The Truman Bulldogs football program represents Truman State University in college football and competes in the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). In 2013, Truman became a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference and has remained in the league. Prior to this, Truman was in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association from 1924 to 2012. TSU's home games are played at Stokes Stadium in Kirksville, Missouri.

Truman Bulldogs football
First season1900
Athletic directorJerry Wollmering
Head coachKellen Nesbitt (interim)
1st season, 0–0 (–)
StadiumStokes Stadium
(capacity: 4,000)
Year built1939
Field surfaceAstroturf
LocationKirksville, Missouri
NCAA divisionDivision II
ConferenceGreat Lakes Valley Conference
Past conferencesMid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
All-time record551–393–34 (.581)
Bowl record1–0–0 (1.000)
Conference titles27
ColorsPurple and white[1]
   
Websitetrumanbulldogs.com

History

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Truman's football program dates back to 1900 when the program went 3–2–1.[2] Since their inaugural season, the Bulldogs have claimed 27 conference championships.[3]

College Football Hall of Fame inductee Don Faurot was the head coach from 1926 to 1934. He led the team to a 27-game winning streak that included three consecutive perfect seasons in 1932, 1933, and 1934.[4] The 1936 team compiled another perfect season under the leadership of Faurot's brother, Fred Faurot. The program has not compiled another perfect season since 1936.

Conference affiliations

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Stadium

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The Bulldogs have played their home games at Stokes Stadium since 1930. Stokes Stadium was named for a former physics professor. The current capacity of the stadium is at 4,000.[5]

Championships

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Conference championship seasons

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Year Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
1924 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association H. L. McWilliams 4–3–2 2–0–2
1927 Don Faurot 8–1–0 4–0–0
1928† 7–2–1 3–0–1
1929 5–3–1 3–0–0
1930 5–5–0 3–0–0
1932 8–0–0 4–0–0
1933 9–0–0 4–0–0
1934 8–0–0 4–0–0
1935 Fred Faurot 7–2–0 5–0–0
1936 7–0–0 5–0–0
1951† Maurice Wade 7–1–1 4–0–1
1952† 7–1–0 4–1–0
1953 6–2–0 5–0–0
1954 7–1–0 5–0–0
1960 8–1–0 5–0–0
1961 9–1–0 5–0–0
1964 7–2–0 5–0–0
1965 8–2–0 5–0–0
1969† Russ Sloan 6–2–1 4–1–0
1970† 7–2–0 5–1–0
1971 9–1–0 6–0–0
1976† Ron Taylor 5–3–1 4–1–1
1981 Bruce Craddock 6–4–0 4–1–0
1982 9–2–0 5–0–0
1985 Jack Ball 8–3–0 5–0–0
1988† 7–3–0 5–1–0
2016† Great Lakes Valley Conference Gregg Nesbitt 8–3 7–1
Total Conference Championships: 27 (26, MIAA, 1 GLVC)
† Denotes co-champions

Bowl games

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# Season Game Result Opponent Stadium Location
1 1961 Mineral Water Bowl W 22–8 Parsons Roosevelt Stadium Excelsior Springs, Missouri
2 2019 America's Crossroads Bowl W 21–7 Ohio Dominican Brickyard Stadium Hobart, Indiana
3 2021 America's Crossroads Bowl W 34–17 Hillsdale Brickyard Stadium Hobart, Indiana
4 2022 America's Crossroads Bowl W 28-27 Tiffin Brickyard Stadium Hobart, Indiana

References

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  1. ^ Truman State Bulldogs Brand Standards Guide (PDF). May 7, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  2. ^ "2014 Truman Football Record Book" (PDF). June 14, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016.
  3. ^ "2014 record book"
  4. ^ W. J. McGoogan (October 5, 1935). "Billikens Alert and Powerful, Stop Kirksville, 37 to 7: Teachers' Run of 27 Straight Is Shattered; Cagle Is Star". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Stokes Stadium/Gardner Track". Truman State University. August 13, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
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