Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers football

NCAAFootballSchool
TeamName = Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers
CurrentSeason =
FirstYear =


ImageSize =
Helmet =
ImageSize2 =
AthlDirectorDisp = Gary Gallup
AthlDirectorLink =
HeadCoachDisplay = Brent Holsclaw
HeadCoachLink =
HeadCoachYear = 6th
HCWins =
HCLosses =
HCTies =
OtherStaff =
Stadium = Steele Stadium
FieldName = Bullet Wilson Field
StadiumBuilt = 2004
StadCapacity =
StadSurface = FieldTurf
Location = Owensboro, Kentucky
League =
ConferenceDisplay= Great Lakes Football Conference
ConferenceLink = Great Lakes Football Conference
ConfDivision =
PastAffiliations =
ATWins =
ATLosses =
ATTies =
ATPercentage =
BowlWins =
BowlLosses =
BowlTies =
NatlTitles =
ConfTitles =
DivTitles =
Heismans =
AllAmericans =
Color1 = Purple
Color1Hex = 800080
Color2 = White
Color2Hex = FFFFFF
FightSong =
MascotDisplay = Panther
MascotLink = Panther
MarchingBand =
PagFreeLabel =
PagFreeValue =
PagFreeLabel2 =
PagFreeValue2 =
WebsiteName = Men's Football - Kentucky Wesleyan College
WebsiteURL = http://kwc.edu/athletics/athsportindex.asp?sport=11

The Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers football team is the interscholastic football team at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky.

The Panthers compete in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Football Conference, which they joined prior to the 2006 football season. Steele Stadium (Bullet Wilson Field) located on Kentucky Wesleyan's campus is the home of the Kentucky Wesleyan Panther football team. From 1983 to 2003 the Kentucky Wesleyan Football team played their home games at Owensboro area high schools. In 2004, the Panthers began playing their home football games at Bullet Wilson Field, an on campus field completed prior to the 2004 football season. The playing surface at Bullet Wilson Field features field turf, an artificial playing surface. The stadium around the field underwent a major upgrade project following the 2006 season. When the upgrade was completed the home of the Panthers football team was to be known as Steele Stadium (Bullet Wilson Field).
After a 53-year absence, Football returned to Kentucky Wesleyan in 1983. The college's decision to re-establish its football program was announced in December 1982. KWC dropped the football program in 1931 due to financial reasons after having a team from 1907–1930. KWC has had three winning seasons since football returned in 1983 (1993 6–4, 1997 6–4, 1999 7–4). KWC was the 1999 National Champion Runner-Up in NCAA Division II Non-Scholarship.

Football tradition

Kentucky Wesleyan is involved in a traveling trophy series with Union College. When the two schools meet in football, the winner of game receives the John Wesley Trophy, the trophy was introduced to the series in 1985. The John Wesley Trophy was named after Methodism founder John Wesley; Wesley was chosen as the namesake for the trophy because both Kentucky Wesleyan College and Union College are Methodist affiliated colleges. The KWC Football program currently has possession of the John Wesley Trophy, earning it by defeating Union 16–14 at Bullet Wilson Field during the 2004 season.

Football history 1983–2007

1983–1989

Billy Mitchell was hired in 1983 as Kentucky Wesleyan's first modern day head football coach. From 1983 to 1989, Mitchell guided the Panthers to a win-loss record of 22–41–3. The 1983 KWC Panthers then a member of NCAA Division III football finished 3–5 in KWC's return to the gridiron. During the inaugural season, punter Steve Wolf (1983–1987) averaged convert|40.40|yd per punt, which set the school's current single season record. Mitchell's 1984 Panthers finished 3–6–1 and his 1985 team finished 2–6–1. Mitchell's 1986 Panthers finished 4–6. The 1986 Team still holds the school's single season rushing yards record (2,186 yards) and rushing yards per game record (218.3 ypg). The 1987 Panthers finished 3–6. Mitchell's 1988 KWC Football Team finished 4–6, which included the school's first victories over Campbellsville University 41–6 and Depauw University 20–19, The 1989 Panthers, led by Coach Mitchell in his final season, finished 3–6–1. Mitchell's '89 team set the school's current single season records for rushing attempts (510) and rushing touchdowns (22). Mitchell helped build Kentucky Wesleyan's football program from 1983 to 1989, but he failed to have a winning season during his tenure at KWC.

1990–1993

Randy Awrey, a 1978 Northern Michigan University graduate, became KWC's second modern day head football coach prior to the 1990 season. Before coming to KWC, Awrey was the Defensive Coordinator from 1986–1989 at NCAA Division III St. Lawrence University. From 1990 to 1993 Awrey led the Panther football team to an overall record of 12–28. Awrey went 0–10 in his inaugural 1990 season. The 0–10 1990 team set the current school record for punt attempts by punting 81 times. Awrey's 1991 Panhers finished the season with a win-loss record of 2–8. Following a 2–8 season, Randy Awrey's 1992 KWC Football Team Finished 4–6. During the 1992 season, the Kentucky Wesleyan defense set current school records for interception returns for touchdowns (3) and interception return yards (294). Prior to the 1993 football season, KWC moved from NCAA Division III football into NCAA Division II. In Awrey's final season he led the 1993 KWC football team to a 6–4 record for Kentucky Wesleyan's first winning football season. Awrey's 1993 team set the schools current single season records for passing completion percentage (55.7%) and defensive pass interceptions (21). In 1993, KWC Quarterback Brent Holsclaw (1991–1993) set the school's single season pass completion record with 207 completions. Holsclaw's 1993 55.8% passing completion percentage is also the single season school record. Also in 1993, Panther Defensive Back Troy Crissman (1993–1996) intercepted nine passes which is the current KWC single season record. During the 1993 season, Troy Crissman's nine interceptions led all NCAA Division III football players.

1994–2002

Prior to the 1994 football season John Johnson, a 1984 Northern Michigan University graduate and former 3 year Green Bay Packers assistant coach, was hired as the third modern day Head Football Coach at Kentucky Wesleyan College. From 1994 to 2002, Johnson's overall record at NCAA Division II Kentucky Wesleyan was 34–58. During Johnson's tenure, Johnson's overall record against NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) teams was a winning record of 34–32. Johnson's 34 wins are the most by any Kentucky Wesleyan Football Coach. During Johnson's tenure KWC played against NCAA Division I-AA competition 26 times. Johnson had two winning seasons as KWC's Head Football Coach, 6–4 in 1997 and 7–4 in 1999. During Johnson's first two seasons he guided the 1994 and 1995 Panthers to 5–5 records. During the 1995 season, Wide Receiver Sedrick Robinson (1993–1996) set single season records for pass receiving yards (1,105), touchdown receptions (17), total points scored (116), and touchdowns scored (17). In 1996 the Panthers finished 3–8 despite having WR Sedrick Robinson catch a single season record 68 passes. Following a 3–8 season, the 1997 Kentucky Wesleyan Football Team opened its season at the University of South Florida in Tampa Stadium. Tampa Stadium was the home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1976–1997. The game was the University of South Florida's inaugural football game. The Panthers played in front of a University of South Florida (home game attendance) and Kentucky Wesleyan College (road game attendance) record crowd of 49,212. The 1997 Panthers lost their season opener to the University of South Florida 80–3, but the Panthers finished the 1997 season with a winning record of 6–4. The 1997 6–4 season, gave John Johnson his first winning season as KWC's Head Football Coach. The 1998 Panthers finished the '98 season with a 2–7 record. The 1998 team earned its' two victories by going on the road and defeating Concordia University, St. Paul 24–7 and by winning the '98 KWC Homecoming Game 45–22 over Quincy University. Johnson's 1999 KWC football team won the most games in a single season in school history (7 wins). The 1999 team started the season 5–0 and rose to #1 in the NCAA Division II Non-Scholarship Poll by Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette on October 17,1999. The 1999 team started the season with 5 consecutive victories (20–14 at Eureka College, 48–15 versus Bethel College (Tennessee), 30–24 at Thomas More College, 51–35 at Westminster College, and 35–7 at Gannon University). The 5–0 start in 1999 tied a school record for consecutive victories. The '99 Panthers finished 7–4 overall, with 3 of those losses being to NCAA Division I-AA schools. The 1999 Panther Football Team finished the season as the #2 ranked team in NCAA Division II Non-Scholarship by Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette. The 1999 team set school records for total offense (4,521 yards), touchdowns scored (73), tackles for loss (111), and for points scored (333). The '99 Panthers Finished 21st in NCAA Division II Football for Total Offense. Head Coach John Johnson was named the 1999 NCAA Division II Non-Scholarship National Coach of the Year by Don's Hansen's Football Gazette for guiding the Pathers to the most successful football season in school history. Linebacker Nick Boling (1997–2001) led the '99 Panthers with 88 tackles and was named the 1999 NCAA Division II Non-Scholarship Linebacker of the Year by Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette. During the 1999 season, quarterback J.D. Meyers (1996–1999) threw for 25 touchdown passes. Meyers' 25 touchdown passes tied Eric Stockton's (1994–1995) single season school record for touchdown passes. DT Karl Bates (1997–1999), LB Nick Boling, and Punt Retuner Antonio Newton (1998–1999) were named NCAA Division II Mid-Major 1st Team All-Americans by Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette (Quarterback J.D. Meyers and Wide Receiver Corey Jordan were selected as Honorable Mentions). The 2000 Kentucky Wesleyan Football Team finished 4–6 while setting KWC single season offensive records for pass completions (234), passing yards (3,035), passing touchdowns (27), passing yards per game (303.5), receiving yards (3,035), pass receptions (234), and receiving touchdowns (27). The 2000 Panther Offense led by QB Brian Hoffman, RB Drew Hall, FB Nic Vasilchek, TE Shaun Logsdon, WR's Anthony Melvin, Justin Kramer, Michael Cox and Corey Jordan, Offensive Lineman Mark Howell, Adam Fossett, Brian Price, and Jake Colson, finished 10th in NCAA Division II Football for Total Offense (434.4 yards per game). Wide Receiver Corey Jordan (1997–2001) was named the 2000 NCAA Division II Non-Scholarship National Receiver of the Year by Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette. Jordan earned the honor by finishing the 2000 football season with 63 receptions for convert|890|yd and 13 touchdown receptions. During the 2000 season KWC Running Back Drew Hall (1999–2000) scored 12 rushing touchdowns which set the school's current single season rushing touchdowns record. Hall also averaged 101.2 rushing yards per game during 2000, which is also the school's current single season record. Quarterback Brian Hoffman (2000) set the school's single season record for passing yards by passing for convert|2565|yd during the 2000 season. Hoffman's 2000 season average of 256.5 passing yards per game set the single season record. The 2001 Panthers finished their season 1–9 by picking up a victory 35–28 at Quincy University. Following the 2001 season, WR Corey Jordan, LB Vince Brodt (2000–2003),and LB Frank Wintrich (1999–2001), were named NCAA Division II Mid-Major 1st Team All-Americans by Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette. KWC Head Coach John Johnson's 2002 Panthers finished 1–10, while setting the schools current single season record for first downs (237). The lone win in 2002 was a season ending 37-17 victory over Bethel College (Tennessee) on KWC Football Senior Day. Following the 2002 season, Panther Defensive Tackle Tommy Oglesby (1999–2002) was chosen as a first team defensive tackle on the 2002 All-Alliance Team by the NCAA Division II Independent Football Alliance. Also following the 2002 season, Offensive Lineman Jake Colson (1998-2002) was selected as a NCAA Division II Mid-Major 1st Team All-American by Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette. Following consecutive one win seasons, John Johnson's tenure at Kentucky Wesleyan ended January 1, 2003.

John Johnson's Former KWC Panthers in the Arena Football League

Three of John Johnson's former Kentucky Wesleyan Football players have played in the Arena Football League (AFL). Former KWC Wide Receiver Anthony Payton (1994-1996) played four seasons in the AFL for New Jersey RedDogs (2000 and 2001), Buffalo Destroyers (2003), and Las Vegas Gladiators (2005). Panther standout Defensive Lineman Karl Bates (1997–1999) played seven seasons in the AFL for the Houston Thunderbears (2000 and 2001), New Jersey Gladiators (2002), Las Vegas Gladiators (2003), Detroit Fury (2004), Las Vegas Gladiators (2005), and San Jose SaberCats(2006). Panther Wide Receiver Sedrick Robinson (1993-1996) has played seven years in the AFL for the Houston Thunderbears (2001), New Jersey Gladiators (2002), Las Vegas Gladiators (2003), Columbus Destroyers (2004 and 2005), and Austin Wranglers (2006 and 2007).

2003–Present

Current Head Coach (2007) Brent Holsclaw, a former Kentucky Wesleyan Quarterback, was hired as the fourth modern day Kentucky Wesleyan Head Football Coach in January 2002. Following the 2007 football season, Holsclaw's overall record at Kentucky Wesleyan is 11–42. In Holsclaw's first season as KWC's Head Football Coach, Holsclaw's 2003 Panthers finished 1-9. The 2003 team defeated Webber International University at home 33–30 in overtime for their lone win. Holsclaw's best season to date, came in 2004 when the Panthers finished 4–7 overall as first year members of the NAIA Mid-South Conference. The Panthers were members of the NAIA Mid-South Conference in 2004 and 2005. During the 2004 season, Holsclaw's Panthers upset Campbellsville University 28-24. Prior to the 28–24 loss, Campbellsville was ranked #21 in the NAIA football top 25. The 2004 Panthers also defeated Cumberland University 17-9 on the road, beat Union College 16-13 at Bullet Wilson Field, which gave possession of the John Wesley Trophy back to KWC, and The Panthers won the season finale versus Belhaven 17–14 at Bullet Wilson Field. The 2004 Panthers set the school's single season records for total tackles (632.5) and tackles for loss (113.5) The 2005 Panthers in their second season in the NAIA Mid-South Conference finished the 2005 season with an overall win-loss record of 3–7. In 2005, KWC Running Back Letiz Arnold gained 839 rushing yards on 149 carries. Arnold's 839 rushing yards broke Antonio Newton's (1998-1999) 1998 single season school record of 820 rushing yards. Arnold's 149 carries also set the school's single season record. Prior to the 2006 season, Kentucky Wesleyan left the NAIA and returned to NCAA Division II. KWC also became a charter member of the Great Lakes Football Conference. The 2006 Panthers finished 0-11, the eleven losses were the most in school history. The 2007 KWC Football Team finished 3–8 overall including a 1-4 record in the Great Lakes Football Conference. The Panthers started the 2007 season 0-4. The Panthers won their fifth game of the season, defeating Kentucky Christian University 47–0 at Bullet Wilson Field/Steele Stadium. The 47-0 victory over KCU ended Kentucky Wesleyan's and Head Coach Brent Holsclaw's 17 game losing streak. The shutout was the first shutout recorded by the Panthers since the 1992 season. Strong Safety Greg Embers was named Great Lakes Football Conference Defensive Player of Week 6 by recording a game high 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and a quarterback sack. KWC traveled to Lincoln University (Missouri) for Lincoln's homecoming during Week 8 of the 2007 season. The KWC Panthers defeated Lincoln 35-13 for the Panthers second victory of the season and their first ever GLFC win. Quarterback Chris Owen was named Great Lakes Football Conference Offensive Player of Week 8 by rushing for convert|54|yd on 8 carries with 2 touchdowns while also completing 19 of 32 passes for convert|247|yd and another touchdown. The Panthers won their third game of the 2007 season by defeating LaGrange College 35–21. The 2007 season ended with a loss at Missouri-Rolla, ending the Panthers season with a 3–8 (1-4 GLFC) record. Several Panthers received 2007 post-season honors. D2Football.com named six Panthers to the D2Football.com All-Independent team. Safety Greg Embers received first-team honors. He finished second on the team in tackles (73.5) and tackles for loss with (12). Embers also finished the 2007 season with two sacks, one interception, one pass breakup, forced four fumbles and recovered two fumbles. Ron Rapier (Free Safety), DaMarcus Ganaway (Wide Receiver 3rd team kick return), and Alex Temple (Defensive End) were named to the D2Football.com second team. Alex Temple (2004–2007) finished his KWC career as the all-time leader in sacks (31.5) and tackles for loss (65). Clay Durham (LB) and Brandon Hodnett (K) were named to the D2Football.com third team. Nine KWC Panthers were named to the 2007 All-Great Lakes Football Conference team following Kentucky Wesleyan's second season in the Great Lakes Football Conference. Alex Temple was named as a first-team defensive end. Wide Receivers DaMarcus Ganaway and Josh Smith were named to the GLFC second team. Clay Durham, Greg Embers, Kenneth Lewis, Josh Abell, Matt Grey and Joel Lopez were named to as honorable mentions.

Football career leaders

Former KWC Running Back Jeremy Sleet (1994–1997) is the school's all-time rushing leader with 1,853 career rushing yards. Sleet is also the schools career leader in rushing attempts (363). Running Back Bobby Ratcliff (1991–94) is the career rushing touchdowns leader (23). Quarterback J.D. Meyers (1996–1999) is the school's all-time leader in pass attempts (1,033), pass completions (519), passing yards (7,440), and passing touchdowns (64). Former UConn and KWC Quarterback Brian Hoffman (2000) is KWC's career leader in passing percentage (54.1%) Wide Receiver Sedrick Robinson (1993-1996) is the KWC football career leader in receiving yards (3,328), receptions (191), touchdown receptions (42), all purpose yards (5,601), total points scored (298), touchdowns scored (46), kick return yards (1772), and kick return touchdowns (2). Defensive Back Ryan Davis (1991–1994) is the school's career leader in interceptions (21) and interception return yards (298). Linebacker Brian Sieder (1994–1997) is the career leader in tackles (347). Defensive End Alex Temple (2004–2007) is the KWC football career leader in quarterback sacks (31.5) and tackles for loss (65). Kicker Shawn Payne holds the career field goals made record with 22 field goals made from 2001–2004. Punter Steve Wolf (1983–1986) is Kentucky Wesleyan's All-Time Leading Punter in punting yards (7,401) , punting attempts (193) and average yards per punt (38.35)