Southwestern College Moundbuilders
Encyclopedia
Southwestern College
athletic teams are known as the Moundbuilders (sometimes simply called the "Builders"). They participate in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
and the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
.
The school boasts the following accomplishments:
took over the programs in 1978, the teams have combined for 31 straight men’s KCAC
fall running championships 1980-2010. Friends University stopped the streak in 2011 under head coach Brad Peterson. while the men's track and field teams have produced 29 consecutive conference crowns 1983-2010. The women's track & field teams have followed suit with 16 consecutive KCAC Championships under Mike Kirkland
. Since 1978, the Moundbuilders have been awarded seven NAIA
National Champions in men’s cross country and track, 81 athletes have earned NAIA All-American status a total of 188 times, and 440 separate athletes have earned All-Conference.
national tournament a total of six times with the most recent appearance in 2006 under head coach Doug Hall. The team won the national championship in 1939 and placed third in 1937.
Southwestern shows an all-time record in Men's Basketball of 1246-1019 in its first 101 seasons of play. The school currently competes in the NAIA
as a Division II school at Stewart Field House (capacity: 1,000) on the Southwestern College campus
Brad Long
is often called Southwestern's most famous basketball player, but not for his play on the court at Southwestern. He is best known for his role in the 1986 film Hoosiers
where he played the character of team captain Buddy Walker.
The Southwestern College Moundbuilder football team began in 1903 with 9 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie under coach J. J. Thiel. Since then the Builders have posted three undefeated seasons: 1913, 1918, and 1967. There has never been a season of Southwestern College Football without at least one victory. As of the 2006 season, the program has produced 40 All-Americans, 12 conference championships, 4 national playoff appearances, and 4 bowl games.
The current head football coach is Ken Crandall
, who took over the program in 2007. His teams have compiled a record of 8 wins and 22 losses in his three seasons at Southwestern. Other coaches during the program's history include Art Kahler
, Harold Elliott
, and Dennis Franchione
.
ten times since 1929: 1964, 1967, 1968, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1997, 1998, and 1999.
s with an overall record of 2 wins and 2 losses.
In 1982, head coach Dennis Franchione
led the Moundbuilders to 9 wins and 2 losses, with a conference championship and a win in the Sunflower Bowl
. Charlie Cowdrey followed up the next year with an appearance in the Sunflower bowl, and then again in 1985.
1996 saw Southwestern post its second bowl victory in the Wheat Bowl
, defeating Baker University
28-20 under head coach Monty Lewis.
The legend of "The Jinx" began in the early 1900s. Celebrating an easy victory over arch-rival Fairmount College (now Wichita State University
), the students of Southwestern placed a tombstone on Southwestern's campus. The tombstone had a picture of a black cat and the final score of that season's game: 41-3. For the next 14 years the "jinxed" stone stood in defiance as the Moundbuilders won every game against Fairmount.
The players and student body of Fairmount took action. Students made several attempts to remove the stone but each time, the stone was rescued by Southwestern faculty and students.
Finally the Fairmount players sneaked down to Southwestern's campus and stole the tombstone. They then used dynamite
to blow it up in a nearby field. The next game all players for Fairmont kept a piece of the stone with them for luck. When that final measure failed to work and Southwestern once again won the game, The frustrated Fairmount players threw down their pieces of the "jinxed" stone and left the field.
According to several eyewitnesses, the Southwestern students picked up the broken pieces and hid them in various places around Southwestern's campus. Legend holds that the pieces still remain hidden throughout the campus.
Some points of the legend differ in facts. The game that began the run was under coach Fred H. Clapp
and was played on November 8, 1912 and it was only two years later on October 16, 1914 when head coach Willis Bates
would lead the Moudbuilders in a 20-0 home loss against Fairmont. However, the two schools played after that for nine games with Southwestern winning five times and the remaining four games ending in a tie. It would not be until Halloween
of 1925 when Fairmont College under the leadership of Sam H. Hill
would defeat Southwestern again.
Southwestern College (Kansas)
Southwestern College is a four-year private college affiliated with the United Methodist Church located in Winfield, Kansas, United States. It was founded in 1885 and graduated its first class in 1889. In addition to its campus programs, it offers online programs.-Academics:The main campus is a...
athletic teams are known as the Moundbuilders (sometimes simply called the "Builders"). They participate in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
and the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. It is commonly called "The Kansas Conference", and as the name implies, all members are located in Kansas...
.
Men's Sports
| Women's Sports
|
The school boasts the following accomplishments:
- 143 KCAC Championships in 10 different sports since 1960
- 15 NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes in 2005-06
- SC finished 77th out of nearly 300 NAIA institutions in the United States Sports Academy Directors Cup for all sports in 2006.
- Seven KCAC Championships this past year in Softball, Men's Golf, Men's and Women's Track, Men's Basketball, and Men's and Women's Cross Country.
- NAIA Region IV titles in Men's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Golf to advance to NAIA National competition.
- Men's Basketball won the KCAC Post-Season tournament and advanced to the National Tournament.
- Women's Track and Men's Track each had National Champions in 2004.
- An SC student-athlete was featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" in 2006.
- Women's Tennis and Women's Cross Country were NAIA Region IV runners-up in 2005-06.
- In excess of 170 NAIA All-America Scholar Athletes since 1981, an honor requiring a 3.5 GPA.
- Women's Basketball advanced to the "Sweet 16" of the 2004 NAIA National Tournament.
- Conference champions in football in 1997, 1998, 1999.
- Men's and Women's soccer teams advanced to the semi-finals in the 2003 KCAC Post-Season tournament.
Cross Country/Track & Field
Without a doubt, Southwestern College Athletics have experienced the most success in Track & Field and Cross Country. Since current head coach Jim HelmerJim Helmer (coach)
Jim Helmer is the Head Cross Country & Men's Track Coach at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. He has held the position since 1978 where he has achieved consistent success...
took over the programs in 1978, the teams have combined for 31 straight men’s KCAC
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. It is commonly called "The Kansas Conference", and as the name implies, all members are located in Kansas...
fall running championships 1980-2010. Friends University stopped the streak in 2011 under head coach Brad Peterson. while the men's track and field teams have produced 29 consecutive conference crowns 1983-2010. The women's track & field teams have followed suit with 16 consecutive KCAC Championships under Mike Kirkland
Mike Kirkland (coach)
Mike Kirkland is the Athletic director and Head Women's Track & Field Coach at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas.-Coaching Success:As of 2008, every team he has served as head coach has won its conference championship and 11 of his 12 years as a head coach he has been named KCAC Women's...
. Since 1978, the Moundbuilders have been awarded seven NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
National Champions in men’s cross country and track, 81 athletes have earned NAIA All-American status a total of 188 times, and 440 separate athletes have earned All-Conference.
Basketball (Men's)
Southwestern College Men's Basketball began in 1904 with a record of 5 wins and 3 losses. Since that time, Southwestern Men's Basketball has appeared in the NAIANational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
national tournament a total of six times with the most recent appearance in 2006 under head coach Doug Hall. The team won the national championship in 1939 and placed third in 1937.
Southwestern shows an all-time record in Men's Basketball of 1246-1019 in its first 101 seasons of play. The school currently competes in the NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
as a Division II school at Stewart Field House (capacity: 1,000) on the Southwestern College campus
Brad Long
Brad Long (actor)
Brad Long is a professional speaker and former actor. He is best known for his role in the 1986 film Hoosiers where he played the character of basketball team captain "Buddy" Walker, a role that he saw as much like himself....
is often called Southwestern's most famous basketball player, but not for his play on the court at Southwestern. He is best known for his role in the 1986 film Hoosiers
Hoosiers
Hoosiers is a 1986 sports film about a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that wins the state championship. It is loosely based on the Milan High School team that won the 1954 state championship....
where he played the character of team captain Buddy Walker.
Football
- For more information see 2010 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football season2010 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football seasonThe 2010 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football season is made up of 10 college athletic programs that compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for the 2010 college football season...
The Southwestern College Moundbuilder football team began in 1903 with 9 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie under coach J. J. Thiel. Since then the Builders have posted three undefeated seasons: 1913, 1918, and 1967. There has never been a season of Southwestern College Football without at least one victory. As of the 2006 season, the program has produced 40 All-Americans, 12 conference championships, 4 national playoff appearances, and 4 bowl games.
Coaches
The current head football coach is Ken Crandall
Ken Crandall
-External links:*...
, who took over the program in 2007. His teams have compiled a record of 8 wins and 22 losses in his three seasons at Southwestern. Other coaches during the program's history include Art Kahler
Art Kahler
Arthur D. Kahler was an American college football and basketball player and coach. He was listed in "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" as only person to coach at two different major colleges at the same time - head basketball coach at Brown University and football coach at Dickinson College in...
, Harold Elliott
Harold Elliott
Harold "Bud" Elliott was an American football coach. He served as the head coach at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas , Washburn University , Emporia State University , the University of Texas at Arlington , Northwest Missouri State University , and...
, and Dennis Franchione
Dennis Franchione
Dennis Wayne Franchione , also known as Coach Fran, is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Texas State University, a position he held from 1990 to 1991, when the school was known as Southwest Texas State University, and resumed in 2011...
.
Conference Championships
Southwestern football teams have won the Kansas Collegiate Athletic ConferenceKansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. It is commonly called "The Kansas Conference", and as the name implies, all members are located in Kansas...
ten times since 1929: 1964, 1967, 1968, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1997, 1998, and 1999.
Bowl games
Southwestern has participated in 4 bowl gameBowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
s with an overall record of 2 wins and 2 losses.
In 1982, head coach Dennis Franchione
Dennis Franchione
Dennis Wayne Franchione , also known as Coach Fran, is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Texas State University, a position he held from 1990 to 1991, when the school was known as Southwest Texas State University, and resumed in 2011...
led the Moundbuilders to 9 wins and 2 losses, with a conference championship and a win in the Sunflower Bowl
Sunflower Bowl
The Sunflower Bowl was a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics post-season college football bowl game played in Winfield, Kansas from 1982 to 1986.-Game results:...
. Charlie Cowdrey followed up the next year with an appearance in the Sunflower bowl, and then again in 1985.
1996 saw Southwestern post its second bowl victory in the Wheat Bowl
Wheat Bowl
The Wheat Bowl was the only National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics endorsed Pre-Season bowl game that operated from 1995 until 2006. The Wheat Bowl Football Classic was headquartered in the Central Kansas town of Ellinwood and was played in nearby Great Bend annually as the kickoff for...
, defeating Baker University
Baker University
Baker University is a private, residential university located in Baldwin City, Kansas, United States. Founded in 1858, it is the oldest university in Kansas and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Baker University is made up of four schools...
28-20 under head coach Monty Lewis.
| Date | Result | Bowl | Opponent | Score | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | W | Sunflower Bowl Sunflower Bowl The Sunflower Bowl was a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics post-season college football bowl game played in Winfield, Kansas from 1982 to 1986.-Game results:... |
Oklahoma Panhandle State University Oklahoma Panhandle State University Oklahoma Panhandle State University is a university in Goodwell, Oklahoma. OPSU is a baccalaureate degree granting institution. General governance of the institution is provided by the Board of Regents of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges... |
15 - 0 | Dennis Franchione Dennis Franchione Dennis Wayne Franchione , also known as Coach Fran, is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Texas State University, a position he held from 1990 to 1991, when the school was known as Southwest Texas State University, and resumed in 2011... |
| 1983 | L | Sunflower Bowl Sunflower Bowl The Sunflower Bowl was a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics post-season college football bowl game played in Winfield, Kansas from 1982 to 1986.-Game results:... |
Missouri Valley College Missouri Valley College Missouri Valley College is a private, four-year liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . The campus is in Marshall, Missouri.The college was founded in 1889 and supports 27 academic majors and an enrollment close to 1,800 students... |
21 - 51 | Charlie Cowdrey Charlie Cowdrey Charles E. "Charlie" Cowdrey was an American football coach. Cowdrey served as a head high school coach for nine years, head coach at Fort Scott Community College for three years, assistant coach at University of Missouri for eight years, head coach at Illinois State University for four years,... |
| 1985 | L | Sunflower Bowl Sunflower Bowl The Sunflower Bowl was a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics post-season college football bowl game played in Winfield, Kansas from 1982 to 1986.-Game results:... |
Baker University Baker University Baker University is a private, residential university located in Baldwin City, Kansas, United States. Founded in 1858, it is the oldest university in Kansas and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Baker University is made up of four schools... |
0 - 29 | Charlie Cowdrey Charlie Cowdrey Charles E. "Charlie" Cowdrey was an American football coach. Cowdrey served as a head high school coach for nine years, head coach at Fort Scott Community College for three years, assistant coach at University of Missouri for eight years, head coach at Illinois State University for four years,... |
| 1996 | W | Wheat Bowl Wheat Bowl The Wheat Bowl was the only National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics endorsed Pre-Season bowl game that operated from 1995 until 2006. The Wheat Bowl Football Classic was headquartered in the Central Kansas town of Ellinwood and was played in nearby Great Bend annually as the kickoff for... |
Baker University Baker University Baker University is a private, residential university located in Baldwin City, Kansas, United States. Founded in 1858, it is the oldest university in Kansas and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Baker University is made up of four schools... |
28 - 20 | Monty Lewis |
Moundbuilders
Southwestern College athletic teams are known as the "Moundbuilders." Since 1927, a ceremony has been repeated every September as the student's assemble at Southwestern. Each student and faculty member, as well as clubs and organizations, place one stone. Often, the rocks are carved or painted to represent the person or organization placing the rock.The Jinx
The mascot of Southwestern College teams is the "Jinx" -- a black cat. Typically a student is dressed in the costume of a black cat for games.The legend of "The Jinx" began in the early 1900s. Celebrating an easy victory over arch-rival Fairmount College (now Wichita State University
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
), the students of Southwestern placed a tombstone on Southwestern's campus. The tombstone had a picture of a black cat and the final score of that season's game: 41-3. For the next 14 years the "jinxed" stone stood in defiance as the Moundbuilders won every game against Fairmount.
The players and student body of Fairmount took action. Students made several attempts to remove the stone but each time, the stone was rescued by Southwestern faculty and students.
Finally the Fairmount players sneaked down to Southwestern's campus and stole the tombstone. They then used dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
to blow it up in a nearby field. The next game all players for Fairmont kept a piece of the stone with them for luck. When that final measure failed to work and Southwestern once again won the game, The frustrated Fairmount players threw down their pieces of the "jinxed" stone and left the field.
According to several eyewitnesses, the Southwestern students picked up the broken pieces and hid them in various places around Southwestern's campus. Legend holds that the pieces still remain hidden throughout the campus.
Some points of the legend differ in facts. The game that began the run was under coach Fred H. Clapp
Fred Clapp
-Football:Clapp the fifth football head coach for the Southwestern College Moundbuilders in Winfield, Kansas and held that position 5 years, from 1909 to 1913. His overall coaching record at Southwestern was 24 wins, 11 losses, and 6 ties...
and was played on November 8, 1912 and it was only two years later on October 16, 1914 when head coach Willis Bates
Willis Bates
Willis S. "Billy" Bates was an American football and basketball coach. He served as the head football coach at Auburn University , Fairmount College—now Wichita State University , and Southwestern College in Kansas , compiling a career record of 84–52–12...
would lead the Moudbuilders in a 20-0 home loss against Fairmont. However, the two schools played after that for nine games with Southwestern winning five times and the remaining four games ending in a tie. It would not be until Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
of 1925 when Fairmont College under the leadership of Sam H. Hill
Sam H. Hill
-Wichita State:Hill was the 14th head college football coach for Fairmont College and the University of Wichita located in Wichita, Kansas and he held that position for four seasons, from 1923 until 1924 and again from 1928 until 1929. Fairmount College became the Municipal University of Wichita...
would defeat Southwestern again.
Players/coaches in professional sports and/or collegiate coaching
- Vic BaltzellVic BaltzellVictor Leroy Baltzell was an American football fullback in the National Football League for the Boston Redskins. He played college football for the Southwestern College Moundbuilders in Winfield, Kansas....
, linebacker for the Boston RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in 1935 - Jerry KillJerry KillJerry Kill is the head football coach at the University of Minnesota. Before assuming this position with the Golden Gophers in December 2010, Kill served as the head coach at Saginaw Valley State University , Emporia State University , Southern Illinois University Carbondale , and Northern...
, current head coach for University of MinnesotaUniversity of MinnesotaThe University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557... - Jay Mack LoveJay Mack Love-External links:...
member of the National Champion 1904 Michigan Wolverines football team1904 Michigan Wolverines football teamThe 1904 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1904 college football season. In the team's fourth season under head coach Fielding H. Yost, the Wolverines compiled a perfect 10–0 record and outscored opponents 567–22. The 1904 team was the fourth of Yost's...