UNC Pembroke Braves football

UNC Pembroke Braves
First season 2007
Athletic director Dick Christy
Head coach Shane Richardson
3rd year, – 
Stadium Grace P. Johnson Stadium
Seating capacity 4,000
Field surface Grass
Location Pembroke, North Carolina
Conference Division II Independent
All-time record 52–32 (.619)
Bowl record 0–0–0 (–)
Colors Black and Gold
         
Website UNC Pembroke Braves Football

The UNC Pembroke Braves football team represents the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in the NCAA Division II, competing as a Division II Independent. Pembroke plays its home games at the 4,000 seat Grace P. Johnson Stadium at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Field, which is located on-campus in Pembroke, North Carolina. Although only fielding a modern team since the 2007 season, Pembroke previously fielded teams between the 1946 and 1950 seasons as Pembroke State.[1]

History

Pembroke State fielded their first team in 1946.[2] Having played only five games in the inaugural season, James Sampson served as head coach.[2] Sampson served as head coach through the termination of the football program following the 1950 season.

Without sanctioned football since the 1950 season, on December 1, 2004, the UNC Pembroke Board of Trustees voted unanimously to proceed with the development of a football program to begin play by the 2007 season.[3] With stadium expansion complete by summer 2005, Pembroke announced the hiring of Pete Shinnick as the reinstated program's head coach on December 13, 2005.[4] With the team in place, the Braves lost their inaugural game on the road to the Davidson Wildcats 31–21 on September 1,[5] and notched their first win in their first home game after they defeated Greensboro College 26–20 on September 8 en route to completing the 2007 campaign with a 4–7 record.[6]

Pembroke improved upon their 2007 record through and finished the 2008 season with a record of 9–1. The 2008 squad featured a defense that lead all of Division II in scoring defense that only allowed 11.20 points per game; was second in total defense with 226.60 yards per game; and was fourth in rushing defense with 71.60 yards per game.[7]

Seasons

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
UNC Pembroke Braves (Independent) (2007–Present)
2007 Pete Shinnick 4–7
2008 Pete Shinnick 9–1
2009 Pete Shinnick 9–2 L 41–13 vs. Arkansas Tech (Division II First Round)
2010 Pete Shinnick 5–5
2011 Pete Shinnick 8–3
2012 Pete Shinnick 6–4
2013 Pete Shinnick 9–2 L 37–13 vs. North Alabama (Division II Second Round)
2014 Shane Richardson 2–8
Total: 52–32
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title
†Indicates Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, BCS, or CFP / New Years' Six bowl.
#Rankings from final Coaches Poll.

Rivalries

While Pembroke is not a football member of a particular conference, they do share a rivalry with geographically close schools, such as the Fayetteville State University and Wingate University.

Fayetteville State and Pembroke are separated by only 47 miles, with the rivalry named for the Lumber River near Pembroke and the Cape Fear River near Fayetteville, NC. Both schools square off for bragging rights, as many of the players on both teams come from the surrounding Robeson, Cumberland, Richmond, Scotland, Hoke and Moore counties.[8]

One of Pembroke's first games in 2007 was against Wingate, and they have played every year since. With both schools located just off of US-74, and a little over 80 miles apart, these two schools have experienced an close rivalry over the past years.

 Primary UNCP Football Rivalries: All-Time Records
Name of Rivalry Rival Games Played First Meeting Last Meeting UNCP Won UNCP Lost Ties Streak Latest win
Two Rivers Classic Fayetteville State Broncos 4 2009 2012 4 0 0 4 wins 2012, 31-21
Battle for 74 Wingate Bulldogs 6 2007 2012 2 4 0 1 win 2012, 49-35
Totals 10 6 4 0

References

  1. ↑ McGhee, Khary K. (January 22, 2005). "Revitalization project". The Fayetteville Observer.
  2. 1 2 The Indianhead. Digital North Carolina Library. 1947. pp. 39–40. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  3. ↑ McGhee, Khary K. (December 2, 2004). "Football returns to UNCP". The Fayetteville Observer.
  4. ↑ Pope, Tomas (December 14, 2005). "Braves hire Shinnick as coach". The Fayetteville Observer.
  5. ↑ Friedlander, Brett (September 6, 2007). "Time to celebrate at UNCP". The Fayetteville Observer.
  6. ↑ Graff, Michael N. (September 9, 2007). "Home, sweet home: Braves win". The Fayetteville Observer.
  7. ↑ NCAA. "UNC Pembroke Football Ranking Summary". Retrieved December 28, 2008.
  8. ↑ http://robesonian.com/view/full_story/20063709/article-Braves-gear-up-for-fourth--Classic--against-Broncos
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