1983 Carson–Newman Eagles football team

The 1983 Carson–Newman Eagles football team was an American football team that represented Carson–Newman College (renamed Carson–Newman University in 2012) as a member of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) during the 1983 NAIA Division I football season. In its fourth year under head coach Ken Sparks, the team compiled a 10–3 record (6–1 against conference opponents), won the SAC championship, and defeated Mesa State in the Palm Bowl to win the NAIA national championship.[1]

1983 Carson–Newman Eagles football
NAIA Division I national champion
SAC champion
Palm Bowl, W 36–28 vs. Mesa State
ConferenceSouth Atlantic Conference
Record10–3 (6–1 SAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumBurke–Tarr Stadium
1983 South Atlantic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 12 Carson–Newman $^ 6 –1 –010 –3 –0
Presbyterian 4 –2 –15 –5 –1
No. 18 Elon 4 –3 –07 –3 –0
Gardner–Webb 4 –3 –05 –6 –0
Mars Hill 3 –3 –14 –7 –1
Newberry 3 –4 –06 –5 –0
Lenoir–Rhyne 2 –5 –04 –6 –0
Catawba 0 –7 –00 –9 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

It was the first of five national championships (1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1989) won by Carson–Newman during the 1980s.

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 10at Furman*
L 7–529,226[2]
September 17at Franklin*Franklin, INL 20–24
September 24Elon
W 15–6[3]
October 1Catawba
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN
W 31–9[4]
October 8NewberryNewberry, SCW 11–10
October 22at Gardner–WebbBoiling Springs, NCW 24–20
October 29Lenoir–Rhyne
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN
W 21–15[5]
November 5Central Florida*
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN
W 35–143,300[6]
November 12at PresbyterianClinton, SCL 7–28
December 3Shepherd*
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN (NAIA Division I quarterfinal)
W 42–212,000[7]
December 10Saginaw Valley State*
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN (NAIA Division I semifinal)
W 41–7[8]
December 17vs. Mesa State*Grand Junction, CO (Palm Bowl)W 36–288,836[9]
  • *Non-conference game

References
  1. "2010 Carson-Newman Eagles Football Media Guide" (PDF). Carson-Newman College. 2010.
  2. "Jennings, Lamb lead Furman over Carson-Newman in 52-7 drubbing". The Times and Democrat. September 11, 1983. p. 4b – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "C-N Eagles upend Elon". Kingsport Times-News. September 25, 1983. p. 3C – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Eagles Grind Out Second Victory". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. October 2, 1983. p. D6 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Carson-Newman Wins SAC-8 Title". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. October 30, 1983. p. D4 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Frank (Red) Bailes (November 6, 1983). "Defense Fires Eagles, 35-14". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. D5 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Red Bailes (December 4, 1983). "Carson-Newman Routs Shepherd, 42-21". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. D6 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Saginaw Valley season ended". The Port Huron Times Herald. December 11, 1983. p. 3C – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Ellen Haddow (December 18, 1983). "Carson-Newman defeats Mesa College". The Times and Democrat. p. 5b – via Newspapers.com.
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