Southwestern Pirates football

The Southwestern Pirates football team represented Southwestern University in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) intercollegiate football competition from 1908 to 1950. After a brief period of prominence during the Second World War, the school disbanded its football program in April 1951 because of budgetary constraints.

On October 28, 2011, The Southwestern University board of trustees voted to reinstate the program. The Pirates football team will resume play in the Fall of 2013 as part of the NCAA Division III Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

History
Records show that football was played at Southwestern University as early as 1895, but the school's first officially recognized team was not formed until 1908. From 1914 to 1916, Southwestern competed as a member of the Southwest Conference.

Prior to the 1940s, Southwestern was considered a "small time" football program, and only received national media attention about once yearly, whenever it faced a major college team. During the Second World War, however, Southwestern became a formidable football power because of its sponsorship of a V-12 Navy College Training Program, which was gained through the actions of then Texas Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson. The Navy program gave it a pool of experienced and skilled players, which was a competitive advantage over other teams that fielded men too young or physically unfit for military service. In 1943, Southwestern's team boasted seven former starters from Texas and varsity players formerly from Baylor. Despite the influx of stars, Southwestern still had to contend with players leaving midseason to report for military training.

During the 1943 season, Southwestern climbed as high as the eleventh-ranked team in the nation in the Associated Press Poll. Southwestern lost only one game during the season, and won the Sun Bowl against, 7–0. After the 1944 season, the Sun Bowl invited Southwestern to return to face the National University of Mexico. Southwestern routed the Pumas, 35–0, to set a scoring record for the game before 13,000 spectators.

After the conclusion of the Second World War, and the concurrent disbandment of the military training programs on campus, Southwestern's football performance declined. Southwestern University disbanded its football team in April 1951 due to budget constraints.

Reinstatement
On October 28, 2011, The Southwestern University board of trustees voted to reinstate the university's football program. The Pirates are scheduled to resume play beginning in the Fall 2013 season. The reinstatement was made possible by $6 million in gifts. $5 million was pledged by Joe Seeber, a 1963 Southwestern graduate. The other $1 million was donated by Red McCombs, who attended Southwestern and played football. “As the oldest university in Texas, we realize the importance many people place on football,” said university president Jake B. Schrum. “There are many bright young men who want to play football in college who find NCAA Division III appealing. It is important for us to be back in the game."

On February 27, 2012 Joe Austin was hired as the new head football coach at Southwestern. Austin came to Southwestern from Hanover College where he was the head coach for the 2008 through 2011 seasons. During that time Austin rebuilt a program that had suffered four consecutive losing seasons prior to his arrival. In just Austin's third season Hanover posted a 7-3 (6-2 Heartland Collegiate Conference) record while finishing second in the league. Austin's team finished second again in his fourth and final season of 2011. While at Hanover, Austin produced three NCAA statistical champions: Tyler Thiems (receptions per game) 2008, Correy Stewart (interceptions per game) 2009, and Daniel Passafiume (receptions per game) 2009.

Southwestern plans to play its home football games at the new Georgetown stadium complex, just up the road from the campus.

Notable players

 * Solon Barnett, NFL lineman
 * Pete Cawthon, college and NFL head coach
 * William "Spot" Collins, NFL lineman
 * Zuehl Conoly, NFL lineman
 * Doug Dashiell, Nevada head coach, 1936–1938
 * Gwinn Henry, Kansas, New Mexico, and Missouri head coach
 * Carlton Massey, NFL Pro Bowler
 * Len McCormick, NFL lineman
 * Jim O'Neal, NFL lineman
 * Jack Sachse, NFL lineman
 * Grady "Rat" Watson, NFL back