Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football

Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football
Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football
	2025 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team
First season	1970; 56 years ago
Athletic director	Andrew T. Goodrich
Head coach	Kris McCullough; 1st season, 0–0 (–)
Location	Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Stadium	Ernest W. Spangler Stadium; (capacity: 9,000)
NCAA division	Division I FCS
Conference	OVC–Big South
Colors	Red and black;
All-time record	281–322–2 (.466)
Conference championships
	SAC: 1987, 1992Big South: 2002, 2003, 2022OVC–Big South: 2023
Marching band	The Sounds of the Springs
Website	gwusports.com

The Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Gardner–Webb University in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The team competes in the Division I FCS and are members of the OVC–Big South Football Association.^[2] Gardner–Webb's first football team was fielded in 1970. The team plays its home games at the 9,000-seat Ernest W. Spangler Stadium in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The Runnin' Bulldogs are coached by Kris McCullough.

History

NAIA Independent (1970–1974)
South Atlantic Conference (1975–1999)
NCAA Division I-AA Independent (2000–2001)
Big South Conference (2002–2022)
Big South–OVC Football Association (2023–present)

Year	Coach	Conference	Overall record	Conference record
1987	Woody Fish	South Atlantic Conference	11–2	6–1
1992	Woody Fish	South Atlantic Conference	12–2	7–0
2002	Steve Patton	Big South Conference	9–1	3–0
2003	Steve Patton		8–4	4–0
2022	Tre Lamb		7–6	5–0
2023†	Tre Lamb	Big South–OVC Football Association	7–5	5–1
Conference Championships			6

† denotes co-championship

The Runnin' Bulldogs appeared in the NAIA playoffs two times, with an overall record of 3–2.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1987	First Round Quarterfinals	Moorhead State Carson–Newman	W, 27–7 L, 24–27
1992	Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game	Concord Shepherd Central State	W, 28–21 W, 22–7 L, 16–19

The Runnin' Bulldogs have appeared in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs two times, with an overall record of 1–2.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
2022	First Round Second Round	Eastern Kentucky William & Mary	W, 52–41 L, 14–54
2023	First Round	Mercer	L, 7–17

Dobson Collins – NFL wide receiver
Woody Fish – American football player and coach
Terry Guess – NFL wide receiver for New Orleans Saints
Bobby Hopkins – American football offensive guard and World champion arm-wrestler
Brian Johnson – NFL linebacker for Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions
Todd Knight – American football player and coach
T. J. Luther – NFL wide receiver
Jim Maxwell – NFL linebacker for the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, and Cincinnati Bengals
Carroll McCray – American football player and coach
Gabe Wilkins – NFL defensive tackle for Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers, Super Bowl XXXI champion^[3]

Future non-conference opponents announced as of January 20, 2026.^[4]

This article about a sports team in North Carolina is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

This American football team article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.