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Don Hansen's Football Gazette Blog of information, comments, notes, and tidebits on Small College Football. NCAA 1-AA & Mid Major, Division II & Mid Major, Division III, NAIA, and NCCAA

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Davidson to announce new football coach

DAVIDSON, N.C. — On Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in the Hall of Fame room in the Baker Sports Complex, Davidson College Athletics Director Jim Murphy will announce the 26th head coach of the Wildcat football team. All media are welcome to meet the new coach and have a question-and-answer session with him.

The new head coach will replace the recently-departed Mike Toop, who was hired as the head coach at his alma mater, the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Long Island, N.Y. Toop led the Davidson program for four years, compiling a 17-22 record, including a 7-3 mark in 2002.

The Wildcats are coming off a 2-7 season in 2004 and a 1-2 record in the South Division of the non-scholarship Division I-AA Pioneer Football League, tying them for third place. Only a last-minute, 29-26 loss to Jacksonville kept Davidson from winning the division title and advancing to the PFL Championship game.

Davidson first played varsity football in 1897, and in 106 seasons on the gridiron (the Wildcats did not field a varsity team during World War II in 1944 and ’45), the college has compiled a 384-521-45 mark (.428). Highlights from its past include a state championship in 1926, a trip to the Tangerine Bowl in 1969 and a perfect 10-0 season in 2000.

In the four seasons since joining the PFL in 2001, Davidson has featured two I-AA All-Americans, a dozen I-AA Mid-Major All-Americans, three PFL South Defensive Players of the Year, a PFL South Offensive Player of the Year, 21 All-PFL performers and 18 PFL Players of the Week. In addition, five Wildcats have been named Academic All-District III, two have earned spots on the I-AA Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team and 22 have been on the Academic All-PFL squads.

Davidson opens its 2005 season at VMI on Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. The first home game, which will feature a dedication of the expanded Richardson Stadium, will take place the following Saturday, Sept. 10, against Greensboro College at 7 p.m.

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Rick Bender
Davidson College SID
P.O. Box 7158
Davidson, NC 28035-7158
Office: 704-894-2123