Aug. 24, 2003
Charleston, SC -
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The Citadel Enters its 96th Year of Football
The Citadel enters its 96th year of intercollegiate football and holds an all-time record of 421-465-32 (.476). The first recorded football game was held in 1905 and was led by coach Sidney Smith. The Citadel battled Porter Military Academy to a 0-0 tie, and rebounded to defeat PMA in the next two games, 17-0 and 5-0. Of note, The Citadel will play in its 919th game when it takes the field against Charleston Southern on August 30th.
The Citadel vs. Charleston Southern
The Citadel and Charleston Southern have squared off only once on the gridiron with the Bulldogs defeating the Bucs 53-19 in 2002. This series is special because it is one of only a hand few in the nation that two teams from the same county will face off on the football field.
The Citadel vs. the Big South
The Citadel has played 63 games against Big South members with 62 of the contests coming against military rival VMI. The Bulldogs' other contest came against Charleston Southern in 2002, when they defeated the Bucs 53-19 in Johnson Hagood Stadium. The Citadel has an overall record of 31-30-2 against the Big South.
The Citadel vs. Schools from the Palmetto State
The Citadel has played 356 football games against schools from the Palmetto State and holds an impressive 190-152-14 record against opponents from its own backyard. The Bulldogs' highest number of victories against a school from the state is 48, coming at the expense of Presbyterian College. The second highest number is 40, coming against Southern Conference foe Wofford.
The Citadel in Season Openers
In the 95-year history of Citadel football, the Bulldogs have an overall record of 49-42-4 in the season's opening game. The Citadel has lost its last five openers (2002 at LSU, 35-10; 2001 at Georgia Tech, 35-7; 2000 at Clemson, 38-0; 1999 at East Tennessee State, 28-10; and 1998 at Florida, 49-10). The season opener against Charleston Southern marks only the second time in the last six years that the Bulldogs have not faced a ranked Division IA opponent. The Citadel's last successful season opener came in 1997, when The Citadel defeated Newberry, 33-13, in Johnson Hagood Stadium. The contest against CSU also marks the first time since 1997 that the Bulldogs have opened the season in front of their faithful fans.
The Citadel and Home Openers
The Bulldogs are 39-14-2 in home openers dating back to 1948. The Citadel is 6-4 in their last 10 home openers including last year's 24-20 upset of No. 15 Delaware. The Bulldogs most common opponent in home openers is Presbyterian College. The Blue Hose and The Citadel have faced off 12 times in the Bulldogs first home game of the year. This game marks the first time The Citadel has opened the season against Charleston Southern and only the third time in school history that the Bulldogs have ended and started consecutive seasons with the same opponent. The last time was in 1936 and 1937 when the cadets faced off against Wofford.
Simmons Transforms From Tiger to Rattler to Bulldog
To say that transfer quarterback Willie Simmons had an eventful offseason would be an understatement. The Quincy, FL native decided to leave Clemson in order to transfer to Division IAA Florida A&M less than 20 minutes from his hometown. At that time Florida A&M was approved to make the jump from IAA to IA rendering the standout quarterback ineligible for play as a Rattler. Simmons then approached The Citadel and transfered in the middle of August. Simmons was finally approved by the NCAA for game competition on Friday, August 22 during a Bulldog practice.
Simmons, the only Tiger Football player to graduate in three years is currently enrolled in The Citadel's College of Graduate and Professional Studies and looks to complete his post-graduate work in Charleston.
Bulldogs Recognized by "The Sports Network"
Senior wide receiver Scooter Johnson and junior tailback Nehemiah Broughton were recognized by The Sports Network as one of the top-20 players at their position in I-AA football, while transfer quarterback Willie Simmons was tabbed the No. 1 impact transfer in the country.
Johnson, a first-team All-Southern Conference performer in 2002, was tabbed the 12th best wide receiver by the premier media outlet for I-AA football. Broughton, also a first-team All-SoCon performer in 2002, was ranked 19th in the country at running back. Simmons, a transfer from Clemson, who started eight games for the Tigers in 2002 will look to lead the Bulldogs' high-powered offense in 2003.
Scooter Johnson Eyes The Citadel's All-Time Receiving Record
After making the transition from quarterback to wide receiver fifth-year senior Scooter Johnson has his eyes fixed on the school's all-time receiving record of 133 receptions held currently by Victor Frazier (1982-85). In 2002, Johnson set the school's single season reception mark as he hauled in 69 passes for 950 yards. The Irmo, SC native currently trails Frazier by only 58 catches after only one full year at wide out. Of note, Johnson only trails Citadel hall-of-famer Paul Maguire by one reception on the all-time list.
Nemo-Sapien Bullying His Way to School's All-Time Top-10 List
Junior tailback Nehemiah Broughton was nicknamed by his teammates as Nemo-Sapien because they say he is not human. "Any guy with that kind of size, power and speed can't be human," wide receiver Scooter Johnson stated. It will be those three attributes that push Broughton's career rushing total into The Citadel's all-time top-10 list. Broughton rushed for 1,038 yards in 2002 to become only the 11th player in Citadel history to reach the 1,000-yard plateau. The North Charleston native enters the season 842 yards behind Tom Frooman (1985-89), who has 1,914 yards on his career.
The bruising runner also has his sights set on the school's top-10 scoring list and needs only eight scores to place his name on that list.
Broughton Searching for Third Consecutive 100-yard Game
Junior tailback Nehemiah Broughton enters the game against Charleston Southern searching for his third consecutive 100-yard rushing performance. Broughton ended the 2002 season with 100-yard rushing games against VMI and Charleston Southern. In the game against VMI he rushed 30 times for 111 yards and a score. Then the next week against Charleston Southern the bruising runner eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau as he rumbled for 109 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.
Of note, the last Citadel runner to accomplish the feat of three consecutive 100-yard performance was Broughton in 2002. He did it against Western Carolina, Appalachian State and Wyoming.
Streaking Dogs
Several Bulldogs enter the season on a couple of streaks. Senior safety T.J. Rose and Senior placekicker/punter Travis Zobel have played in 34 consecutive games followed closely by seniors Chris Franklin, Lew Dawson, Travis Hodge and Scooter Johnson.
Johnson has a 14-game receiving streak, while tight-end Ross Armstong has a 10-game string.
On the defensive side of the ball, Rose leads the way again as he has posted at least one tackle in 23 consecutive games.
