarterfinals Semifinals |
Dubuque Ithaca |
W, 41–35 L, 0–36 |
| 1981 | Quarterfinals | Lawrence | L, 14–21 OT |
| 2023 | First Round | Wisconsin–La Crosse | L, 7–62 |
References
edit- ^ "University of Minnesota, Morris Graphic Identity Guidelines" (PDF). Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- ^ "All-Time Results" (PDF). University of Minnesota Morris. 2015-04-01.
- ^ "FB Record Book (PDF)" (PDF). University of Minnesota Morris Athletics. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
- ^ "Big Cat Stadium". University of Minnesota Morris.
- ^ "Morris Names Next Head Football Coach". University of Minnesota Morris. 2015-04-01.
- ^ Weiner, Jeff (21 September 2002). "AUTUMN'S GAME ; Maybe this week; Undermanned and underfunded, Minnesota-Morris does its best to maintain optimism despite 35 consecutive losses - five short of the Division II record". Star Tribune. ProQuest 427507049.