McMurry War Hawks football

The McMurry War Hawks football team represents McMurry University in college football in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the NCAA Division III level. The War Hawks are members of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC), fielding its team in the SCAC since 2024. The War Hawks play their home games at Wilford Moore Stadium in Abilene, Texas. The team was known as the McMurry Indians until 2011.^[2]

McMurry War Hawks football
First season	1923; 101 years ago (1923)
Athletic director	Larry Dockery
Head coach	Jordan Neal 6th season, 14–34 (.292)
Stadium	Wilford Moore Stadium (capacity: 3,550)
Year built	1937
Field surface	FieldTurf
Location	Abilene, Texas
Conference	SCAC
All-time record	393–525–32 (.431)
Bowl record	2–1 (.667)
Playoff appearances	1–1 (NCAA D-III playoffs) 0–1 (NAIA D-II playoffs)
Conference titles	2 TIAA* (1980, 1983) 5 Texas Conference (1947–1949, 1953, 1955) 1 TIAA (1927)
Colors	Maroon and black[1]
Website	mcmurrysports.com

Their head coach is Jordan Neal, who took over the position for the 2019 season.

Conference affiliations

• Independent (1923–1925)
• Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1926–1932)
• Texas Conference (1933–1942)
• No team (1943–1945)
• Texas Conference (1946–1955)
• Independent (1956–1964)
• Lone Star Conference (1965–1972)
• Independent (1973–1975)
• Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association* (1976–1995)
• American Southwest Conference (1996–2011)
• NCAA Division II independent (2012–2013)
• Lone Star Conference (2014)
• American Southwest Conference (2015–2023)
• Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (2024–present)^[3]

List of head coaches

Key

Key to symbols in coaches list

General		Overall		Conference		Postseason[A 1]
No.	Order of coaches[A 2]	GC	Games coached	CW	Conference wins	PW	Postseason wins
DC	Division championships	OW	Overall wins	CL	Conference losses	PL	Postseason losses
CC	Conference championships	OL	Overall losses	CT	Conference ties	PT	Postseason ties
NC	National championships	OT	Overall ties[A 3]	C%	Conference winning percentage
†	Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame	O%	Overall winning percentage[A 4]

Coaches

List of head football coaches showing season(s) coached, overall records and conference records

No.	Name	Season(s)	GC	OW	OL	OT	O%	CW	CL	CT	C%
1	Randolph M. Medley	1923–1938	139	61	58	20	0.511	38	23	8	0.609
2	Dale Morrison	1939–1941	26	6	19	1	0.250	4	16	1	0.214
3	Jim Conger	1942	8	2	6	0	0.250	1	3	0	0.250
4	Vernon Hilliard	1946	9	4	4	1	0.500	2	2	0	0.500
5	Wilford Moore	1947–1954	83	49	29	5	0.620	22	11	1	0.662
6	Douglas Cox	1955	10	8	2	0	0.800	2	0	0	1.000
7	Tommy Ellis	1956–1959	40	24	16	0	0.600	—	—	—	—
8	Grant Teaff	1960–1965	60	23	35	2	0.400	0	0	0	–
9	Buddy Fornes	1966–1972	70	27	42	1	0.393	16	30	0	0.348
10	Don Newson	1973–1975	29	11	18	0	0.379	—	—	—	—
11	Spud Aldridge	1976–1981	63	36	27	0	0.571	26	18	0	0.591
12	Rodney Murphy	1982–1983	19	8	11	0	0.421	6	8	0	0.429
13	Don Birmingham	1984–1985	20	4	16	0	0.200	3	9	0	0.250
14	Cliff Odenwald	1986–1987	20	7	11	2	0.400	3	7	2	0.333
15	Mark Cox	1988–1990	30	4	26	0	0.133	4	22	0	0.154
16	Joe George	1991–1994	39	18	21	0	0.462	7	13	0	0.350
17	Steve Keenum	1995–2004	98	36	62	0	0.367	26	50	0	0.342
18	Joe Crousen	2005–2006	20	8	12	0	0.400	6	11	0	0.353
19	Donny Gray	2007–2008	20	2	18	0	0.100	1	15	0	0.063
20	Hal Mumme[7]	2009–2012	43	27	16	0	0.628	15	9	0	0.625
21	Mason Miller	2013	11	3	8	0	0.273	—	—	—	—
22	Lance Hinson[8]	2014–2018	49	14	35	0	0.286	7	24	0	0.226
23	Jordan Neal[9]	2019–present	44	11	33	0	0.250	7	29	0	0.194

Year-by-year results

National champions

Conference champions

Bowl game berth

Playoff berth

Season	Year	Head coach	Association	Division	Conference	Record							Postseason	Final ranking
						Overall			Conference
						Win	Loss	Tie	Finish	Win	Loss	Tie
McMurry Indians
1923	1923	Randolph M. Medley	NCAA	—	Independent	2	3	1					—	—
1924	1924					5	2	1					—	—
1925	1925					3	4	1					—	—
1926	1926				TIAA	1	9	0	6th	1	2	0	—	—
1927	1927					4	1	2	1st	3	0	2	—	—
1928	1928					6	3	0	T–2nd	4	1	0	—	—
1929	1929					4	1	3	3rd	3	1	1	—	—
1930	1930					3	4	2	5th	3	2	1	—	—
1931	1931					2	6	0	T–3rd (Western)	2	2	0	—	—
1932	1932					2	4	2	4th	2	3	0	—	—
1933	1933				Texas Conference	4	4	2	T–3rd	3	2	0	—	—
1934	1934					3	3	3	4tth	2	1	3	—	—
1935	1935					6	3	0	2nd	4	2	0	—	—
1936	1936					8	1	1	3rd	5	1	1	—	—
1937	1937					7	2	1	3rd	5	2	0	—	—
1938	1938					1	8	0	9th	1	6	0	—	—
1939	1939	Dale Morrison				1	6	0	8th	1	6	0	—	—
1940	1940					1	9	0	7th	1	6	0	—	—
1941	1941					4	4	1	5th	2	4	1	—	—
1942	1942	Jim Conger				2	6	0	4th	1	3	0	—	—
No team from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II.
1946	1946	Vernon Hilliard	NCAA	—	Texas Conference	4	4	1	3rd	2	2	0	—	—
1947	1947	Wilford Moore				7	3	1	T–1st	4	1	0	L Boys' Ranch Bowl	—
1948	1948					6	4	0	1st	4	1	0	—	—
1949	1949					8	2	1	1st	4	0	1	W Oleander Bowl	—
1950	1950					4	5	0	T–3rd	2	3	0	—	—
1951	1951					3	7	0	4th	1	3	0	—	—
1952	1952					4	4	1	2nd	3	1	0	—	—
1953	1953					8	1	1	T–1st	3	1	0	—	—
1954	1954					6	3	1	2nd	1	1	0	—	—
1955	1955	Douglas Cox				8	2	0	1st	2	0	0	—	—
1956	1956	Tommy Ellis	NAIA	—	Independent	5	5	0					—	—
1957	1957					5	5	0					—	—
1958	1958					6	4	0					—	—
1959	1959					8	2	0					—	9
1960	1960	Grant Teaff				3	7	0					—	—
1961	1961					6	4	0					—	—
1962	1962					6	4	0					—	—
1963	1963					3	7	0					—	—
1964	1964					1	8	1					—	—
1965	1965				LSC	4	5	1	N/A	0	0	0	—	—
1966	1966	Buddy Fornes				1	8	1	8th	0	6	1	—	—
1967	1967					6	4	0	T–3rd	4	3	0	—	—
1968	1968					8	2	0	3rd	5	2	0	—	—
1969	1969					2	8	0	8th	1	6	0	—	—
1970	1970			Division I		5	6	0	T–5th	4	5	0	—	—
1971	1971					2	8	0	T–8th	2	7	0	—	—
1972	1972					3	6	0	N/A	0	0	0	—	—
1973	1973	Don Newson		?	Independent	3	6	0					—	—
1974	1974					6	4	0					—	—
1975	1975					2	8	0					—	—
1976	1976	Spud Aldridge		Division II	TIAA*	3	8	0	T–3rd	1	3	0	—	—
1977	1977					6	4	0	3rd	2	2	0	—	—
1978	1978					7	3	0	2nd	5	3	0	—	—
1979	1979					8	3	0	2nd	6	2	0	—	—
1980	1980					9	2	0	1st	9	1	0	L NAIA Division II Quarterfinal	8
1981	1981					3	7	0	4th	3	7	0	—	—
1982	1982	Rodney Murphy				2	8	0	4th	2	6	0	—	—
1983	1983					6	3	0	T–1st	4	2	0	—	—
1984	1984	Don Birmingham				3	7	0	3rd	2	4	0	—	—
1985	1985					1	9	0	4th	1	5	0	—	—
1986	1986	Cliff Odenwald				4	6	0	T–2nd	2	4	0	—	—
1987	1987					3	5	2	3rd	1	3	2	—	—
1988	1988	Mark Cox				1	9	0	6th	1	9	0	—	—
1989	1989					2	8	0	T–5th	2	8	0	—	—
1990	1990					1	9	0	7th	1	5	0	—	—
1991	1991	Joe George				3	7	0	6th	0	5	0	—	—
1992	1992					4	6	0	T–3rd	2	3	0	—	—
1993	1993					8	2	0	2nd	4	1	0	—	18
1994	1994					3	6	0	5th	1	4	0	—	—
1995	1995	Steve Keenum				1	9	0	5th	0	8	0	—	—
1996	1996				ASC	3	7	0	T–4th	1	3	0	—	—
1997	1997		NCAA	Division III		5	5	0	T–3rd	2	3	0	—	—
1998	1998					8	2	0	2nd	6	1	0	—	—
1999	1999					7	2	0	2nd	6	1	0	—	—
2000	2000					6	4	0	5th	5	4	0	—	—
2001	2001					0	9	0	10th	0	8	0	—	—
2002	2002					0	10	0	10th	0	9	0	—	—
2003	2003					4	6	0	T–5th	4	5	0	—	—
2004	2004					2	8	0	T–9th	1	8	0	—	—
2005	2005	Joe Crousen				5	5	0	7th	4	5	0	—	—
2006	2006					3	7	0	9th	2	6	0	—	—
2007	2007	Donny Gray				2	8	0	T–9th	1	7	0	—	—
2008	2008					0	10	0	9th	0	8	0	—	—
2009	2009	Hal Mumme				4	6	0	5th	4	4	0	—	—
2010	2010					6	4	0	T–4th	4	4	0	—	—
McMurry War Hawks
2011	2011	Hal Mumme	NCAA	Division III	ASC	9	3	0	2nd	7	1	0	L NCAA Division III Second Round	14
2012	2012			Division II	Independent	8	3	0					W C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl	—
2013	2013	Mason Miller				3	8	0					—	—
2014	2014	Lance Hinson			LSC	2	8	0	7th	1	6	0	—	—
2015	2015			Division III	ASC	4	6	0	N/A	0	0	0	—	—
2016	2016					4	5	0	5th	2	4	0	—	—
2017	2017					2	8	0	T–7th	2	7	0	—	—
2018	2018					2	8	0	T–7th	2	7	0	—	—
2019	2019	Jordan Neal				0	10	0	10th	0	9	0	—	—
2020–21	2020					2	3	0	4th (West)	1	3	0	—	—
2021	2021					2	7	0	T–8th	2	7	0	—	—
2022	2022					1	9	0	T–8th	1	7	0	—	—
2023	2023					6	4	0	T–3rd	3	3	0	—	—
2024	2024				SCAC								—	—

Wilford Moore Stadium

Wilford Moore Stadium

Location	1560 Ross Ave Abilene, TX 79605
Owner	McMurry University
Operator	McMurry University
Capacity	3,550
Surface	FieldTurf
Opened	1937
Tenants
McMurry War Hawks (NCAA) (1937–1942, 1950–1959, 1974–present)

Wilford Moore Stadium is a football stadium in Abilene, Texas, with a seating capacity of 3,550. It is home to McMurry University War Hawks football team.^[10] It is named after Wilford Moore who was the head football coach from 1947 to 1954 after being previously known as Indian Stadium.

The stadium initially had a capacity of 4,500 but has since been lowered to 3,550.^[10]

Rivalries

Hardin–Simmons

The Hardin–Simmons–McMurry football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Hardin–Simmons Cowboys and McMurry War Hawks, with the rivalry referred to as the Crosstown Showdown, with both universities located approximately 10 minutes from each other in Abilene.^[11] The winner is given the Wilford Moore Trophy, named after Wilford Moore, who was a player at Hardin–Simmons and a coach at McMurry. Moore is the only person to be inducted into the athletic halls of fame at both Hardin–Simmons University and McMurry University.^[12] Following the 2023 meeting, Hardin–Simmons leads the all-time series 33–4.^[13]

Sul Ross

The Battle of I-20 is the name given to the McMurry–Sul Ross football rivalry.^[14] Going into the 2019 match-up McMurry led the all-time series 46–40–2;^[15] the Lobos would win that year's game 21–7. As of the 2023 season, the two teams have met 93 times with McMurry leading the series 48–43–2. The future of the rivalry remains uncertain as Sul Ross joined the Lone Star Conference in 2024, which competes at the Division II level, while McMurry competes in the Division III Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.^[16]

Notes

1. Although the first Rose Bowl Game was played in 1902, it has been continuously played since the 1916 game, and is recognized as the oldest bowl game by the NCAA. "—" indicates any season prior to 1916 when postseason games were not played.^[4]
2. A running total of the number of head coaches, with coaches who served separate tenures being counted only once. Interim head coaches are represented with "Int" and are not counted in the running total. "—" indicates the team played but either without a coach or no coach is on record. "X" indicates an interim year without play.
3. Overtime rules in college football were introduced in 1996, making ties impossible in the period since.^[5]
4. When computing the win–loss percentage, a tie counts as half a win and half a loss.^[6]

References

1. "McM Logos". Retrieved July 9, 2024.
2. "Wally the War Hawk". McMurry University Athletics. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
3. "McMurry University Unifies Intercollegiate Athletics Joining Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in Fall 2024". McMurry University. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
4. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (2011). Bowl/All-Star Game Records (PDF). Indianapolis, Indiana: NCAA. pp. 5–10. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
5. Whiteside, Kelly (August 25, 2006). "Overtime system still excites coaches". USA Today. McLean, Virginia. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
6. Finder, Chuck (September 6, 1987). "Big plays help Paterno to 200th". The New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
7. "Ex-UK coach Mumme hired by Division III McMurry". Lexington Herald Leader. April 16, 2009. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
8. Nemec, Evan (November 12, 2018). "McMurry, head football coach part ways after 5 years". KTXS. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
9. Lilley, Quinton (December 6, 2018). "Cooper, Hardin-Simmons grad Jordan Neal hired as McMurry football coach". Abilene Reporter-News. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
10. "Wilford Moore Stadium". McMurry University Athletics. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
11. Rosado, Carlos (October 17, 2024). "McMurry vs. 5th Ranked Hardin-Simmons: The Most Anticipated Crosstown Showdown Ever". Big Country Sports. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
12. "Moore is only dual Hall-of-Famer for HSU and McMurry". Abilene Reporter-News.^{[dead link‍]}
13. "Versus The Nation". Hardin-Simmons University. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
14. "Sul Ross State Lobos Showcase Resilience in 93rd Battle of I-20 Rivalry Despite Loss to McMurry War Hawks". Big Bend Times. November 12, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
15. Hofeditz, Jordan (September 20, 2019). "McMurry football welcomes Sul Ross State in "Battle of I-20"". Abilene Reporter-News. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
16. "McMurry University Unifies Intercollegiate Athletics Joining Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in Fall 2024". McMurry University. Retrieved September 12, 2024.

External links

• Official website