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American Football Database
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Morgan State Bears
AmericanFootball current event.svg Current season
File:MorganStateBears.png
First season 1898
Head coach Donald Hill-Eley
Home stadium Hughes Stadium
Stadium capacity 10,001
Stadium surface Grass
Conference Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
All-time record 405–379–38
Postseason bowl record 2–3
Conference titles 20
Current uniform
Nopicture
Colors Blue and Orange            
Mascot Bears
Website morganstatebears.com

The Morgan State Bears football team competes in American football on behalf of Morgan State University. The Bears compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Championship Subdivision, currently as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The Bears play their home games at Hughes Stadium, a 10,000 seat facility in Baltimore, Maryland.

Morgan State began playing football in 1898, 31 years after the school was founded. The team's all-time record is 405 wins, 379 losses and 38 ties.[1] 173 of those wins came between 1929 to 1959 when Edward P. Hurt was the head coach and the Bears won 14 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships. Earl Banks won four CIAA championships during the 1960s and an additional championship in 1971 after Morgan entered the MEAC. The Bears won another MEAC championship in 1979, but have not won any other championships since.[2]

Championships[]

Championships
Edward P. Hurt
CIAA 1930, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1949, 1956
Earl Banks
CIAA 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968
MEAC 1971

Coaches[]

Head Coaches
Name Years Won Lost Tied
Dr. John Camper 1920–1923 3 14 1
Jim F. Law 1924–1925 6 3 2
Dr. Charles R. Drew 1926–1927 8 2 2
Bill Taylor 1928 5 2 3
Eddie Hurt 1929–1959 173 54 18
Earl Banks 1960–1973 95 30 2
Nat Taylor 1974–1975 9 10 1
Henry Lattimore 1976–1977 10 10 1
Clarence Thomas 1978–1980 17 15 1
Thomas Morris 1981 4 5 0
Nat Taylor 1982 4 7 0
James Phillips 1983–1984 2 18 0
Jesse Thomas 1985–1987 2 27 0
Edmund Wyche 1988–1990 6 26 1
Ricky Diggs 1991–1995 10 45 0
Stump Mitchell 1996–1998 8 24 1
Stanley Mitchell 1991–2001 5 27 0
Donald Hill-Eley 2002–present 31 37 0

The current head coach of the Morgan Bears football team is Donald Hill-Eley.[3] Hill-Ely became head coach on February 8, 2002 (2002-02-08).[3] A native of Suffolk, Virginia, Hill-Eley is a graduate of Virginia Union University (1991) and served as an assistant coach at Virginia Union, Hampton University, the Baltimore Stallions (Canadian Football League), the Toronto Argonauts (Canadian Football League) and Morgan State.[3]

Eddie Hurt era[]

Coach Eddie P. Hurt took over the Morgan Bears football team in 1929, the next year his teams won the first of the 14 CIAA championships they would win with him at the helm. More importantly, Hurt, and his assistant coach Talmadge L. Hill, built a program that allowed black athletes to show case their talents where such a venue had been non-existent before.[4] From 1931 to 1938, Hurt coached the Bears to a 54-game win streak without a single loss.[5] During his tenure, Morgan's football teams completed 11 seasons undefeated and, in the 1943 season, opponents failed to score a single point against the Bears.[6] Hurt is a member of the HBCU coaches Hall of Fame [7] and in 1952 Morgan named its new $1 million gymnasium facility after him.[5]

Earl "Papa Bear" Banks era[]

Earl Banks succeeded Hurt and took Morgan football to the next level. Banks was the Head coach from 1960 to 1973. He coached the Bears to a 31-game winning streak, three unbeaten regular seasons, four CIAA titles, a MEAC championship, and four bowl games. Twice during his tenure, Morgan led the nation in total defense.[8] 35 of Bank's players went on to play in the NFL, including NFL Hall of Famers Leroy Kelly and Willie Lanier; two more players played professional ball in the CFL.[2][9] Banks was inducted into five sports Halls of Fame[8] including the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.[10]

Modern era[]

Only one coach has had a winning record at Morgan since the departure of Banks at the end of the 1973 season. The Bears had suffered 23 straight seasons with a losing record until the arrival of current Coach Donald Hill-Eley whose first team had a 7-5 record in the 2002 season.

Notable alumni[]

Fifty two former Morgan players have gone on to play professional football. Thirty eight players went to the NFL, eight to the CFL, three to the WFL and one each to the AAFC, the Arena Football League and the AIFA. At least one player has gone to the NFL every decade since 1950 from Morgan State.[11]

Former Morgan Bears Len Ford, Leroy Kelly, Willie Lanier and Rosey Brown are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Professional players
Player Position League Team Years Ref
1940s
Elmore Harris RB AAFC Brooklyn Dodgers 1947 [12]
1950s
Len Ford DE NFL Cleveland Browns 1950
Charlie Robinson G NFL Pittsburgh Steelers 1951 [13]
Rosey Brown OT NFL New York Giants 1952 [14]
1960s
Oliver Dobbins DB NFL Buffalo Bills 1964 [15]
Leroy Kelly RB NFL Cleveland Browns 1964
Willie Lanier LB NFL Kansas City Chiefs 1966
Tom Carr DT NFL New Orleans Saints 1967 [16]
Carlton Dabney DT NFL Atlanta Falcons 1968 [17]
Daryl Johnson CB NFL Boston Patriots 1968 [18]
Alvin Mitchell CB NFL Cleveland Browns 1968 [19]
Jeff Queen LB NFL San Diego Chargers 1969 [20]
Clarence Scott CB NFL Boston Patriots 1968 [21]
Bob Wade CB NFL Pittsburgh Steelers 1969
George Nock RB NFL New York Jets 1969 [22]
John "Frenchy" Fuqua RB NFL Pittsburgh Steelers 1969 [23]
1970s
Raymond Chester TE NFL Oakland Raiders 1970
Ed Hayes S NFL Philadelphia Eagles 1970 [24]
Mark Washington CB NFL Dallas Cowboys 1970 [25]
Willie Germany S NFL Atlanta Falcons 1972 [26]
Ara "Sonny" Person TE NFL St. Louis Cardinals 1971 [27]

John Sykes

RB NFL San Diego Chargers 1972 [28]
John "Tiny" Andrews DE NFL Miami Dolphins 1972 [29]
Maurice Tyler CB NFL Buffalo Bills 1972 [30]
Ron Mayo TE NFL Houston Oilers 1973 [31]
Stan Cherry LB NFL Baltimore Colts 1973 [32]

Greg Latta

TE NFL Chicago Bears 1975 [33]
Mike Collier RB NFL Pittsburgh Steelers 1975 [34]
Bobby Hammond RB NFL New York Giants 1976 [35]
Tim Baylor S NFL Baltimore Colts 1976 [36]
1980s
Elvis Franks DE NFL Cleveland Browns 1980
Mike Holston WR NFL Houston Oilers 1981 [37]
Cornell Gowdy CB NFL Dallas Cowboys 1986 [38]
1990s
Kelvin Moore S NFL Cincinnati Bengals 1998 [39]
2000s
Willie Jones DT NFL Kansas City Chiefs 2001 [40]
Visanthe Shiancoe TE NFL Minnesota Vikings 2003 [41]
Cliff Johnson DB NFL Detroit Lions 2005 [42]
Cliff Louis OT NFL Cleveland Browns 2007 [43]
Chad Simpson RB NFL Indianapolis Colts 2007 [44]
Member of the NFL Hall of Fame

See also[]

  • 2008 Morgan State Bears football team

References[]

  1. "Morgan State University Directory". The Sports Network. http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/teams/direct642.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Leonard L. Haynes IV, ed. (2007). Morgan State University Football Media Guide. Baltimore, Maryland: Morgan State University. http://www.morganstatebears.com/sidebar.asp?id=412&path=foot. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Morgan State Athletics". http://www.morganstatebears.com/roster.asp?playerid=786&sport=29. Retrieved 2008-09-24.
  4. Wade, Herman L. (2004-06-01). Run From There. United States: Word Association. pp. 211. ISBN 978-1-932205-78-7. "The arrival of the black athlete on the national sports scene in the 1940s and 50s goes directly back to Edward P. Hurt. There is not a single black sports figure in the world today who is not in some small way in the debt of Coach Hurt."
  5. 5.0 5.1 "The Edward P. Hurt Gymnasium Continues a Tradition". Morgan Magazine. Spring 2004. http://www.morganstatebears.com/Pdfs/foot/2007/4/23/MagSpr2004Hurt2r.pdf. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  6. Jennifer, Jacob (2002-03-22). "Morgan Legend: Eddie P. Hurt". The Spokesman (University's newspaper). http://media.www.msuspokesman.com/media/storage/paper270/news/2002/03/22/Sports/Morgan.Legend.Eddie.P.Hurt-221040.shtml. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  7. "Hall Of Fame Induction List". The Onnidan Group. http://www.hbcusports.com/r2k/HBCU_Heritage_Hall/Nominees/nominees.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Earl C. Banks". Morgan State University Sports Information. http://www.morganstatebears.com/Sports/foot/2003/LegendsBanks.asp. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  9. Rhoden, William C. (1992-12-05). "Sports of The Times; Weaving Threads Of History". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE3DB1E3AF936A35751C1A964958260&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  10. "Hall of Famers". College Football Hall of Fame. http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=60011. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  11. Leonard L. Haynes IV, ed. "Morgan State University Football Media Guide". Morgan State University. http://www.morganstatebears.com/Pdfs/foot/2007/8/15/Record%20Book%20(pages%2097-118).pdf. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  12. "Elmore Harris". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HARRIELM01. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  13. "All-Time players: Charlie Robinson". NFL Enterprises. http://www.nfl.com/players/charleyrobinson/profile?id=ROB379176. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  14. "Rosey Brown". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BROWNROS01. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  15. "All-Time Players: Ollie Dobbins". NFL Enterprises. http://www.nfl.com/players/olliedobbins/profile?id=DOB276860. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  16. "Tom Carr". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=CARRTOM01. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  17. "Carlton Dabney". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DABNECAR01. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  18. "Daryl Johnson". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JOHNSDAR01. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  19. "Alvin Mitchell". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MITCHALV01. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  20. "Jeff Queen". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=QUEENJEF01. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  21. "Clarence Scott". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SCOTTCLA01. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  22. "All-Time Players: George Nock". NFL Enterprises. http://www.nfl.com/players/georgenock/profile?id=NOC553722. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  23. "All-Time Players: John Fuqua". NFL Enterprises. http://www.nfl.com/players/johnfuqua/profile?id=FUQ276861. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  24. "Ed Hayes". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HAYESED01. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  25. "All-Time Players: Mark Washington". NFL Enterprises. http://www.nfl.com/players/markwashington/profile?id=WAS532425. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  26. "All-Time Players: Willie Germany". NFL Enterprises. http://www.nfl.com/players/williegermany/profile?id=GER581406. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  27. "All-Time Players: Ara Person". NFL Enterprises. http://www.nfl.com/players/araperson/profile?id=PER813600. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  28. "All-Time Players: John Sykes". NFL Enterprises. http://www.nfl.com/players/johnsykes/profile?id=SYK498348. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  29. "All-Time Players: John Andrews". NFL Enterprises. http://www.nfl.com/players/johnandrews/profile?id=AND688772. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  30. "Maurice Tyler". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=TYLERMAU01. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  31. "Ron Mayo". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MAYORON01. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  32. "All-Time Players: Stan Cherry". NFL Enterprises. http://www.nfl.com/players/stancherry/profile?id=CHE415282. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  33. "All-Time Players: Greg Latta". NFL Enterprises. http://www.nfl.com/players/greglatta/profile?id=LAT638910. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  34. "All-Time Players: Mike Collier". NFL Enterprises. http://www.nfl.com/players/mikecollier/profile?id=COL420414. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  35. "Bobby Hammond". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HAMMOBOB01. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  36. "All-Time Players: Tim Baylor" (in NFL Enterprises). http://www.nfl.com/players/timbaylor/profile?id=BAY581406. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  37. "Mike Holston". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HOLSTMIK01. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  38. "Cornell Gowdy". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=GOWDYCOR01. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  39. "Kelvin Moore". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MOOREKEL01. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  40. "Willie Jones" (in databaseFootball.com). http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JONESWIL04. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  41. "Vishante Shiancoe". databaseFootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SHIANVIS01. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  42. "All-Time Players: Cliff Johnson". NFL Enterprises. http://www.nfl.com/players/cliffjohnson/profile?id=JOH133335. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  43. "Team Roster: Cliff Louis". 2008 Cleveland Browns. Archived from the original on 2008-05-30. http://web.archive.org/web/20080530214109/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/player.php?id=3146. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  44. "Team Roster: Chad Simpson". 2009 NFL Enterprises. http://www.nfl.com/players/chadsimpson/profile?id=SIM482496. Retrieved 2009-11-15.

External links[]

Template:Morgan State Bears football navbox

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