Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football explained

The Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Gardner–Webb University in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The team competes in the Division I FCS and are members of the Big South–OVC Football Association.^[1] Gardner–Webb's first football team was fielded in 1970. The team plays its home games at the 9,000-seat Ernest W. Spangler Stadium in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The Runnin' Bulldogs are coached by Cris Reisert.

History

See also: List of Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football seasons.

Classifications

• 1970–1992: NAIA Division I
• 1991–1999: NCAA Division II
• 2000–present: NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

Conference affiliations

• Independent (1946–1951)
• NAIA Independent (1952–1974)
• South Atlantic Conference (1975–1999)
• NCAA Division I-AA Independent (2000–2001)
• Big South Conference (2002–2022)
• Big South–OVC Football Association (2023–present)

Conference championships

1987			11–2	6–1
1992			12–2	7–0
2002			9–1	3–0
2003			8–4	4–0
2022			7–6	5–0
2023†			7–5	5–1
Conference Championships	6

† denotes co-championship

Playoff results

NAIA

The Runnin' Bulldogs appeared in the NAIA playoffs two times, with an overall record of 3–2.

	First Round Quarterfinals		W, 27–7 L, 24–27
	Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game		W, 28–21 W, 22–7 L, 16–19

Division I FCS

The Runnin' Bulldogs have appeared in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs two times, with an overall record of 1–2.

2022	First Round Second Round	Eastern Kentucky William & Mary	W, 52–41 L, 14–54
2023	First Round	Mercer	L, 7–17

Notable former players

See also: List of Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs in the NFL draft. Notable alumni include:

• Jim Garrison - American football head coach
• Bobby Hopkins - American football player and world champion arm-wrestler, Tampa Bay Bandits (1983)
• Gabe Wilkins - DT, Green Bay Packers (1994–1997), San Francisco 49ers (1998–1999)^[2]
• Cole Proctor – NFL Scout with Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals

Future non-conference opponents

Future non-conference opponents announced as of January 19, 2023.^[3]

at Appalachian State	at James Madison	at Western Carolina			at The Citadel
Elon	at Charlotte	at Georgia Tech
at East Carolina		The Citadel
at Austin Peay		at Ohio
Eastern Kentucky

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gardner-Webb Historical Data. College Football Data Warehouse. February 13, 2014. March 28, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140328100945/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa/bigsouth/gardner_webb/index.php. dead.
2. Web site: Gabe Wilkins Stats, News and Video - DE. .
3. Web site: Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs Football Future Schedules. FBSchedules.com. January 19, 2023.