Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football
| Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| First season | 1915 | ||
| Head coach | Chris Ball 3rd season, 12–16 (.429) | ||
| Stadium | Walkup Skydome (capacity: 10,500) | ||
| Location | Flagstaff, Arizona | ||
| NCAA division | Division I FCS | ||
| Conference | Big Sky Conference | ||
| All-time record | 451–446–23 (.503) | ||
| Conference titles | 2 (1978, 2003) | ||
| Rivalries | Southern Utah (rivalry) | ||
| Colors | Blue and gold[1] | ||
| Website | nauathletics.com | ||
The NAU Lumberjacks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the Northern Arizona University located in Flagstaff, Arizona. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference. The school's first football team was fielded in 1915. The team plays its home games at the 17,500 seat Walkup Skydome. Chris Ball has been the head coach since the 2019 season.
History[]
The Lumberjacks have maintained numerous rivalries with their western counterparts. Competition has not only been limited to the west. The Lumberjacks have also taken on eastern programs such as the Ole Miss Rebels, Florida Atlantic Owls, and the Appalachian State Mountaineers.
On September 18, 2021, Northern Arizona beat Arizona for the first time since 1932, winning 21–19. It was their first win against a FBS team since beating UTEP in 2018 and their third overall win against an FBS team since 2012. It is also the first time they beat a member of the Pac-12 Conference. [2][3]
Classifications[]
- 1937–1952: NCAA College Division
- 1953–1968: NAIA
- 1969–1972: NCAA College Division
- 1973–1977: NCAA Division II
- 1978–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS
Conference affiliations[]
- Independent (1915–1930, 1963–1969)
- Border Conference (1931–1952)
- New Mexico Conference / Frontier Conference (1953–1962)
- Big Sky Conference (1970–present)
Championships[]
Conference championships[]
| Year | Coach | Conference | Overall Record | Conference Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956† | Max Spilsbury | Frontier Conference | 8–2 | 3–0 |
| 1957 | 8–1 | 3–0 | ||
| 1958 | 11–1 | 3–0 | ||
| 1959 | 6–2–1 | 3–0 | ||
| 1960† | 6–3–2 | 2–0–1 | ||
| 1961 | 3–5–1 | 1–0–1 | ||
| 1962 | 6–4 | 2–0 | ||
| 1978 | Joe Salem | Big Sky Conference | 8–2 | 6–0 |
| 2003† | Jerome Souers | 9–4 | 5–2 |
Postseason results[]
NAIA[]
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Semifinal | Gustavus Adolphus | W 41–12 | Max Spilsbury |
| 1958 | Final | Northeastern State | L 13–19 | Max Spilsbury |
NCAA Division II playoffs[]
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Quarterfinals | Jacksonville State | L 0–35 | Joe Salem |
- NAU was runner-up in Big Sky to champion Boise State, which had a scheduling conflict.
NCAA Division I-AA/FCS playoffs[]
The Lumberjacks have appeared in the NCAA I-AA/FCS playoffs six times, with an overall record of 1–6.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | First Round | Furman | L 32–41 | Steve Axman |
| 1999 | First Round | @ Georgia Southern | L 29–72 | Jerome Souers |
| 2001 | First Round | @ Sam Houston State | L 31–34 | |
| 2003 | First Round Quarterfinals |
@ McNeese State Florida Atlantic |
W 35–3 L 25–48 | |
| 2013 | First Round | South Dakota State | L 7–26 | |
| 2017 | First Round | San Diego | L 10–41 |
Rivalries[]
Southern Utah[]
Northern Arizona leads Southern Utah 15–10 in the series through the 2021 spring season.
Current coaching staff[]
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Chris Ball | Head Coach |
| Aaron Pflugrad | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach |
| Jerry Partridge | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach |
| Everrette Thompson | Defensive Line Coach |
| Jesse Thompson | Defensive Backs Coach |
| Sammy Lawanson | Outside Linebackers Coach |
| Robin Pflugrad | Tight Ends Coach |
| Junior Taylor | Wide Receivers Coach |
| Bob Connelly | Offensive Line Coach |
| Aaron Price | Running Backs/Special Teams Coordinator |
Notable former players[]
Notable alumni include:
- John Bonds
- Shawn Collins
- Michael Haynes
- Michael Mendoza
- Rex Mirich, first Lumberjack football player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
- Keith O'Neil
- Khalil Paden
- Speedy Duncan: Played six years professional football in the American Football League (AFL).[4]
- Travis Brown: Played for the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills from 2000 to 2003.
- Willard Reaves: Played pro football in the Canadian Football League and the National Football League. In the CFL he played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, where his team won the 1984 Grey Cup and, in the same season, Reaves won the Most Outstanding Player Award. He also played for the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins in the NFL.
- Tom Jurich, former athletic director at the University of Louisville
- Archie Amerson
- Pete Mandley
- Allan Clark
- Derek Mason – college football coach
References[]
- ^ "Northern Arizona University Visual Identity Guide" (PDF). Retrieved June 3, 2017.
- ^ @NAU_Football (19 September 2021). "FINAL" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "NAU Knocks off Arizona 21-19 for First Ever Win Against a Pac-12 Opponent".
- ^ "Leslie Duncan - ArenaFan.com". www.arenafan.com. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
External links[]
- Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football
- American football teams established in 1915
- 1915 establishments in Arizona