Mississippi College Choctaws football

History

The first year of the team was in 1907. The 1921 team was led by College Football Hall of Fame inductee Edwin "Goat" Hale.

The team won the Division II National Championship in 1989, however, Mississippi College's football tournament participation, along with its NCAA Division II national football championship, were vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions for recruiting violations.

On November 18, 2024, the Mississippi College Board of Trustees renamed the college as Mississippi Christian University, and approved dissolving the football program following the 2024 season.

Facilities

Robinson-Hale Stadium, a 8,500-capacity stadium located in Clinton, Mississippi, is home to the Mississippi College Choctaws football team.

The stadium was built in 1985 and named after two significant contributors to the program, Stanley L. Robinson, who coached the team from 1920 to 1923 and again from 1928 to 1953, and Edwin Hale, who played for the Choctaws between 1915 and 1921 and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The first game at the stadium was played October 12, 1985. The Choctaws defeated Jacksonville State, 50–3.

Prior to the 2005 season, the stadium saw major renovations that included the installation of a state-of-the art synthetic playing surface. A running track, the James E. Parkman Track, was added in 2006. In 2011, the entrance got renovated with a new "Circle of Champions" entrance. The turf at the stadium was upgraded in 2015.

Postseason appearances

NCAA Division II

The Choctaws have four appearances in the NCAA Division II football playoffs, with a combined record of 4–4. This total does not include a vacated national championship in 1989, which included one additional appearance and a 4–0 record.

NCAA Division III

The Choctaws made one appearance in the NCAA Division III football playoffs, with a combined record of 1–1.

Program achievements

References

References

1. (November 18, 2024). "Important Message from Mississippi College". Mississippi College.
2. (2015-07-09). "Choctaws Football Record Book".
3. (1963-11-23). "The Official Site of Mississippi College Choctaws - History of Mississippi College Athletics". Gochoctaws.com.
4. (1983-03-25). ["Edwin Hale"]({{College Football HoF/url). Footballfoundation.org.
5. (2024-11-18). "Mississippi College changing name, shuttering football program".
6. (January 27, 2015). "Six home games highlight Mississippi College 2015 football schedule". WLBT.
7. (June 19, 2017). "Mississippi College releases 2017 football schedule". WLBT.
8. Lightsey, Dick. (August 15, 1985). "Budget deficit may have caused Bellard's enthusiasm". [[Sun Herald]].
9. "Stanley L. "Robbie" Robinson".
10. "E.W. Hale".
11. (September 2019). "2013 Mississippi College Football Media Guide".
12. Baker, Lee. (August 25, 1985). "Choctaws need depth, QB to show off in new stadium". [[The Clarion-Ledger]].
13. "James E. Parkman Track".
14. (May 25, 2011). "Fans Cheer Robinson-Hale Stadium Renovation Plans". Mississippi College.
15. (July 20, 2015). "Turf project underway at Robinson-Hale Stadium". WLBT.
16. (August 18, 2015). "MC stadium getting new turf". The Clinton Courier.