| Centre Praying Colonels Football | |||
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| First season | 1880 | ||
| Athletic director | Brian Chafin | ||
| Head coach | Andrew M. Frye | ||
| 10th year, 58–42 (.580) | |||
| Home stadium | Cheek Field and Farris Stadium | ||
| Stadium capacity | 6,000 | ||
| Stadium surface | Field Turf | ||
| Location | Danville, Kentucky | ||
| Conference | Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) | ||
| Past conferences | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1911–1941) | ||
| All-time record | 509–374–37 (.573) | ||
| Postseason bowl record | 2–1–0 | ||
| Claimed national titles | 1 | ||
| Conference titles | 11 SCAC, 1 SIAA | ||
| Consensus All-Americans | 2 | ||
| Colors | Gold and White | ||
| Website | www.centre.edu | ||
The Centre Praying Colonels football team represents Centre College in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III competition as a member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC). Despite the school's small size (2008 enrollment of 1,215), the football team has historically had success and possesses a strong tradition. At the end of the 2008 season, the school ranked as the 12th winningest school in Division III with an all-time record of 509–374–37.[1]
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On April 9, 1880, a Centre College team traveled to Lexington to play against Kentucky in the first football game south of the Ohio River.[1] The Colonels lost that game, and a rematch at home later in the month, but it was the start of a long-running rivalry with their in-state opponent.[2] The first officially recognized Centre–Kentucky game took place in 1891. In that series, the Colonels compiled a 18–12–2 record before the Kentucky athletic council determined to permanently drop Centre from their schedule.[3]
From 1917 to 1924, Centre compiled a 57–8 record while playing against some of the best teams in the nation.[1] After the 1920 season, Centre faced Texas Christian (TCU) in the Fort Worth Classic. The Colonels convincingly routed them, 63–7.[4]
The 1921 Centre–Harvard game resulted in one of the most shocking upsets in college football, with the Colonels winning, 6–0.[5][6] The star of that game, back Alvin "Bo" McMillin, was twice named a consensus All-American, in 1919 and 1921. Center James Weaver was named a consensus All-American alongside him in 1919.[7] The Colonels finished the 1921 season undefeated, having outscored their opponents, 314 points to 6.[8] In the Dixie Classic, precursor to the modern Cotton Bowl Classic, Centre faced Texas A&M. Miscues contributed to the Colonels' defeat, 22–14.[9] This is also the game in which Texas A&M's 12th man tradition originated.
Centre again found success during the 1950s. In 1951, the Colonels finished the season with a 5–1 record and were invited to play Northern Illinois State in the Corn Bowl. The invitation, however, was rejected by the school administration who wished to de-emphasize football.[10] From 1954 to 1956, Centre compiled a sixteen-game winning streak. In 1955, the undefeated Colonels were again invited to a postseason game, the Tangerine Bowl, but once more declined.[1]
In recent years, Centre has secured eight SCAC championships between 1980 and 2003. Jack "Teel" Bruner, a safety from 1982 to 1985, became the second Centre Colonel inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.[1] In 1984, he recorded five interceptions against Rose-Hulman, tying the all-time record.[11]
Conference championships
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