Livingstone Blue Bears football

The Livingstone Blue Bears football program is an intercollegiate American football team for Livingstone College located in Salisbury, North Carolina. The team competes in NCAA Division II as a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The school's first team was fielded in 1892 as the first historically black college to play football.[2] The team plays its home games at Alumni Memorial Stadium.[3]

Livingstone Blue Bears football
2023 Livingstone Blue Bears football team
First season1892
Athletic directorClifton Huff
Head coachSean Gilbert
4th season, 5–14 (.263)
StadiumAlumni Memorial Stadium
(capacity: 6,000)
Year built2022
Field surfaceArtificial Turf
LocationSalisbury, North Carolina
NCAA divisionDivision II
ConferenceCIAA
Past conferencesIndependent (1892–1931)
Conference titles2 (1997, 1998)
ColorsColumbia blue and black[1]
   
MascotBlue Bear
Marching bandMarching Blue Bear Band
OutfitterUnder Armour
Websitebluebearathletics.com

History

1892: Founding

The Livingstone Blue Bears football team was founded in the fall of 1892. The members of the team all chipped in and purchased the first uniforms. They played their first game against Biddle on their front lawn, marking the first time two HBCUs faced off for a football game.[4] They played two 45-minute halves with Biddle winning, 5–0.[5] They have since made a rivalry named the "Commemorative Classic" which is played every year.[6]

1883–1930: Early years

In 1903, the Blue Bears were featured in The Charlotte Observer, which stated: "Livingstone has defeated all comers this year, and claims the championship of the colored colleges of the state".[7] They finished that season with a known record of 3–0, defeating Bennett College twice and Y.M.I. once.[8][9]

In 1906, the Livingstone self-proclaimed themselves "The Colored College Champions" under head coach Benjamin Butler Church.[10]

In 1913, Livingstone finished the season with a 5–0 record, their second and final undefeated season in school history.

In 1926, the Blue Bears finished the season with a 2–5 record. This would be their last season under Church before James Meeks took over in 1927. Church finished with a 42–20–9 during his 16 seasons with Livingstone.

1931–1973: Reclassification

The Blue Bears were Southern Independents from 1892 to 1930, joining the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association (now the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) in 1931, finishing that season 0–5–3 (0–3–2).

In 1973, Livingstone College reclassified from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II along with the CIAA. They would finish the season 7–2–1.

1974–present: Rise to fame

In 1992, the 1892 football team was inducted into the Livingstone College Athletics Hall of Fame.[11]

In 1994, the Blue Bears hired Rudy Abrams, a Livingstone alumni, as their head coach. In 1997, he led them to an 8–2 (6–2) regular season record and a CIAA co-championship before losing in the inaugural Pioneer Bowl to Kentucky State, 30–26. In 1998, he led them to another CIAA co-championship with a 7–3 (6–2) regular season record before again losing in the Pioneer Bowl, this time to Tuckegee, 23–9. After the 1998 season, Abrams was hired to be the head football coach of the North Carolina Central Eagles, where he coached for four seasons before retiring in 2002. He finished his tenure at Livingstone with a 33–18–1 record. In 2005, Abrams was inducted into the Livingstone College Athletics Hall of Fame.[12]

In 2006, Tony Veal was inducted into the Livingstone College Athletics Hall of Fame.[13]

In 2019, both Charles Cooley and Michael Posey were inducted into the Livingstone College Athletics Hall of Fame.[14][15]

In 2020, Livingstone hired 1992 third overall pick, Sean Gilbert, as their new head football coach.[16] His first season would be cancelled after the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. In his second season (first full) as head coach, Gilbert finished with a 1–8 (1–5) record.

Affiliations

Classifications

Conference memberships

Championships

Conference
Season Conference Coach Overall Record Conference Record
1997†Central Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationRudy Abrams8–35–2
1998†7–45–2

† Co-champion

Season-by-season records

  = National champions
  = Conference champions
  = Conference co-champions
  = Conference division champions and championship game berth
  = Undefeated season

Year Coach Overall Conference Standing
1892 Unknown 0–1 N/A N/A
1893 No team
1894 No team
1895 No team
1896 No team
1897 No team
1898 No team
1899 No team
1900 No team
1901 Unknown 3–0 N/A N/A
1902 No team
1903 Unknown 3–0 N/A N/A
1904 No team
1905 Unknown 1–0 N/A N/A
1906 Benjamin Butler Church 4–0–1 N/A N/A
1907 Benjamin Butler Church 0–1 N/A N/A
1908 Benjamin Butler Church 1–0 N/A N/A
1909 Benjamin Butler Church 0–1 N/A N/A
1910 No team
1911 No team
1912 Benjamin Butler Church 3–1–1 N/A N/A
1913 Benjamin Butler Church 5–0 N/A N/A
1914 Benjamin Butler Church 5–1 N/A N/A
1915 Benjamin Butler Church 3–0–2 N/A N/A
1916 Benjamin Butler Church 2–2 N/A N/A
1917 No team
1918 No team
1919 No team
1920 Benjamin Butler Church 1–0 N/A N/A
1921 Benjamin Butler Church 1–0–1 N/A N/A
1922 Benjamin Butler Church 5–1–1 N/A N/A
1923 Benjamin Butler Church 3–2–2 N/A N/A
1924 Benjamin Butler Church 3–3–1 N/A N/A
1925 Benjamin Butler Church 4–3–1 N/A N/A
1926 Benjamin Butler Church 2–5 N/A N/A
1927 James Meeks 3–3–1 N/A N/A
1928 James Meeks 3–3–1 N/A N/A
1929 James Meeks 3–3–3 N/A N/A
1930 James Meeks 0–7–2 N/A N/A
Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1931–1949)
1931 Bertrand C. Jacobs 0–5–3 0–3–2 11th
1932 William Reid 0–4 --- ---
1933 Unknown 0–1 --- ---
1934 Harry Parker 1–5 --- ---
1935 Robert Gill 0–4 --- ---
1936 S.E. Barnes 2–6–1 --- ---
1937 S.E. Barnes 2–5 --- ---
1938 S.E. Barnes 3–4–1 --- ---
1939 S.E. Barnes 3–5–1 --- ---
1940 S.E. Barnes 4–2–2 --- ---
1941 Benjamin Hargroves 2–6 --- ---
1942 No team
1943 Unknown 0–3 --- ---
1944 Unknown 0–2 --- ---
1945 No team
1946 William Goodrum 0–5 --- ---
1947 William Goodrum 2–5 --- ---
1948 Maurice Sneed 2–6 --- ---
1949 Edward L. Mitchell 2–4 --- ---
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1950–present)
1950 Edward L. Mitchell 0–6–1 --- ---
1951 Luther Green 0–4–2 --- ---
1952 Edward L. Mitchell 3–4 --- ---
1953 Edward L. Mitchell 3–4 --- ---
1954 Edward L. Mitchell 5–2 --- ---
1955 Edward L. Mitchell 2–6 --- ---
1956 David Shinholster 4–4 --- ---
1957 Edward L. Mitchell 6–2–1 --- ---
1958 Edward L. Mitchell 6–2 --- ---
1959 Arthur W. Browne 5–3–1 --- ---
1960 Charles R. Cox 7–2–2 --- ---
1961 Charles R. Cox 5–4 --- ---
1962 Charles R. Cox 2–8 --- ---
1963 Charles R. Cox 0–8–1 --- ---
1964 Elijah Johnson 2–8 --- ---
1965 John D. Marshall 3–5 3–5 13th
1966 John D. Marshall 6–3–1 5–1–1 3rd
1967 John D. Marshall 3–6 2–4 13th
1968 John D. Marshall 4–4 4–3 8th
1969 John D. Marshall 5–3 4–3 8th
1970 John D. Marshall 2–7 1–4 6th (Southern)
1971 John D. Marshall 4–6 3–3 T–3rd (Southern)
1972 John D. Marshall 2–8 0–4 5th (Southern)
1973 Baxter Holman 7–2–1 --- ---
1974 Baxter Holman 9–2 --- ---
1975 Baxter Holman 7–3–1 --- ---
1976 Baxter Holman 6–5 --- ---
1977 Baxter Holman 4–7 --- ---
1978 Andrew Littlejohn 5–4–1 --- ---
1979 Andrew Littlejohn 3–8 --- ---
1980 Andrew Littlejohn 0–10 --- ---
1981 Mel Rose 3–7 --- ---
1982 Mel Rose 5–5 --- ---
1983 Mel Rose 5–4 --- ---
1984 Mel Rose 3–7 2–5 5th (Southern)
1985 David Corley 7–3 5–2 2nd (Southern)
1986 David Corley 3–5–2 2–4–1 4th (Southern)
1987 William M. Spencer 2–8 2–5 6th (Southern)
1988 William M. Spencer 3–6 1–5 5th (Southern)
1989 Fletcher Jones 1–8 1–5 4th (Southern)
1990 Delano Tucker 3–6 2–4 3rd (Southern)
1991 Delano Tucker 5–5 3–3 5th
1992 Delano Tucker 3–7 2–4 8th
1993 Delano Tucker 1–10 1–7 11th
1994 Rudy Abrams 5–5 5–3 T–3rd
1995 Rudy Abrams 5–4–1 4–3–1 4th
1996 Rudy Abrams 8–2 7–1 2nd
1997 Rudy Abrams 8–3 5–2 T–1st
1998 Rudy Abrams 7–4 5–2 T–1st
1999 Gregory Richardson 4–7 2–5 6th
2000 Gregory Richardson 2–8 1–5 5th (Western)
2001 Gregory Richardson 1–8 0–6 5th (Western)
2002 George Johnson 3–7 2–5 4th (Western)
2003 George Johnson 3–7 3–4 3rd (Western)
2004 George Johnson 2–8 2–5 4th (Western)
2005 Lamonte J. Massie 1–9 1–6 4th (Western)
2006 Lamonte J. Massie 1–9 1–6 5th (Western)
2007 Lamonte J. Massie 0–10 0–7 5th (Western)
2008 Lamonte J. Massie 2–8 2–5 5th (Western)
2009 Lamonte J. Massie
Eric Brown (Interim)		 0–10 0–7 6th (Western)
2010 Elvis James 0–11 0–7 6th (Southern)
2011 Elvis James 1–9 0–7 6th (Southern)
2012 Elvis James 2–8 2–5 5th (Southern)
2013 Daryl Williams 3–7 1–6 6th (Southern)
2014 Daryl Williams 5–5 2–5 4th (Southern)
2015 Daryl Williams 5–3 4–3 2nd (Southern)
2016 Daryl Williams 2–8 1–6 6th (Southern)
2017 Daryl Williams 0–10 0–7 6th (Southern)
2018 Daryl Williams 3–6 1–5 6th (Southern)
2019 Daryl Williams 4–6 1–6 6th (Southern)
2020 No team
2021 Sean Gilbert 1–8 1–5 5th (Southern)
2022 Sean Gilbert 4–6 3–5 4th (Southern)

Rivalries

Johnson C. Smith

Head coaches
No. Years Name
11892William J. Trent[17]
21901Unknown
31903Unknown
41906–1909
1912–1916
1920–1926		Benjamin Butler Church[10]
51927–1930James Meeks[18]
61931Bertrand C. Jacobs[19]
71932William Reid[20]
81933Unknown
91934Harry Parker[21]
101935Robert Gill[22]
111936–1940Samuel E. Barnes[23]
121941Benjamin Hargrave[24]
131943–1944Unknown
1946–1947William Goodrum
1948Maurice Sneed
1949Unknown
1950–1958Edward L. Mitchell
1959Ted Browne
1960–1962Charles R. Cox
1963–1964Unknown
1965–1972John D. Marshall
1973–1977Baxter D. Holman Jr.
1978–1980Andrew Littlejohn
1981–1984Mel Rose
1985–1986David Corley
1987–1989Bill Spencer
1990–1993Delano Tucker[25]
1994–1998Rudy Abrams[26]
1999–2001Gregory Richardson
2002–2004George Johnson Jr.[27]
2005Ben Coates[27]
#2005–2006Robert Massey[28]
2007–2009Lamonte J. Massie[29]
#2009Eric Brown[30]
2010–2012Elvin J. James[31]
2013–2019Daryl Williams[32]
2020–Sean Gilbert

# Interim head coach

Individual accomplishments

All-Americans
Year Player Organization
2022Kevin Larkins Jr.BTR

BTR = BOXTOROW

Award winners
  • CIAA Offensive Player of the Year
    Joseph White – 1982
    Joseph White – 1983
    Joseph White – 1984
    Rob Clodfelter – 1992
    Wilmont Perry – 1996
    Wilmont Perry – 1997
    Jalen Hendricks – 2014
    Drew Powell – 2015
  • CIAA Rookie of the Year
    Chris Williams – 1997
    Jason Ocean – 2000
  • CIAA Defensive Player of the Year
    Ronnie Washburn – 1998
    Jason Ocean – 2003
  • CIAA Defensive Rookie of the Year
    Robert Massey-Brice – 2008
    Kevin Larkins Jr. – 2022
  • CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year
    Drew Powell – 2012

Black College Football Hall of Fame members
Name Position Years Inducted Ref.
Ben CoatesTE1987–19902022[33]

CIAA Hall of Fame members
Name Position Years Inducted Ref.
George JohnsonHC-1985[34]
Alfred TylerQB-1989[35]
Ben CoatesTE1987–19902018[36]
Johnny Stoutamire Jr.DB1974–19782021[37]

Livingstone Athletics Hall of Fame members
Name Position Years Inducted Ref.
1892 Livingstone football team1992[11]
Rudy AbramsHC1960–1963, 1994–19982005[12]
Tony Veal--2006[13]
Charles CooleyG, C, K1995–19982019[14]
Michael PoseyDB1997–20012019[15]

Notable former players
Player Pos. Years
Rudy Abrams1960–1963
Sherman SimmonsLB1972–1973
Ben CoatesTE1987–1990
John TerryOL1990–1991
Wilmont PerryRB1994–1998
Drew PowellQB2012–2015
  • Rudy Abrams, head coach, 1960–1963, 1994–1998
    • Abrams was a four-year letterman for Livingstone before becoming the assistant coach at York Road Junior High School in 1964.[38] He didn't coach again until 1969, where he became the running backs and wide receivers coach at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1972, he was named the head coach of West Charlotte High School and held that position for eight seasons, compiling a record of 49–33–1 with two Southwestern 4-A Conference titles in 1976 and 1978 and a state runner-up finish in the latter year.[39] In 1980, he led Garinger High School to a 2–8 record before resigning.[40] He held the position assistant at Johnson C. Smith from 1981–1982 before returning to the high school ranks in 1983 as the head coach of East Mecklenburg High School.[41] In 1994, after ten seasons with East Mecklenburg, Abrams joined his alma mater as their head football coach. In 1997, he led Livingstone to their first CIAA championship in program history with an 8–3 (5–2) record. In 1998, he again led the Bears to a CIAA championship, this time being co-champions, with a 7–4 (5–2) record. Both seasons would be capped off with a loss in the Pioneer Bowl. He was named CIAA Coach of the Year from 1996 to 1998. Abrams would finish his coaching career with the North Carolina Central Eagles from 1999 to 2002. He compiled a 51–39–1 record in the college ranks and a 124–81–1 record in the high school ranks.

References
  1. "Brand Guide". Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  2. "The Birthplace of Black College Football". Livingstone College Athletics. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  3. Speaks, Shaquira (4 September 2022). "HBCU Livingstone College unveils new football field in Salisbury". Queen City News. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  4. "The Birthplace of Black College Football". Livingstone College Athletics. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  5. "Football Kickoff!". JCSU Library. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  6. Becton, Stan (23 June 2023). "A history of every HBCU football classic". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  7. "Untitled". The Charlotte Observer. December 1, 1903 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  8. "FOOTBALL TO-DAY". Salisbury Evening Sun. November 30, 1903 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  9. "LIVINGSTONE DEFEATS Y. M. I. FOOTBALLERS". Asheville Citizen-Times. November 27, 1903 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  10. "Images From The Past: Ben B. Church". The Black College Football Museum. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  11. "1892 Football Team (1992) - Livingstone Athletics Hall of Fame". Livingstone College Athletics. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  12. "Rudy Abrams (2005) - Livingstone Athletics Hall of Fame". Livingstone College Athletics. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  13. "Tony Veal (2006) - Livingstone Athletics Hall of Fame". Livingstone College Athletics. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  14. "Charles Cooley (2019) - Livingstone Athletics Hall of Fame". Livingstone College Athletics. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  15. "Michael Posey (2019) - Livingstone Athletics Hall of Fame". Livingstone College Athletics. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  16. Davidson, Dennis (January 30, 2020). "Sean Gilbert named new Livingstone football coach". Salisbury Post. Salisbury, North Carolina. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  17. "Black College Football Celebrates 130 Years". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  18. "Livingstone 1927 Season". Bisonville. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  19. "Livingstone 1931 Season". Bisonville. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
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  21. "Livingstone 1934 Season". Bisonville. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
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  25. "Who coached football in 1990 at Livingstone College?". Sports Answers. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
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  27. "Coates to coach alma mater Livingstone". ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  28. "Robert Massey - Head Football Coach - Staff Directory". WSSU Rams. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  29. Davidson, David. "Springs retiring, Massie-Sampson hired as AD at Livingstone". Salisbury Post. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  30. "Livingstone Announces Change in Football Leadership". Livingstone College Athletics. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  31. "Elvin J. James Named 33rd Livingstone College Football Coach". Livingstone College Athletics. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  32. Davidson, Dennis. "Williams out as Livingstone's football coach". Salisbury Post. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  33. "Black College Football Hall Of Fame Class Of 2022 To Be Inducted On Saturday Night". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  34. "George Johnson (1985) - CIAA Hall of Fame Members". Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  35. "Alfred Tyler (1989) - CIAA Hall of Fame Members". Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  36. "Ben Coates (2018) - CIAA Hall of Fame Members". Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  37. "Johnny Stoutamire, Jr. (2021) - CIAA Hall of Fame Members". Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  38. Fullwood III, Sam (August 23, 1981). "The Coach: A Mix Of Ambition, Organization, And Ego (continued)". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. p. 6C. Retrieved October 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  39. Buckley, Doug (July 18, 1972). "Abrams Named Head Football Coach". The Charlotte News. Charlotte, North Carolina. p. 8A. Retrieved October 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  40. Gowing, Dale (April 15, 1980). "Garinger Hires Abrams". The Charlotte News. Charlotte, North Carolina. p. 1C. Retrieved October 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  41. Wertz Jr., Langston (September 24, 1994). "Abrams has Livingstone rolling at 3-0". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. p. 1B. Retrieved October 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com open access.
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