100 years of Homecoming at The Citadel

Posted on November 7, 2024 by Sandlapper Spike

The Citadel vs. Chattanooga, to be played at historic Johnson Hagood Stadium (not including the East stands), with kickoff at 2:00 pm ET on November 9, 2024.

The game will be streamed on ESPN+. Jason Kempf will handle play-by-play, while Vad Lee supplies the analysis. Matison Little is the sideline reporter. 

The contest can be heard on radio on 102.1-FM in Charleston [audio link]. Brian Giffin calls the game alongside analyst Lee Glaze.

We are about to celebrate an anniversary of sorts: 100 years of Homecoming at The Citadel — or as Colonel Bond described it, “Home-Coming Day”:

The first Home-Coming Day of the Greater Citadel was held on October 25, 1924. Hundreds of the alumni — old men, middle-aged, and young men — many from distant states — came to the celebration.

…The morning was spent on the campus, with many interesting reunions and talks of old times, and at noon everyone gathered on Indian Hill under the live oaks for an al fresco barbecue lunch.

Shortly after one o’clock the crowd began to gather in groups towards Hampton Park, where the chief event of the day was to take place. This was the Furman-Citadel football game, in comparison with which all other features of Home-Coming Day (and there were several others of noteworthy interest) paled into insignificance.

On this battlefield of the gridiron, two teams of stalwart warriors were to battle for the honor and renown of their Alma Mater, and to perform exploits that would put their names in big headlines in the morning papers. This was the opportunity, too, when the alumni could wear their college colors and show their loyalty to the old school.

— Oliver J. Bond, The Story of The Citadel

The Citadel won the game, 6-0. Late in the third quarter, running back Carl Hogrefe scored the contest’s only touchdown on a 4th-down plunge over the right side of the line. Reported attendance for the game, which was played at Hampton Park in a steady rain: 4,000.

Over 300 alumni returned to the military college for Homecoming in 1924. For many of them, it was their first time visiting the school at its new campus on the Ashley.

There were just 313 cadets at The Citadel during that school year (1924-25), all living in Padgett-Thomas Barracks. By 1927-28, with a newly built Murray Barracks in place, student enrollment had risen to 722 — and home football games were being played at the “original” Johnson Hagood Stadium (which opened for business on October 15, 1927).

A few years ago, I wrote that it would be neat if The Citadel’s 2024 Homecoming were to take place around the same date/weekend as the first Homecoming game in 1924, and that Furman would again be the opponent. Alas, none of that happened, although the 28-11 upset victory over Samford on October 26 was a nice consolation prize.

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This Saturday will be The Citadel’s 97th Homecoming game. The Bulldogs are 49-45-2 in Homecoming contests.

At one point, The Citadel was 6-20-2 on Homecoming. As mentioned above, the Bulldogs defeated Furman in the initial contest, but after that game, wins were few and far between for many years. The Citadel finally attained a winning overall record in Homecoming again following a 48-21 victory over VMI in 2006.

A 10-game winning streak from 1969-1978 helped in that regard; that is the Bulldogs’ longest winning streak for Homecoming games. The second-longest, an eight-game run from 2012-2019, has given The Citadel a bit of a cushion when it comes to having a winning record in the celebration game.

I’ve put together a spreadsheet which details much of that history. Here it is:

Homecoming results at The Citadel

General trivia about Homecoming:

  • This will be the 78th Homecoming game played in November. There have been 14 October contests (though only two since 1967), and 4 December games (with the last of those occurring in 1949). The first of two 2021 Homecoming contests, a makeup of the COVID-canceled 2020 game, was held in September. (There is some disagreement as to whether or not that September 2021 game was in fact an “official” Homecoming event. The school’s website says it was, so I include it as such, admittedly with serious misgivings.)
  • The Bulldogs have faced 19 different Homecoming opponents over the years.
  • Saturday will mark the ninth time The Citadel has played Chattanooga in the game (with a record of 3-5 versus the Mocs). Only Furman (26 meetings) and VMI (19) have been the Bulldogs’ Homecoming opponent more often than Chattanooga.
  • Two of those eight Homecoming games against the Mocs have come on November 9, the same date as this year’s matchup, with The Citadel winning in 1996 (16-13) and Chattanooga prevailing in 2002 (34-31). In the ’96 contest, Reggie Moore blocked a late field goal attempt to preserve the win for the Bulldogs.
  • Western Carolina is the only current SoCon school never to have been a Homecoming opponent for The Citadel. Only two other schools with 25 or more matchups against the Bulldogs have not been an opponent for Homecoming: William & Mary and Newberry.
  • The Citadel is 22-14-2 in Homecoming games decided by 7 or fewer points, and has won 16 of the last 21 such contests. That includes a 3-0 record for the Bulldogs in overtime Homecoming games.
  • Bobby Ross was 5-0 at Homecoming, while Eddie Teague and Charlie Taaffe each won the game six times (both were 6-3 overall). Brent Thompson was 5-2.

Individual records on Homecoming include:

  • Mark Slawson holds the Homecoming game records for yardage (201, also the all-time school record), and TD receptions (4, tied for the school record), setting both marks in 1979.
  • Tim Russell’s 6 touchdowns and 362 yards passing in that 1979 game are both Homecoming records (and the TD mark is the school record, too).
  • Jeff Klein completed the most Bulldog passes in a Homecoming game (24 in 2002).
  • Slawson’s 4 TDs in the 1979 game set the record for most touchdowns scored in a Homecoming contest. That mark was matched by Lorenzo Ward in 2018, with all of Ward’s TDs coming on the ground.
  • Andre Roberts (2007 and 2008) and Gene Hightower (1967) share the record for receptions in a Homecoming game, with 9.
  • Tyler Renew’s 45 carries and 285 yards in the 2016 contest are both Homecoming records.
  • Eric Goins’ five field goals against VMI in 2015 established both the Homecoming and school records for most made field goals in a game. (As you might know, Goins is actually playing college football this season, nine years removed from setting that record; he is currently the kickoff specialist for Notre Dame after spending seven years in the Army.)
  • Jeff Varnadoe (1970) and Rusty Holt (1972) share the record for most interceptions in a Homecoming game, with 3 (both efforts came against Davidson). The school record for interceptions in a game is also 3.

Longest Homecoming plays by a Bulldog:

  • Run: 92 yards (TD), Nehemiah Broughton, 2004
  • Pass: 78 yards (TD), Marty Crosby to Sam Scadlock, 1978; Tim Russell to Mark Slawson, 1979
  • Kickoff return: 87 yards, Keith Gamble, 2010
  • Punt return: 80 yards (TD), Mark Slawson, 1980
  • Interception return: 75 yards (TD), Tevin Floyd, 2015
  • Field goal: 48 yards, Cody Clark, 2016
  • Punt: 85 yards, Albert Salvato, 1941

Incidentally, you’re not going to find that punt by Salvato in The Citadel’s official record book, but it happened — and to the best of my knowledge it is also the longest punt in school history.

Let me throw out one more Homecoming factoid, a favorite of mine:

  • Pat Green’s 25-yard field goal just before halftime of The Citadel’s 17-0 victory over VMI in 1964 was the first made field goal by a Bulldog at a Homecoming contest. Seriously, it was. The Citadel did not successfully convert a field goal attempt in its first 36 Homecoming games.

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Now I think it is time to focus on the game this Saturday…

Maurice Drayton press conference

‘Beyond The Barracks’ Coach’s Show

Preview article in The Post and Courier

The Citadel game notes

Rusty Wright press conference

Preview article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press

Chattanooga game notes

Chattanooga is 5-4. That comes after starting 0-3, with two losses to FBS teams (one of which was Tennessee) and a home setback to Mercer. The Bears are currently one of two SoCon teams with just one loss in conference play.

The other league squad with one loss is Western Carolina, the team that beat UTC last week for the Mocs’ other conference defeat. In between those losses, Chattanooga won five straight games, including four in SoCon action (at East Tennessee State, at Furman, Wofford, VMI). 

UTC has two games remaining after playing The Citadel, a home contest with Samford and a non-conference road matchup with Austin Peay.

Chattanooga was the preseason favorite to win the SoCon, but with losses to the two teams ahead of the Mocs in the standings, it seems unlikely that UTC has much of a chance at the league’s automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. Thus, any realistic chance of postseason play for Chattanooga hinges on the Mocs winning their last three games and garnering an at-large bid.

That could happen, but Chattanooga might need a little bit of help elsewhere in addition to winning out, even if some current projections have the Mocs in the field as of this week (albeit barely).

UTC fans (and coaches) still recall a season-ending 27-21 home loss to The Citadel in the fall of 2021 that knocked Chattanooga out of that year’s playoff picture:

…that 2021 loss to The Citadel — which had some UTC players saying that some of their teammates essentially quit after a painful 10-6 road loss to Mercer the week before — has hurt some of the perception of the program when it comes to closing out the regular season.

Rusty Wright, now in his sixth season as head coach of the Mocs, revisited that game Tuesday.

“I don’t think those guys cared,” Wright said. “It was like pulling teeth on that sideline in the first half. I hadn’t seen it all year, and now all of a sudden it showed up and I didn’t even know who those guys were.

“But I haven’t felt it since then.”

From Chattanooga’s perspective, it would also be nice if the selection committee realizes that a couple of other conferences have rather fraudulent league standings. That would include the bloated CAA, where almost none of the top teams play each other, spending most of the season beating up on the lesser squads in the conference. 

We shall see. Of course, The Citadel would like to end Chattanooga’s postseason hopes this Saturday.

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Chattanooga is well regarded in the computer systems. Bill Connelly’s SP+ ratings have UTC as the 17th-best FCS squad, while the Massey Ratings rank the Mocs 19th in the sub-division. Both systems really like Chattanooga’s defense (10th overall in SP+, and 7th in Massey).

The Citadel in SP+: 83rd in FCS. Massey ranks the Bulldogs 69th. SP+ does not care for the military college’s offense (110th overall); its defensive ranking is considerably higher (33rd). Massey’s numbers for the two sides of the ball for the Bulldogs are 90th (offense) and 46th (defense).

SP+ has a projected score for Saturday of Chattanooga 29.8, The Citadel 15.2, while Massey pegs the final at 28-14, Mocs.

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Let’s take a look at some statistical comparisons, using a spreadsheet with relevant statistics for all FCS teams through last weekend’s games:

FCS statistics through November 2, 2024

As noted earlier, Chattanooga has faced two FBS squads (and an all-D1 schedule). Both the Bulldogs and the Mocs have played nine games.

The Citadel’s offense vs. Chattanooga’s defense

  • TC averages 23.0 points per game; Chattanooga allows 22.9 (17.1 ppg if you take out the Tennessee game, which the Vols won 69-3)
  • TC averages 4.84 yards per play; Chattanooga allows 5.53 
  • TC rushes on 61.7% of its offensive plays; Chattanooga faces a rush attempt 51.5% of the time
  • TC averages 4.13 yards per rush (sack-adjusted); Chattanooga allows 4.57
  • TC averages 5.99 yards per pass attempt (sack-adjusted); Chattanooga allows 6.56
  • TC gives up a sack on 7.2% of its drop-backs; Chattanooga defensive sack rate of 4.8%
  • TC converts 37.12% of its 3rd-down attempts; Chattanooga allows 37.01%
  • TC has converted 10 of 18 4th-down attempts (55.56%); Chattanooga has allowed 7 of 12 (58.33%)
  • TC averages 4.33 estimated points per Red Zone trip; Chattanooga allows 5.19
  • TC averages 1.22 turnovers per game; Chattanooga has forced 2.22 turnovers per contest

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Chattanooga’s offense vs. The Citadel’s defense 

  • Chattanooga averages 25.8 points per game; TC allows 19.8
  • Chattanooga averages 5.66 yards per play; TC allows 5.37
  • Chattanooga rushes on 55.6% of its offensive plays; TC faces a rush attempt 51.8% of the time
  • Chattanooga averages 3.84 yards per rush (sack-adjusted); TC allows 4.61
  • Chattanooga averages 7.94 yards per pass attempt (sack-adjusted); TC allows 6.19
  • Chattanooga gives up a sack on 4.2% of its drop-backs; TC defensive sack rate of 8.5%
  • Chattanooga converts 40.32% of its 3rd-down attempts; TC allows 32.74%
  • Chattanooga has converted on 4 of 7 4th-down attempts (57.14%); TC has allowed 9 of 19 (47.37%)
  • Chattanooga averages 4.78 estimated points per Red Zone trip; TC allows 4.64
  • Chattanooga averages 1.33 turnovers per game; TC has forced 1.33 turnovers per contest (yes, it’s a tie!)

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Other stats of note

  • TC: 4.6 penalties per game (38.9 yards); Chattanooga: 6.0 penalties per game (51.6 yards)
  • TC: 42.05 net punting average; Chattanooga: 37.39 net punting average
  • TC: 0.11 turnover margin per game; Chattanooga: 0.89 turnover margin per game
  • TC: 30:33 time of possession average; Chattanooga: 31:29 TOP average

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– The Mocs average 15.16 yards per pass completion, which leads the nation and is an indicator of the big-play nature of Chattanooga’s offense. The Citadel is 20th in FCS in this category (13.35 yards).

Chattanooga has had 33 pass plays this season of 20 or more yards. Eight different receivers have accounted for those catches, with three in particular carrying most of the load: Sam Phillips (11 receptions of 20+ yards, including an 84-yarder against Georgia State and a 78-yard grab versus Portland State); Javin Whatley (9, with a 71-yarder against Furman); and Chris Domercant (7, including a 65-yard catch versus Mercer).

All three of those receivers are juniors, and all three had at least two 20+ yard catches last week against Western Carolina (Domercant had three). All told, Chattanooga had nine such plays versus the Catamounts, and did so despite its backup quarterback playing the entire game.

Incidentally, Pro Football Focus (PFF) rated Chattanooga as having the top receiving outfit in FCS through Week 9 (so not including the WCU game). 

– While Chattanooga rushes on 55.6% of its offensive plays, only 37.7% of the Mocs’ total yards are via the ground attack.

As a comparison, The Citadel rushes on 61.7% of its offensive plays, with 52.6% of its total yardage coming on the ground.

– Chattanooga’s opportunistic defense is 6th nationally in turnovers forced per game, second in the SoCon (behind Mercer, which leads all of FCS in that category). The Mocs have 15 interceptions, tied for 2nd-most in the sub-division. (The Citadel’s defense is 68th in forced turnovers per contest.)

UTC has three defensive touchdowns this season, including a 75-yard scoop-and-score last week against Western Carolina.

Chattanooga’s average turnover margin (0.89) is 13th in FCS (The Citadel’s is 60th). The national leader in that category is North Dakota State, with a rather astounding per-game turnover margin of 1.60. NDSU has only committed two turnovers all season (in ten games).

– One defensive issue for the Mocs has been its work in the red zone, where UTC allows TDs at a 63.3% clip, with an estimated points per RZ possession of 5.19 (87th nationally). The Bulldogs’ D is 42nd in FCS (4.64, with a RZ TD rate of 60.7%). 

– The Citadel is 7th in FCS in net punting (42.05), while Chattanooga is 55th (37.39).

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A few paragraphs ago, I mentioned that Chattanooga had played last week against Western Carolina with its backup quarterback. Starting QB Chase Artopoeus missed that game with an undisclosed injury. 

The backup, redshirt sophomore Luke Schomburg, is also expected to start against The Citadel, with that announcement made by Rusty Wright at his weekly presser.

Schomburg’s line against WCU doesn’t look great on the surface (14-31 passing, with 3 interceptions), but in all honesty it wasn’t a bad performance at all. He averaged over 10 yards per attempt and completed passes to seven different receivers, with a couple of touchdowns. A late pick proved costly in the 38-34 defeat in Cullowhee.

He has previous experience as a starter, getting the call for Chattanooga’s final three games last season after Artopoeus suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Schomburg’s starts in 2023: at Alabama, at Austin Peay in the FCS playoffs, at Furman in the FCS playoffs. That’s a tough draw.

In the victory over Austin Peay, Schomburg was 21-36 for 259 yards and a TD (with one pick), leading the Mocs to their first-ever road FCS playoff victory.

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When is comes to referencing Chattanooga’s athletic teams, nomenclature matters. (It matters at The Citadel too, of course.) From the school’s game notes comes this reminder:

The official school name is the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The NCAA short form for it is simply Chattanooga. There are no hyphenated uses such as Tennessee-Chattanooga or UT-Chattanooga or even gasp, UT Chattanooga without the hyphen. Nope, just Chattanooga. Nickname is Mocs. It is not short for anything.

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This will be a tough test for The Citadel. The Mocs have a lot of talent, with big-play threats on both sides of the ball. Time of possession could be critical for the Bulldogs, as limiting the total number of possessions in this game would be a good idea for the home side.

If The Citadel plays as well defensively as it did against Samford two weeks ago, it will have a shot at a third consecutive victory. However, the offense must be more consistent, and put together two good halves, not just one. It is also imperative to avoid turnovers against a ball-hawking Chattanooga defense.

There should be a very good crowd for Homecoming; a sellout is anticipated. The weather should be excellent, with a forecast of 76 degrees and mostly sunny skies. I’m looking forward to a fun atmosphere and a classic November afternoon at Johnson Hagood Stadium.

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