Presbyterian Blue Hose football

For information on all Presbyterian College sports, see Presbyterian Blue Hose.

The Presbyterian Blue Hose football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Presbyterian College located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS); while Presbyterian is a full member of the Big South Conference, it plays football in the Pioneer Football League. Presbyterian's first football team was fielded in 1913. The team plays its home games at the 6,500 seat Bailey Memorial Stadium in Clinton, South Carolina. The Blue Hose were coached by Kevin Kelley, who was hired to lead the program on May 6, 2021,^[2] but who left at the end of the season. The current coach is Steve Englehart. The Blue Hose began a transition to non-scholarship football in 2017 and left Big South football after the 2019 season, while otherwise remaining a full Big South member. The Blue Hose football program played the 2020–21 season as an independent and joined the Pioneer League in July 2021 upon completion of its transition.

Presbyterian Blue Hose football
2024 Presbyterian Blue Hose football team
First season	1913; 112 years ago
Athletic director	Dee Nichols
Head coach	Steve Englehart 3rd season, 11–23 (.324)
Stadium	Bailey Memorial Stadium (capacity: 6,500)
Field surface	Grass
Location	Clinton, South Carolina
NCAA division	Division I FCS
Conference	Pioneer Football League
All-time record	509–481–35 (.514)
Bowl record	0–1 (.000)
Conference titles	1 (SAC, 2005)
Rivalries	Newberry Wolves (Bronze Derby)
Colors	Blue and garnet[1]
Website	GoBlueHose.com

History

The Presbyterian Blue Hose name originates from the blue stockings the players wore in the early 1900s.^[3]

Classifications

• 1938–1950: NCAA College Division
• 1951–1956: Unknown
• 1957–1969: NAIA
• 1970–1992: NAIA Division I
• 1993–2010: NCAA Division II
• 2011–present: NCAA Division I FCS

Conference memberships

• 1913–1920: Independent
• 1921–1941: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
• 1942–1945: Independent
• 1946–1964: South Carolina Little Three
• 1964–1972: Carolinas Conference
• 1973–1974: NAIA independent
• 1975–2006: South Atlantic Conference
• 2007: NCAA Division II Independent
• 2008–2019: Big South Conference
• 2020: Division I FCS Independent
• Presbyterian played the 2020–21 season in a scheduling agreement with the Pioneer Football League. It was not eligible for the conference title, but was eligible for individual awards and honors.
• 2021–present: Pioneer Football League

See also List of Presbyterian Blue Hose football seasons

Presbyterian vs. in-state NCAA Division I schools

School	Record	Percentage	Streak	First Meeting	Last Meeting
Charleston Southern	14–10	.583	Lost 2	1993	2016
Clemson	3–33–4	.125	Lost 15	1916	2010
Coastal Carolina	1–9	.100	Lost 9	2007	2016
Furman	13–42–1	.223	Won 1	1913	2014
South Carolina	3–12	.200	Lost 8	1915	1945
South Carolina State	0–2	.000	Lost 2	1989	1990
The Citadel	11–50–1	.185	Lost 12	1915	2010
Wofford	41–40–3	.506	Won 1	1914	2023
Presbyterian 85 – In-State NCAA Division I Schools 198 – Ties 9

Notable former players

• Justin Bethel, cornerback and special teams player for the New England Patriots
• Rock Ya-Sin, cornerback for the Las Vegas Raiders
• Bob Waters, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers^[4]

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division II

The Blue Hose made one appearances in the Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 0–1.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
2005	Second Round	Central Arkansas	L, 28–52

NAIA

The Blue Hose appeared in the NAIA playoffs two times. Their combined record was 2–2.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1979	Quarterfinals Semifinals	Saginaw Valley State Central State (OK)	W, 36–3 L, 6–28
1987	First Round Quarterfinals	Concord Pittsburg State	W, 57–0 L, 21–42

Bowl games

Presbyterian has participated in one bowl game, with the Blue Hose having a record of 0–1

Season	Coach	Bowl	Opponent	Result
1959	Frank Jones	Tangerine Bowl	Middle Tennessee	L 12–21

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of March 27, 2025.^[5]

2025	2026	2027
at Mercer	at Western Carolina	at Murray State
at Furman
Erksine
Bluefield