Virginia Union Panthers football

Virginia Union Panthers football
2024 Virginia Union Panthers football team
First season1899; 125 years ago (1899)
Athletic directorJoe Taylor
Head coachAlvin Parker
6th season, 39–13 (.750)
StadiumHovey Field
(capacity: 10,000)
Field surfaceFieldTurf
LocationRichmond, Virginia
NCAA divisionDivision II
ConferenceCentral Intercollegiate Athletic Association
All-time record593–392–50 (.597)
Bowl record0–2 (.000)
Conference titles12 CIAA (1917, 1921, 1923, 1973, 1979, 1981–1983, 1986, 2001, 2023, 2024)
ColorsMaroon and gray[1]
   
Websitevuusports.com

The Virginia Union Panthers football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Virginia Union University located in the U.S. state of Virginia. The team competes at the NCAA Division II levels and are members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). Virginia Union's first football team was fielded in 1899. The team plays its home games at the 10,000 seat Hovey Field in Richmond, Virginia.

Conference affiliations

Virginia Union has played as both an independent and conference-affiliated team.

Postseason appearances

NCAA Division II

The Panthers have made eleven appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 2–11. After ten consecutive losses, VUU won its first playoff game in 2024.

Year Round Opponent Result
1979 First Round Delaware L, 28–58
1980 First Round North Alabama L, 8–17
1981 First Round Shippensburg State L, 27–40
1982 First Round North Dakota State L, 20–21
1983 First Round North Alabama L, 14–16
1986 First Round Troy State L, 7–31
1990 First Round Edinboro L, 14–38
1991 First Round IUP L, 7–56
2022 First Round Wingate L, 7–32
2023 First Round Kutztown L, 15–38
2024 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals 		Wingate
Lenoir–Rhyne
Valdosta State 		W, 34–31 OT
W, 44–12
L, 14–49

Championships

Conference championships

The Panthers have won twelve conference championships, they had a championship-drought of 22 years between 2001 and their 2023 championship.

Year Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
1917 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association Wesley A. Daniel 4–0 2–0
1921 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association Harold D. Martin 6–0–2 3–0
1923 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association Harold D. Martin 6–0–1 5–0
1973 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Willard Bailey 9–1 9–0
1979 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Willard Bailey 10–2 8–0
1981 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Willard Bailey 11–1 7–0
1982 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Willard Bailey 8–3 6–1
1983 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Willard Bailey 9–2 6–1
1986 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Joe Taylor 11–1 7–0
2001 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Willard Bailey 8–3 5–1
2023 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Alvin Parker 10–2 7–1
2024 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Alvin Parker 10–4 7–1

Divisional championships

The Panthers have won six division titles, in 1981 through 1983, 1986, and 2023: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division and in 2001: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Eastern Division.

Year Division championship Opponent Result
1981 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division North Carolina Central W 45–7
1982 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division North Carolina Central W 33–26
1983 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division Winston-Salem State W 34–7
1986 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division Winston-Salem State W 14–7
2001 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Eastern Division Winston-Salem State W 31–24
2023 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division Fayetteville State W 21–10

Notable former players

References

  1. ^ "Style Manual" (PDF). Retrieved August 17, 2023.