Anderson Ravens and Lady Ravens

Anderson Ravens
University	Anderson University (Indiana)
Conference	Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA	Division III
Athletic director	Marcie Taylor
Location	Anderson, IN
Varsity teams	18
Football stadium	Macholtz Stadium
Basketball arena	O. C. Lewis Gymnasium
Mascot	Rodney the Raven
Nickname	Ravens and Lady Ravens
Colors	Orange and Black
Website	www.anderson.edu/athletics

The Ravens is the name used for all of the men's intercollegiate athletic teams that play for Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana. The female intercollegiate teams are known as the Lady Ravens.

Men's sports offered at Anderson University include football, basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, soccer, cross country, and track & field. Women's sports offered at Anderson University include basketball, softball, tennis, volleyball, soccer, golf, cross country, and track & field.

Conference affiliation

The Ravens compete in athletics in the NCAA Division III and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Organization

Athletics at Anderson University are administered by the Anderson University Athletic Department.

Current facilities

Most athletic teams have on-campus facilities for competition, including Macholtz Stadium for football, and O. C. Lewis Gymnasium for basketball and women’s volleyball.

Team colors

The official school colors for Anderson University are Orange and Black. White is often used as a secondary color and for alternate jerseys.

Mascot

Formerly the Tigers, AU's nickname was changed to the Ravens in 1937.^[2] The current mascot is Rodney the Raven.

Athletic team success and post season appearances

Football

In 1970 the Ravens played in the NAIA Division II National Football Championship and lost to Westminster (Pa.), 21–16.

The Anderson Ravens football team won the HCAC conference title in 2001 season.

Two former AU players currently playing professional football are Hyman Smith and Joel Steele. In 2008, a new all-weather synthetic field turf and outdoor game lights were installed at Macholtz Stadium.^[5]

The Kevin Donley era

Kevin Donley has been one of the most successful coaches in NAIA football. After graduating from Anderson College in 1973,^[6] Donley returned to his alma mater in 1976 to serve two seasons as offensive coordinator. In 1978, at the age of 26, Donley was named the youngest head coach in the country. Over the next four years, Donley’s teams would compile an overall record of 28-9 (.757), winning the conference title in 1980 and 1981. Through 2009 and 63 years of Anderson football history, Donley’s overall winning percentage stands as the best among all Anderson football coaches.

1978

(5-4 overall, 4-4 conference)

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Result
September 16		at Hanover		Hanover, IN		L 10–12
September 23		at Defiance		Defiance, OH		W 38–19
September 30		Bluffton		Anderson, IN		W 17–7
October 7		at Wilmington		Wilmington, OH		L 13–17
October 14		Manchester		Anderson, IN		L 9–13
October 21		at Findlay		Findlay, OH		L 0–19
October 28		Earlham		Anderson, IN		W 42–10
November 4		at Franklin*		Franklin, IN		W 21–20
November 11		Taylor		Anderson, IN		W 21–7
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

1979

(7-2 overall, 6-2 conference)

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Result
September 15		Hanover		Anderson, IN		L 0–26
September 22		Defiance		Anderson, IN		W 16–7
September 29		at Bluffton		Bluffton, OH		W 21–14
October 6		Wilmington		Anderson, IN		W 35–6
October 13		at Manchester		North Manchester, IN		W 38–20
October 20		Findlay		Anderson, IN		L 6–21
October 27		at Earlham		Richmond, IN		W 63–19
November 3		Franklin*		Anderson, IN		W 42–35
November 10		at Taylor		Upland, IN		W 21–13
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

1980

(8-1 overall, 7-1 conference)

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Result
September 20		at Defiance		Defiance, OH		W 28–0
September 27		Bluffton		Anderson, IN		W 27–0
October 4		at Wilmington		Wilmington, OH		W 21–6
October 11		Manchester		Anderson, IN		W 58–0
October 18		at Findlay		Findlay, OH		W 10–0
October 25		Earlham		Anderson, IN		W 34–0
November 1		at Olivet Nazarene*		Kankakee, IL		W 24–14
November 8		Taylor		Anderson, IN		W 55–12
November 15		at Hanover		Hanover, IN		L 13–28
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

1981

(8-2 overall, 8-0 conference)

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Result
September 19		Defiance		Anderson, IN		W 13–0
September 26		at Bluffton		Bluffton, OH		W 34–0
October 3		Wilmington		Anderson, IN		W 35–17
October 10		at Manchester		North Manchester, IN		W 47–14
October 17		Findlay		Anderson, IN		W 25–13
October 24		at Earlham		Richmond, IN		W 32–3
October 31		Olivet Nazarene*		Anderson, IN		L 13–14
November 7		at Taylor		Upland, IN		W 29–22
November 14		Hanover		Anderson, IN		W 28–23
November 21		at Westminster*		New Wilmington, PA (NAIA D-II Quarterfinal)		L 6–21
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Baseball

The baseball teams has qualified for postseason tournaments 30 of the last 32 years and 99 percent of the four-year players have graduated. Some notable accomplishments are:

• Eight World Series appearances
• 19 years in the final Top 20 Coaches Poll
• 16 conference championships
• 32 players signed professional contracts
• NAIA Indiana champions 12 times, 8 of last 9 years in NAIA
• 6 NCAA Div. III Regional appearances since 1993
• 3 NCAA Div. III World Series appearances.^[7]

Women's basketball

In more recent history, the women's basketball team made their first appearance in the Division III NCAA Tournament in 2000-2001.

Softball

The Softball team has posted a record of 214-195 over the past decade, reaching the NCAA regionals three times. In total, they have had 7 conference MVP's and 71 All-Conference players. The 1999 team was the most successful in school history. They finished with a total of 35 wins, including a 14-0 performance in conference play.^[8]

Men's soccer

The Men's Soccer team also became the first NCAA team, regardless of division, to be named Academic All-Americans 12 straight years. The Women's team achieved 11 straight seasons. Major team accomplishments include, two HCAC tournament titles, two HCAC regular season titles, 38 All-Conference players, 28 NSCAA Academic All-American selections, three HCAC Players of the Year and two HCAC Freshmen of the Year.^[9]

Cross Country teams

The Men's Cross Country Team since 1988 has won 14 conference titles, having perfect scored twice, 16 most valuable runner awards, and 5 freshmen of the year awards (since 2000). In addition, they have won 11 coach of the year awards. The Women's Cross Country Team has also won conference awards since 1993 including, 11 conference titles, 11 most valuable runner awards, 4 freshmen of the year awards (since 2000), and 10 coach of the year awards.

See also

• List of college sports teams in the United States with different nicknames for men's and women's teams

References

External links

• Official website