Shepherd Rams football team
| Shepherd Rams | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| First season | 1920 | ||
| Athletic director | Chauncey Winbush | ||
| Head coach | Ernie McCook 8th season, 59–18 (.766) | ||
| Stadium | Ram Stadium (capacity: 5,000) | ||
| Field surface | Fieldturf | ||
| Location | Shepherdstown, West Virginia | ||
| NCAA division | Division II | ||
| Conference | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference[1] | ||
| Division | East | ||
| Past conferences | WVIAC (1925–2012) MEC (2013-2018) | ||
| All-time record | 560–339–26 (.619) | ||
| National finalist | 1 (2015) | ||
| Playoff appearances | 19 1983,1986,1991,1992,1998 1999,2005,2006,2007,2010 2012,2013,2015,2016,2017 2019,2021,2022,2023[2] | ||
| Playoff record | (Div. II): 20-15 (NAIA): 1-4 | ||
| Conference titles | 22 1955,1972,1982,1983 1986 1988,1991,1992,1994,1997 1998,1999,2004,2005,2006 2007,2010,2012,2013,2015 2016,2017 | ||
| Division titles | 5 1976,1977,1978,1980,2022 | ||
| Rivalries | Frostburg State[3] Shippensburg | ||
| Colors | Blue and gold[4] | ||
| Marching band | RAM Band | ||
| Outfitter | Under Armour | ||
| Website | Shepherd Rams football | ||
The Shepherd Rams football program represents Shepherd University in college football at the NCAA Division II level in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Shepherd has played its home games at Ram Stadium since 1959.[5]
History
Monte Cater era
Monte Cater served as the head football coach at Shepherd University from 1987 to 2017, becoming the winningest coach in both Shepherd and West Virginia college football history. Over his 31 seasons at the helm, Cater compiled a record of 245–93–1, leading the Rams to 17 conference championships and 13 postseason appearances.[6]
Before Cater’s arrival, Shepherd had made the postseason only a handful of times. In 1983, the Rams reached the playoffs for the first time in school history, losing to Carson–Newman 42–21 in the opening round of the NAIA playoffs. They returned to the postseason in 1986 and again fell to Carson–Newman, 30–10. In 1991, Shepherd advanced to the playoffs and lost to Central State 34–22. The Rams finally earned their first-ever postseason win in 1992, defeating Carson–Newman 6–3 before falling to Gardner–Webb 22–7 in the next round.[7]
Under Cater’s leadership, Shepherd became a dominant program in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC), winning 12 conference titles. When the university transitioned to the newly formed Mountain East Conference (MEC) in 2013, Cater continued the program’s success, capturing four MEC championships in five seasons.
One of the hallmark seasons of Cater’s tenure came in 2015, when Shepherd went 13–1 and reached the NCAA Division II Football Championship game for the first time in program history, ultimately falling to Northwest Missouri State.[8]
On December 5, 2015 with a win over Slippery Rock in the Super 1 Region Final, Cater achieved his 250th victory as a college football coach. [9]
On January 24, 2018 Cater announced his retirement after 31 seasons at Shepherd. He was replaced by longtime assistant Ernie McCook. Cater had been the active wins leader in all levels of college football with 274 career victories. Cater led Shepherd to 13 post season trips, 2 NAIA and 11 NCAA DII. 3 NCAA DII semifinal appearances (2010, 2015 & 2016) and a national championship game appearance in 2015.
Moving to the PSAC
On May 31, 2018, Shepherd University accepted an invitation to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference as a full-time member, with competition beginning in the 2019–20 academic year. The move came after the PSAC Board of Directors approved the university’s admission, expanding the conference’s membership and strengthening its footprint in the Mid-Atlantic region.
“We are pleased to welcome the Shepherd Rams to the PSAC family of institutions,” said PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray. “Shepherd University brings with it an outstanding athletic and academic tradition, along with a perfect geographic fit for the conference. We’ve made the PSAC even stronger today.”
Shepherd’s addition followed the departure of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, which exited NCAA Division II competition after the 2017–18 season. With Shepherd’s arrival, the PSAC maintained its 18-member structure heading into 2019. The Rams joined the PSAC Eastern Division, aligning them with Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth University-Lock Haven, Commonwealth University-Mansfield, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, and West Chester University. [10]
Ernie McCook era
The current head coach is Ernie McCook, a 1992 graduate of Wesley College. McCook was elevated to head coach after the retirement of longtime coach Monte Cater.[11] McCook previously served as offensive line coach at Shepherd from 1999 to 2008 and was also the offensive coordinator starting in 2000. McCook was elevated to assistant head coach in 2007. He spent the 2009 season as running game coordinator/tight ends coach at Liberty University, before returning to Shepherd the next season, where he served as assistant head coach/offensive coordinator for the next seven years.
After the 2021 football season, Junior QB Tyson Bagent won the Harlon Hill Trophy for most outstanding Division II player, the first Shepherd player to win the award.[12][13]
Head coaches
| Coach | Tenure |
|---|---|
| A. D. Kenamond | 1920 |
| Withrow Legge | 1921-1924 |
| John Newcome | 1925-1941 |
| Cletus Lowe | 1946-1947 |
| Don Phillips | 1948-1950 |
| William Moore | 1951-1952 |
| Donald E. Fuoss | 1953-1955 |
| Jesse Riggleman | 1956-1966 |
| Roger Parker | 1967-1970 |
| Walter Barr | 1971-1985 |
| Mike Jacobs | 1986 |
| Monte Cater | 1987-2017 |
| Ernie McCook | 2018-present |
Conference affiliation
- Independent (1920-1924)
- West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1925-2012)
- Mountain East Conference (2013-2018)
- Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (2019-present)
Championships
Conference championships
Shepherd claims 22 conference championships[16]
| Year | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | WVIAC | Donald E. Fuoss | 8-0 | 4-0 |
| 1972 | WVIAC | Walter Barr | 7-3 | 5-0 |
| 1982 | WVIAC | Walter Barr | 7-2-1 | 7-1 |
| 1983 | WVIAC | Walter Barr | 9-2 | 8-0 |
| 1986 | WVIAC | Mike Jacobs | 8-3 | 7-0 |
| 1988† | WVIAC | Monte Cater | 6-4 | 6-1 |
| 1991 | WVIAC | Monte Cater | 8-3 | 7-0 |
| 1992 | WVIAC | Monte Cater | 9-3 | 7-0 |
| 1994† | WVIAC | Monte Cater | 6-4 | 5-1 |
| 1997† | WVIAC | Monte Cater | 9-1 | 6-0 |
| 1998 | WVIAC | Monte Cater | 10-2 | 7-0 |
| 1999 | WVIAC | Monte Cater | 9-2 | 6-0 |
| 2004 | WVIAC | Monte Cater | 7-3 | 7-0 |
| 2005 | WVIAC | Monte Cater | 11-1 | 8-0 |
| 2006 | WVIAC | Monte Cater | 11-1 | 7-0 |
| 2007 | WVIAC | Monte Cater | 10-2 | 7-1 |
| 2010 | WVIAC | Monte Cater | 12-2 | 7-1 |
| 2012 | WVIAC | Monte Cater | 8-3 | 7-1 |
| 2013 | Mountain East Conference | Monte Cater | 11-1 | 9-0 |
| 2015 | Mountain East Conference | Monte Cater | 13-1 | 10-0 |
| 2016 | Mountain East Conference | Monte Cater | 13-1 | 10-0 |
| 2017 | Mountain East Conference | Monte Cater | 10-1 | 10-0 |
† Co-champions
Division championships
| Year | Division | Coach | CG Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | WVIAC Northern | Walter Barr | Concord | L 7-21 |
| 1977† | WVIAC Northern | Walter Barr | N/A lost tiebreaker to West Virginia Wesleyan | |
| 1978 | WVIAC Northern | Walter Barr | Concord | L 14-35 |
| 1980† | WVIAC Northern | Walter Barr | Concord | L 0-19 |
| 2022 | PSAC East | Ernie McCook | Indiana (PA) | L 21-24 |
† Co-champions
Awards and honors
National awards
| Year | Player | Class | Position | Date awarded | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Tyson Bagent | JR | QB | January 14, 2022 | [17] |
Seasons
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Final ranking# | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shepherd Rams (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1925–1955) | |||||||||
| 1955 | Shepherd | 8-0 | 4-0 | 1st | |||||
| Shepherd Rams (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NAIA) (1956–1994) | |||||||||
| 1956 | Shepherd | 6-2 | 4-1 | 3rd | |||||
| 1957 | Shepherd | 3-4 | 2-2 | 6th | |||||
| 1958 | Shepherd | 5-2-1 | 4-0-1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1959 | Shepherd | 4-4 | 3-2 | 2nd (Eastern) | |||||
| 1960 | Shepherd | 5-3 | 2-2 | T-4th (Eastern) | |||||
| 1961 | Shepherd | 5-2 | 1-2 | — | |||||
| 1962 | Shepherd | 7-1-1 | 1-1-2 | 2nd (Eastern) | |||||
| 1963 | Shepherd | 7-1-1 | 2-1-1 | 2nd (Eastern) | |||||
| 1964 | Shepherd | 3-5 | 2-2 | 6th | |||||
| 1965 | Shepherd | 2-5 | 0-3 | — | |||||
| 1966 | Shepherd | 1-8 | 0-4 | 10th | |||||
| 1967 | Shepherd | 3-5 | 1-1 | — | |||||
| 1968 | Shepherd | 2-7 | 0-3 | 10th | |||||
| 1969 | Shepherd | 6-4 | 1-3 | 7th | |||||
| 1970 | Shepherd | 5-5 | 2-2 | 5th | |||||
| 1971 | Shepherd | 7-1-2 | 3-1-2 | 5th | |||||
| 1972 | Shepherd | 7-3 | 5-0 | 1st | |||||
| 1973 | Shepherd | 6-4 | 4-2 | 4th (Northern) | |||||
| 1974 | Shepherd | 2-9 | 1-6 | 4th (Northern) | |||||
| 1975 | Shepherd | 8-3 | 5-2 | 2nd (Northern) | |||||
| 1976 | Shepherd | 10-2 | 4-0 | 1st (Nothern) | 5 | ||||
| 1977 | Shepherd | 6-4 | 3-1 | T-1st (Northern) | |||||
| 1978 | Shepherd | 7-4 | 6-3 | T-1st (Northern) | |||||
| 1979 | Shepherd | 5-5 | 5-4 | 4th (Northern) | |||||
| 1980 | Shepherd | 7-3-1 | 6-2-1 | 1st (Northern) | 19 | ||||
| 1981 | Shepherd | 7-2 | 6-2 | 2nd | 16 | ||||
| 1982 | Shepherd | 7-2-1 | 7-1 | 1st | 10 | ||||
| 1983 | Shepherd | 9-2 | 8-0 | 1st | L NAIA Division I Quarterfinal | 5 | |||
| 1984 | Shepherd | 7-3 | 6-2 | 2nd | 16 | ||||
| 1985 | Shepherd | 5-5 | 5-2 | T-2nd | |||||
| 1986 | Shepherd | 8-3 | 7-0 | 1st | L NAIA Division I Quarterfinal | 7 | |||
| 1987 | Shepherd | 4–6 | 3–4 | T–4th | |||||
| 1988 | Shepherd | 6–4 | 6–1 | T–1st | 19 | ||||
| 1989 | Shepherd | 3–7 | 2–4 | T–5th | |||||
| 1990 | Shepherd | 6–3–1 | 4–1–1 | T–2nd | 11 | ||||
| 1991 | Shepherd | 8–3 | 7–0 | 1st | L NAIA Division I Quarterfinal | 6 | |||
| 1992 | Shepherd | 9–3 | 7–0 | 1st | L NAIA Division I Semifinal | 6 | |||
| 1993 | Shepherd | 5–5 | 5–2 | T–2nd | |||||
| 1994 | Shepherd | 6–4 | 5–1 | T–1st | 10 | ||||
| Shepherd Rams (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Div II) (1995–2012) | |||||||||
| 1995 | Shepherd | 3–7 | 3–4 | 5th | |||||
| 1996 | Shepherd | 7–3 | 5–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1997 | Shepherd | 9–1 | 6–1 | T–1st | |||||
| 1998 | Shepherd | 10–2 | 7–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal | 13 | |||
| 1999 | Shepherd | 9–2 | 6–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division II First Round | 15 | |||
| 2000 | Shepherd | 7–3 | 5–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 2001 | Shepherd | 8–2 | 5–2 | T–2nd | |||||
| 2002 | Shepherd | 7–3 | 5–2 | T–2nd | |||||
| 2003 | Shepherd | 4–6 | 4–3 | T–2nd | |||||
| 2004 | Shepherd | 7–3 | 7–0 | 1st | |||||
| 2005 | Shepherd | 11–1 | 8–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division II Second Round | 20 | |||
| 2006 | Shepherd | 11–1 | 7–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal | 8 | |||
| 2007 | Shepherd | 10–2 | 7–1 | 1st | L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal | 13 | |||
| 2008 | Shepherd | 5–5 | 3–5 | T–6th | |||||
| 2009 | Shepherd | 6–4 | 5–3 | 4th | |||||
| 2010 | Shepherd | 12–2 | 7–1 | 1st | L NCAA Division II Semifinal | 7 | |||
| 2011 | Shepherd | 9–2 | 6–2 | T–2nd | 22 | ||||
| 2012 | Shepherd | 8–3 | 7–1 | 1st | L NCAA Division II First Round | 25 | |||
| Shepherd Rams (Mountain East Conference (Div II) (2013–2018) | |||||||||
| 2013 | Shepherd | 11–1 | 9–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal | 9 | |||
| 2014 | Shepherd | 8–2 | 8–2 | 2nd | |||||
| 2015 | Shepherd | 13–1 | 10–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division II Championship | 2 | |||
| 2016 | Shepherd | 13–1 | 10–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division II Semifinal | 3 | |||
| 2017 | Shepherd | 10–1 | 10–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division II First Round | 14 | |||
| 2018 | Shepherd | 7-3 | 7-3 | 3rd | |||||
| Shepherd Rams (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (Div II) (2019–present) | |||||||||
| 2019 | Shepherd | 10-3 | 6-1 | 2nd (East) | L NCAA Division II Second Round | 22 | |||
| 2020 | Shepherd | 1-0 | 0-0 | ||||||
| 2021 | Shepherd | 13-2 | 6-1 | 2nd (East) | L NCAA Division II Semifinals | 5 | |||
| 2022 | Shepherd | 13-2 | 7-0 | 1st (East) | L NCAA Division II Semifinals | 6 | |||
| 2023 | Shepherd | 9-3 | 5-2 | T–2nd (East) | L NCAA Division II First Round | ||||
| 2024 | Shepherd | 6-5 | 3-4 | 5th (East) | |||||
| 2025 | Shepherd | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||||||
| Total: | 275–117–2 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Postseason success
| Year | First Round | Second Round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | @ IUP, W 9–6 | — | @ Slippery Rock, L 20–31 | ||
| 1999 | @ Millersville, L 14–21 | ||||
| 2005 | First round bye | vs. LIU Post, L 21–28 | |||
| 2006 | First round bye | vs. Merrimack, W 31–7 | vs. Bloomsburg, L 21–24 | ||
| 2007 | First round bye | vs. IUP, W 41–34 | @ California, L 38–58 | ||
| 2010 | vs. Shaw, W 40–6 | @ Kutztown, W 41–34 | @ Mercyhurst, W 48–14 | @ Delta State, L 17–29 | |
| 2012 | @ IUP, L 17–27 | ||||
| 2013 | First round bye | vs. Winston-Salem State, W 7–0 | vs. West Chester, L 7–28 | ||
| 2015 | First round bye | vs. IUP, W 17–13 | vs. Slippery Rock, W 28–16 | vs. Grand Valley State, W 34–32 | vs. Northwest Missouri State, L 7–34 |
| 2016 | vs. Assumption, W 48–31 | @ LIU Post, W 40–21 | @ California, W 41–30 | vs. North Alabama, L 13–23 | |
| 2017 | vs. Findlay, L 17–29 | ||||
| 2019 | @ IUP, W 31–27 | @ Slippery Rock, L 30–51 | |||
| 2021 | vs. Findlay, W 38–31 | vs. Notre Dame (OH), W 38–34 | @ Kutztown W 30–28 | @ Ferris State, L 7–55 | |
| 2022 | vs. New Haven, W 16–13 | vs. Slippery Rock, W 37–27 | @ IUP, W 48–13 | @ Colorado School of Mines, L 13–44 | |
| 2023 | @ Lenoir-Rhyne, L 17–63 |
Note: The NCAA expanded the playoff field from 16 to 24 teams in 2000 and from 24 to 28 teams in 2015.
Rams in the NFL
Drafted players
Shepherd has had three football players[20] drafted by the NFL:
- QB John Shearer was taken with the 6th pick in the 28th round of the 1956 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts.
- T Bob Hogue was taken with the 11th pick in the 20th round of the 1960 NFL draft, also by the Colts. Neither played in the NFL.
- RB Wayne Wilson was taken with the 21st pick in the 12th round of the 1979 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers. He played for 3 NFL teams from 1979 to 1987.[21]
Currently active players
- QB Tyson Bagent Chicago Bears (2023-present)
References
- ^ https://psacsports.org/news/2018/6/7/general-shepherd-university-to-join-psac-in-2019-20.aspx
- ^ https://shepherdrams.com/documents/2024/7/29/2024FBCoSIDAInfo.pdf
- ^ https://shepherdrams.com/news/2025/3/14/frostburg-state-and-shepherd-announce-six-year-football-agreement.aspx
- ^ "Quick Facts – Shepherd University". Retrieved March 28, 2023.
- ^ "RAMSTADIUM (PDF)" (PDF). Shepherd University Athletics. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ "Monte Cater – Hall of Fame". Shepherd University Athletics. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ "NAIA Football Championship History" (PDF). NAIA. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ "West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame – Monte Cater". MetroNews. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ "Shepherd Football Captures Super Region One Title with 28-16 win over Slippery Rock". December 5, 2015.
- ^ https://shepherdrams.com/news/2018/6/7/general-shepherd-to-join-pennsylvania-state-athletic-conference.aspx
- ^ "Cater Announces Retirement; McCook Named Head Coach". Shepherd University Athletics. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
- ^ "Tyson Bagent wins 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy, becomes first Shepherd Ram to win award". December 17, 2021.
- ^ "18 Dec 2021, B2 - The Post-Star at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
- ^ https://shepherdrams.com/documents/2024/7/31/2024FBRESULTS.pdf
- ^ https://shepherdrams.com/documents/2024/7/31/2024FBRESULTS.pdf
- ^ https://shepherdrams.com/documents/2024/7/31/2024FBRESULTS.pdf
- ^ https://shepherdrams.com/news/2021/12/17/football-bagent-named-harlon-hill-trophy-winner.aspx
- ^ https://shepherdrams.com/documents/2024/7/31/2024FBRESULTS.pdf
- ^ "2024FBRESULTS (PDF)" (PDF). Shepherd University Athletics. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ "Shepherd Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
- ^ "Wayne Wilson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. September 4, 1957. Retrieved December 14, 2015.