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Northern Colorado Bears
2023 Northern Colorado Bears football team
First season1893; 131 years ago (1893)[1]
Head coachEd Lamb[2]
1st season, 0–11 (.000)
StadiumNottingham Field
(capacity: 8,533[3])
LocationGreeley, Colorado
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
All-time record428–452–27 (.487)
Claimed national titles2 (D-II)
(1996, 1997)[1]
Conference titles12 (D-II)
RMAC - 4
GPAC - 3
NCC - 5 [1]
RivalriesColorado State
Wyoming
Western Colorado
Colorado School of Mines
North Dakota
Montana State
Portland State
ColorsBlue and gold[4]
   
Websiteuncbears.com

The Northern Colorado Bears football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Northern Colorado located in Greeley, Colorado. The team competes in the Big Sky Conference[5] at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. The university's first football team was fielded in 1893.[6] The team plays its home games at the 8,533 seat[3] Nottingham Field on campus. The Bears announced the hiring of Ed Lamb on December 6, 2022,[7] replacing Ed McCaffrey, who went 6–16 in two seasons.[8]

Conference affiliations

Below is the list of conferences in which Northern Colorado has been a member.[1]

Championships

National championships

Northern Colorado made two appearances in the NCAA Division II National Championship Game. The Bears defeated Carson–Newman, 23–14 in 1996, and later defeated New Haven, 51–0 in 1997.

Year NCAA Division Coach Record National Championship Game Opponent Result Location
1996 II Joe Glenn 12–3 1996 Division II National Championship Carson–Newman W 23–14 Florence, AL
1997 II Joe Glenn 13–2 1997 Division II National Championship New Haven W 51–0 Florence, AL

Conference championships

Year Coach Conference Overall record Conference record
1934† John W. Hancock Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference 6–1 6–1
1948 4–4 3–0
1969 Bob Blasi 10–0 5–0
1971 8–1–1 5–0
1973† Great Plains Athletic Conference 7–2 4–1
1974 8–1 5–0
1975 8–1 5–0
1980 North Central Conference 7–4 6–1
1997† Joe Glenn 13–2 8–1
1998† 11–2 8–1
1999† 11–2 8–1
2002 Kay Dalton 12–2 8–0
Conference Championships 12

† Co-champions

Division championships

Year Coach Division championship Opponent CG result
1969 Bob Blasi RMAC Plains Adams State W 33–14
1970† N/A lost tiebreaker to Pittsburg State
1971 Western State W 25–15
Division Championships 3

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division II

The Bears appeared in the Division II playoffs nine times with an overall record of 12–7.[1]

Year Round Opponent Result
1980 First Round
 Eastern Illinois
 L 14–21
1990 First Round
 North Dakota State
 L 7–17
1991 First Round
 Portland State
 L 24–28
1995 First Round
 Pittsburg State
 L 17–36
1996 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		 Pittsburg State
NW Missouri State
Clarion
Carson-Newman		 W 24–21
W 27–26
W 19–18
W 23–14
1997 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		 Pittsburg State
NW Missouri State
Carson-Newman
New Haven		 W 24–16
W 35–19
W 30–29
W 51–0
1998 First Round
Quarterfinals		 North Dakota
NW Missouri State		 W 52–28
L 17–42
1999 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Pittsburg State
NW Missouri State		 W 34–31
L 35–41
2002 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 Central Missouri State
NW Missouri State
Grand Valley		 W 49–28
W 23–12
L 7–44

Attendance

Highest attendance

Below is a list of the Bears best-attended home games at Nottingham Field.[1]

Rk. Date Opponent Attendance
Highest attendance
1 October 1, 2005 Cal Poly 9,145
2 October 29, 2005 Fort Lewis 8,561
3 October 2, 2010 Montana 8,105
4 September 3, 2005 Colorado School of Mines 7,554
5 October 23, 1998 South Dakota 7,520
6 October 9, 1999 Nebraska-Omaha 7,499
7 November 21, 1998 North Dakota 7,312
8 September 20, 1998 Texas State 7,246
9 October 19, 2002 South Dakota 7,198
10 October 10, 1998 South Dakota 7,135

As of the 2014 season.

Yearly attendance

Source:[1]

Below is the Bears home attendance by season at Nottingham Field.

Season Total Average High
Northern Colorado Bears
2018 25,293 4,215 5,672
2017 21,917 4,383 5,378
2016 24,477 4,895 5,476
2015 25,612 4,269 5,205
2014 21,037 4,207 6,348
2013 23,990 3,998 4,619
2012 21,240 4,248 5,136
2011 23,428 3,905 5,692
2010 27,919 5,584 8,105
2009 21,111 3,518 5,247
2008 21,676 4,355 7,246
2007 20,441 4,088 6,684
2006 28,857 6,219 4,810
2005 37,549 7,510 9,142
2004 27,370 4,562 6,481
2003 28,730 5,746 6,660
2002 34,898 5,816 7,198
2001 26,153 4,359 5,488
2000 29,162 6,352 4,860
1999 46,552 6,650 7,520
1998 40,690 5,813 7,312
1997 25,302 4,217 6,345
1996 27,282 4,547 6,318
1995 25,067 4,364 7,024

As of the 2015 season.

Notable former players

Notable alumni include:

Move to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)

Since moving to the Big Sky Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in 2006, the Bears have struggled. Through the 2023 season, their conference record is 28–111 (.201), [9] and they have yet to make the FCS playoffs.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Northern Colorado Record Book" (PDF). Northern Colorado Bears Athletics. December 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  2. ^ "Big Sky Champion ed Lamb Named Head Football Coach at Northern Colorado".
  3. ^ a b "Gameday at Northern Colorado". University of Northern Colorado. Retrieved September 4, 2015. Stadium Capacity: 8,533
  4. ^ UNC Style Guide (PDF). March 1, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  5. ^ "Member Institutions". Big Sky Conference. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  6. ^ "Northern Colorado Football Weekly Release, September 5, 2015" (PDF). University of Northern Colorado Athletics. p. 2. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  7. ^ "Big Sky Champion Ed Lamb named Head Football Coach at Northern Colorado". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  8. ^ "McCaffrey will not return as Northern Colorado head football coach". Northern Colorado Bears. November 21, 2022.
  9. ^ "2023 Football Schedule".

External links

Northern Colorado Bears football
University of Northern Colorado
Big Sky Conference football
Categories