Shepherd Rams football

Football team of Shepherd University From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Shepherd Rams football program represents Shepherd University in college football at the NCAA Division II level in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Shepherd has played its home games at Ram Stadium since 1959.[4]

First season1920; 106 years ago (1920)
Athletic directorChauncey Winbush
Head coachErnie McCook
8th season, 59–18 (.766)
LocationShepherdstown, West Virginia
Quick facts First season, Athletic director ...
Shepherd Rams football
2025 Shepherd Rams football team
First season1920; 106 years ago (1920)
Athletic directorChauncey Winbush
Head coachErnie McCook
8th season, 59–18 (.766)
LocationShepherdstown, West Virginia
StadiumRam Stadium
(capacity: 5,000)
NCAA divisionDivision II
ConferencePSAC[1]
DivisionEast
ColorsBlue and gold[2]
   
All-time record560–339–26 (.619)
Conference championships
1955, 1972, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
Division championships
1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 2022
RivalriesFrostburg State[3]
Shippensburg
Marching bandRAM Band
OutfitterUnder Armour
WebsiteShepherd Rams football
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History

Monte Cater era

Monte Cater served as the head football coach at Shepherd University from 1987 to 2017, becoming the winningest coach in both Shepherd and West Virginia college football history. Over his 31 seasons at the helm, Cater compiled a record of 245–93–1, leading the Rams to 17 conference championships and 13 postseason appearances.[5]

Before Cater's arrival, Shepherd had made the postseason only a handful of times. In 1983, the Rams reached the playoffs for the first time in school history, losing to Carson–Newman 42–21 in the opening round of the NAIA playoffs. They returned to the postseason in 1986 and again fell to Carson–Newman, 30–10. In 1991, Shepherd advanced to the playoffs and lost to Central State 34–22. The Rams finally earned their first-ever postseason win in 1992, defeating Carson–Newman 6–3 before falling to Gardner–Webb 22–7 in the next round.[6]

Under Cater's leadership, Shepherd became a dominant program in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC), winning 12 conference titles. When the university transitioned to the newly formed Mountain East Conference (MEC) in 2013, Cater continued the program's success, capturing four MEC championships in five seasons.

One of the hallmark seasons of Cater's tenure came in 2015, when Shepherd went 13–1 and reached the NCAA Division II Football Championship game for the first time in program history, ultimately falling to Northwest Missouri State.[7]

On December 5, 2015, with a win over Slippery Rock in the Super 1 Region Final, Cater achieved his 250th victory as a college football coach.[8]

On January 24, 2018, Cater announced his retirement after 31 seasons at Shepherd. He was replaced by longtime assistant Ernie McCook. Cater had been the active wins leader in all levels of college football with 274 career victories. Cater led Shepherd to 13 post season trips, 2 NAIA and 11 NCAA DII. 3 NCAA DII semifinal appearances (2010, 2015 & 2016) and a national championship game appearance in 2015.

Moving to the PSAC

On May 31, 2018, Shepherd University accepted an invitation to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference as a full-time member, with competition beginning in the 2019–20 academic year. The move came after the PSAC Board of Directors approved the university's admission, expanding the conference's membership and strengthening its footprint in the Mid-Atlantic region.

“We are pleased to welcome the Shepherd Rams to the PSAC family of institutions,” said PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray. “Shepherd University brings with it an outstanding athletic and academic tradition, along with a perfect geographic fit for the conference. We’ve made the PSAC even stronger today.”

Shepherd's addition followed the departure of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, which exited NCAA Division II competition after the 2017–18 season. With Shepherd's arrival, the PSAC maintained its 18-member structure heading into 2019. The Rams joined the PSAC Eastern Division, aligning them with Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth University-Lock Haven, Commonwealth University-Mansfield, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, and West Chester University. [9]

Ernie McCook era

The current head coach is Ernie McCook, a 1992 graduate of Wesley College. McCook was elevated to head coach after the retirement of longtime coach Monte Cater.[10] McCook previously served as offensive line coach at Shepherd from 1999 to 2008 and was also the offensive coordinator starting in 2000. McCook was elevated to assistant head coach in 2007. He spent the 2009 season as running game coordinator/tight ends coach at Liberty University, before returning to Shepherd the next season, where he served as assistant head coach/offensive coordinator for the next seven years.

After the 2021 football season, Junior QB Tyson Bagent won the Harlon Hill Trophy for most outstanding Division II player, the first Shepherd player to win the award.[11][12]

Head coaches

More information Coach, Tenure ...
Coach Tenure
A. D. Kenamond1920
Withrow Legge1921–1924
John Newcome1925–1941
Cletus Lowe1946–1947
Don L. Phillips1948–1950
William M. Moore1951–1952
Donald E. Fuoss1953–1955
Jesse Riggleman1956–1966
Roger Parker1967–1970
Walter Barr1971–1985
Mike Jacobs1986
Monte Cater1987–2017
Ernie McCook2018–present
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[13]

Conference affiliations

[14]

Championships

Conference championships

Shepherd claims 22 conference championships[15]

More information Year, Conference ...
Year Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
1955WVIACDonald E. Fuoss8–04–0
1972Walter Barr7–35–0
19827–2–17–1
19839–28–0
1986Mike Jacobs8–37–0
1988†Monte Cater6–46–1
19918–37–0
19929–37–0
1994†6–45–1
1997†9–16–0
199810–27–0
19999–26–0
20047–37–0
200511–18–0
200611–17–0
200710–27–1
201012–27–1
20128–37–1
2013Mountain East Conference11–19–0
201513–110–0
201613–110–0
201710–110–0
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† Co-champions

Division championships

More information Year, Division ...
Year Division Coach CG Opponent Result
1976WVIAC NorthernWalter BarrConcordL 7–21
1977†N/A lost tiebreaker to West Virginia Wesleyan
1978ConcordL 14–35
1980†ConcordL 0–19
2022PSAC EastErnie McCookIndiana (PA)L 21–24
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† Co-champions

Awards and honors

National awards

More information Year, Player ...
Harlon Hill Trophy
Year Player Class Position Date awarded Ref.
2021 Tyson Bagent JR QB January 14, 2022 [16]
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Seasons

[17]

More information Year, Team ...
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs Final
ranking#
Shepherd Rams (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1925–1955)
1955 Shepherd 8-04-01st
Shepherd Rams (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NAIA) (1956–1994)
1956 Shepherd 6-24-13rd
1957 Shepherd 3-42-26th
1958 Shepherd 5-2-14-0-12nd
1959 Shepherd 4-43-22nd (Eastern)
1960 Shepherd 5-32-2T-4th (Eastern)
1961 Shepherd 5-21-2—
1962 Shepherd 7-1-11-1-22nd (Eastern)
1963 Shepherd 7-1-12-1-12nd (Eastern)
1964 Shepherd 3-52-26th
1965 Shepherd 2-50-3—
1966 Shepherd 1-80-410th
1967 Shepherd 3-51-1—
1968 Shepherd 2-70-310th
1969 Shepherd 6-41-37th
1970 Shepherd 5-52-25th
1971 Shepherd 7-1-23-1-25th
1972 Shepherd 7-35-01st
1973 Shepherd 6-44-24th (Northern)
1974 Shepherd 2-91-64th (Northern)
1975 Shepherd 8-35-22nd (Northern)
1976 Shepherd 10-24-01st (Northern)5
1977 Shepherd 6-43-1T-1st (Northern)
1978 Shepherd 7-46-3T-1st (Northern)
1979 Shepherd 5-55-44th (Northern)
1980 Shepherd 7-3-16-2-11st (Northern)19
1981 Shepherd 7-26-22nd16
1982 Shepherd 7-2-17-11st10
1983 Shepherd 9-28-01stL NAIA Division I Quarterfinal5
1984 Shepherd 7-36-22nd16
1985 Shepherd 5-55-2T-2nd
1986 Shepherd 8-37-01stL NAIA Division I Quarterfinal7
1987 Shepherd 4–63–4T–4th
1988 Shepherd 6–46–1T–1st19
1989 Shepherd 3–72–4T–5th
1990 Shepherd 6–3–14–1–1T–2nd11
1991 Shepherd 8–37–01stL NAIA Division I Quarterfinal6
1992 Shepherd 9–37–01stL NAIA Division I Semifinal6
1993 Shepherd 5–55–2T–2nd
1994 Shepherd 6–45–1T–1st10
Shepherd Rams (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Div II) (1995–2012)
1995 Shepherd 3–73–45th
1996 Shepherd 7–35–23rd
1997 Shepherd 9–16–1T–1st
1998 Shepherd 10–27–01stL NCAA Division II Quarterfinal13
1999 Shepherd 9–26–01stL NCAA Division II First Round15
2000 Shepherd 7–35–23rd
2001 Shepherd 8–25–2T–2nd
2002 Shepherd 7–35–2T–2nd
2003 Shepherd 4–64–3T–2nd
2004 Shepherd 7–37–01st
2005 Shepherd 11–18–01stL NCAA Division II Second Round20
2006 Shepherd 11–17–01stL NCAA Division II Quarterfinal8
2007 Shepherd 10–27–11stL NCAA Division II Quarterfinal13
2008 Shepherd 5–53–5T–6th
2009 Shepherd 6–45–34th
2010 Shepherd 12–27–11stL NCAA Division II Semifinal7
2011 Shepherd 9–26–2T–2nd22
2012 Shepherd 8–37–11stL NCAA Division II First Round25
Shepherd Rams (Mountain East Conference (Div II) (2013–2018)
2013 Shepherd 11–19–01stL NCAA Division II Quarterfinal9
2014 Shepherd 8–28–22nd
2015 Shepherd 13–110–01stL NCAA Division II Championship2
2016 Shepherd 13–110–01stL NCAA Division II Semifinal3
2017 Shepherd 10–110–01stL NCAA Division II First Round14
2018 Shepherd 7-37-33rd
Shepherd Rams (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (Div II) (2019–present)
2019 Shepherd 10-36-12nd (PSAC East); T-2nd (overall)L NCAA Division II Second Round22
2020 Shepherd 1-00-0
2021 Shepherd 13-26-12nd (PSAC East)L NCAA Division II Semifinals5
2022 Shepherd 13-27-01st (PSAC East)L NCAA Division II Semifinals6
2023 Shepherd 9-35-2T–2nd (East); T-3rd (overall)L NCAA Division II First Round
2024 Shepherd 6-53-4T-5th (PSAC East); T-9th (overall)
2025 Shepherd 7-46-12nd (PSAC East); 2nd (overall)
Total:282–121–2
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
  • #AFCA Division II.
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Postseason results

More information Year, First Round ...
Year First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship
1998 @ IUP, W 9–6 — @ Slippery Rock, L 20–31
1999 @ Millersville, L 14–21
2005 First round bye vs. LIU Post, L 21–28
2006 First round bye vs. Merrimack, W 31–7 vs. Bloomsburg, L 21–24
2007 First round bye vs. IUP, W 41–34 @ California, L 38–58
2010 vs. Shaw, W 40–6 @ Kutztown, W 41–34 @ Mercyhurst, W 48–14 @ Delta State, L 17–29
2012 @ IUP, L 17–27
2013 First round bye vs. Winston-Salem State, W 7–0 vs. West Chester, L 7–28
2015 First round bye vs. IUP, W 17–13 vs. Slippery Rock, W 28–16 vs. Grand Valley State, W 34–32 vs. Northwest Missouri State, L 7–34
2016 vs. Assumption, W 48–31 @ LIU Post, W 40–21 @ California, W 41–30 vs. North Alabama, L 13–23
2017 vs. Findlay, L 17–29
2019 @ IUP, W 31–27 @ Slippery Rock, L 30–51
2021 vs. Findlay, W 38–31 vs. Notre Dame (OH), W 38–34 @ Kutztown W 30–28 @ Ferris State, L 7–55
2022 vs. New Haven, W 16–13 vs. Slippery Rock, W 37–27 @ IUP, W 48–13 @ Colorado School of Mines, L 13–44
2023 @ Lenoir–Rhyne, L 17–63
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Note: The NCAA expanded the playoff field from 16 to 24 teams in 2000, from 24 to 28 teams in 2015, and from 28 to 32 teams in 2025..

[18]

Rams on the Next Level

Drafted players

Shepherd has had three football players[19] drafted by the NFL:

Currently active in the NFL

Currently active in the IFL

Currently active in the UFL


Other Rams on the Next Level

References

External links

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