Wikipedia

1983 Carson–Newman Eagles football team

The 1983 Carson–Newman Eagles football team was an American football team that represented Carson–Newman College (renamed Carson–Newman University in 2012) as a member of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) during the 1983 NAIA Division I football season. In its fourth year under head coach Ken Sparks, the team compiled a 10–3 record (6–1 against conference opponents), won the SAC championship, and defeated Mesa State in the Palm Bowl to win the NAIA national championship.[1]

1983 Carson–Newman Eagles football
NAIA Division I national champion
SAC champion
Palm Bowl, W 36–28 vs. Mesa State
ConferenceSouth Atlantic Conference
Record10–3 (6–1 SAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumBurke–Tarr Stadium
Seasons
← 1982
1984 →
1983 South Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 12 Carson–Newman $^6–1–010–3–0
Presbyterian4–2–15–5–1
No. 18 Elon4–3–07–3–0
Gardner–Webb4–3–05–6–0
Mars Hill3–3–14–7–1
Newberry3–4–06–5–0
Lenoir–Rhyne2–5–04–6–0
Catawba0–7–00–9–1
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

It was the first of five national championships (1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1989) won by Carson–Newman during the 1980s.

Schedule

edit
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 10at Furman*
L 7–529,226[2]
September 17at Franklin (IN)*Franklin, INL 20–24[3]
September 24Elon
W 15–6[4]
October 1Catawba
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN
W 31–9[5]
October 8Newberry
W 11–103,200[6]
October 22at Gardner–Webb
W 24–20[7]
October 29Lenoir–Rhyne
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN
W 21–153,500[8]
November 5Central Florida*
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN
W 35–143,300[9]
November 12at Presbyterian
L 7–28[10]
December 3Shepherd*
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN (NAIA Division I quarterfinal)
W 42–212,000[11]
December 10Saginaw Valley State*
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN (NAIA Division I semifinal)
W 41–71,544[12]
December 17vs. Mesa State*
W 36–288,836[13]
  • *Non-conference game

References

edit
  1. ↑ "2010 Carson-Newman Eagles Football Media Guide" (PDF). Carson-Newman College. 2010.
  2. ↑ "Jennings, Lamb lead Furman over Carson-Newman in 52-7 drubbing". The Times and Democrat. September 11, 1983. p. 4b – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Eagles stumble, fall". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. September 18, 1983. Retrieved May 30, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "C–N Eagles upend Elon". Kingsport Times-News. September 25, 1983. p. 3C – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Eagles Grind Out Second Victory". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. October 2, 1983. p. D6 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Newberry falls victim to Carson–Newman". The Times and Democrat. October 9, 1983. Retrieved May 30, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Carson–Newman outlasts Gardner–Webb". The Greenville News. October 23, 1983. Retrieved May 30, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Carson-Newman Wins SAC-8 Title". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. October 30, 1983. p. D4 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Frank (Red) Bailes (November 6, 1983). "Defense Fires Eagles, 35–14". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. D5 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Blue Hose find offense, hammer Carson–Newman". The State. November 13, 1983. Retrieved May 30, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Red Bailes (December 4, 1983). "Carson-Newman Routs Shepherd, 42-21". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. D6 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Saginaw Valley season ended". The Port Huron Times Herald. December 11, 1983. p. 3C – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Ellen Haddow (December 18, 1983). "Carson-Newman defeats Mesa College". The Times and Democrat. p. 5b – via Newspapers.com.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1983_Carson–Newman_Eagles_football_team&oldid=1356942728"