2003 Carroll Fighting Saints football
NAIA national champion
Frontier champion
ConferenceFrontier Conference
Record15–0 (8–0 Frontier)
Head coach
Home stadiumNelson Stadium
Seasons
← 2002
2004 →
2003 Frontier Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 1 Carroll (MT) $^   8 – 0     15 – 0  
No. 24 Montana Western   6 – 2     7 – 4  
Montana Tech   3 – 5     3 – 8  
Rocky Mountain   2 – 6     2 – 8  
MSU Northern   1 – 7     1 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll

The 2003 Carroll Fighting Saints football team was an American football team that represented Carroll College as a member of the Frontier Conference during the 2003 NAIA football season. In their fifth season under head coach Mike Van Diest, the Saints compiled a perfect 15–0 record (8–0 against conference opponents) and won the NAIA national championship, defeating Northwestern Oklahoma State, 41–28, in the NAIA National Championship Game.[1]

Carroll's sophomore quarterback Tyler Emmert received the 2003 NAIA Football Player of the Year Award. In 2003, Carroll's offense under Emmert averaged more than 40 points and approximately 500 yards per game.[2]

The team played its home games at Nelson Stadium in Helena, Montana.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 29at Central Washington*Ellensburg, WAW 38–28
September 6at Montana TechButte, MTW 19–16
September 13Montana Western
W 36–103,546
September 20University of Calgary*
  • Nelson Stadium
  • Helena, MT
W 54–0
September 27Rocky Mountain
  • Nelson Stadium
  • Helena, MT
W 56–63,813
October 4at MSU NorthernHavre, MTW 58–17
October 11at Montana WesternDillon, MTW 34–21
October 25Eastern Oregon*
  • Nelson Stadium
  • Helena, MT
W 59–7
November 1MSU Northern
  • Nelson Stadium
  • Helena, MT
W 57–0
November 8at Rocky MountainBillings, MTW 50–21
November 15Montana Tech
  • Nelson Stadium
  • Helena, MT
W 45–7
November 22McKendree*
  • Nelson Stadium
  • Helena, MT
W 40–73,021
November 29University of Mary*
  • Nelson Stadium
  • Helena, MT
W 49–73,853
December 6Saint Francis (IN)*
  • Nelson Stadium
  • Helena, MT
W 38–145,021[3]
December 20vs. Northwestern Oklahoma State*
W 41–28[4][5]
  • *Non-conference game

References

  1. ^ "2003 Football Schedule". Carroll College. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  2. ^ Scott Mansch (December 20, 2003). "Carroll QB Emmert named NAIA's top player". Great Falls Tribune. p. 3S – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "They'll be back". The Independent Record. December 7, 2003. p. 13.
  4. ^ "NAIA championship up for grabs". The Jackson Sun. December 20, 2003. p. B1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Colin Fly (December 21, 2003). "Emmert leads Carroll to another NAIA title". The Bismarck Tribune. p. 5D – via Newspapers.com.
Categories