Westminster Titans football
| Westminster Titans football | |
|---|---|
| First season | 1891[1] |
| Head coach | Scott Benzel 12th season, 85–37–0 (.697) |
| Location | New Wilmington, Pennsylvania |
| Stadium | Harold Burry Stadium[2] (capacity: 4,500) |
| Field | Memorial Field |
| NCAA division | Division III |
| Conference | PAC |
| Colors | Navy and white[3] |
| NAIA national championships | |
| NAIA Division II: 1970, 1976, 1977, 1988, 1989, 1994 | |
| Website | https://athletics.westminster.edu/ |
The Westminster Titans football team represents Westminster College, located in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, in NCAA Division III college football.
The Titans, who began playing football in 1891, compete as members of the Presidents' Athletic Conference.
Westminster have won six national championships, all during its membership with the NAIA.
Five former Titans football players have been enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame: Harold Davis, Joe Fusco, Larry Pugh, Harold Burry and Joe Micchia. Hall of Fame head coach Tuss McLaughry was not an alumnus but did coach the Titans for four years.[4] The current head football coach of the Titans is Scott Benzel, who became head coach in 2014.[5]
History
Conferences
- 1891–1923: Independent
- 1924–1933: Tri-State Conference
- 1834–1957: Independent
- 1958–1968: West Penn Conference
- 1969–1993: NAIA / NAIA Division II independent
- 1994–1997: Mid-States Football Association
- 1998: Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference
- 1999: Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
- 2000–present: Presidents' Athletic Conference
Championships
National championships
| Year | Association | Division | Head coach | Record | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | NAIA (6) | Division II (6) | Harold Burry (1) | 10–0 | Anderson (IN) | W, 21–16 |
| 1976 | Joe Fusco (4) | 10–1 | Redlands | W, 20–13 | ||
| 1977 | 11–0 | Cal Lutheran | W, 17–9 | |||
| 1988 | 14–0 | Wisconsin–La Crosse | W, 17–9 | |||
| 1989 | 13–0 | Wisconsin–La Crosse | W, 51–30 | |||
| 1994 | Gene Nicholson (1) | 12–2 (4–0 MSFA) | Pacific Lutheran | W, 27–7 |
Postseason appearances
NAIA playoffs
The Titans have made seventeen appearances in the NAIA playoffs, with a combined record of 31–11 and six national championships.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Semifinals National Championship |
Edinboro Anderson (IN) |
W, 20–7 W, 21–16 |
| 1971 | Semifinals National Championship |
Carthage Cal Lutheran |
W, 28–28 L, 14–30 |
| 1976 | Semifinals National Championship |
Texas Lutheran Redlands |
W, 31–0 W, 20–13 |
| 1977 | Semifinals National Championship |
Concord Cal Lutheran |
W, 14–13 W, 17–9 |
| 1981 | Quarterfinals Semifinals |
Anderson (IN) Concordia Moorhead |
W, 21–6 L, 17–23 |
| 1982 | Quarterfinals Semifinals |
Wilmington (OH) Linfield |
W, 14–7 L, 9–37 |
| 1983 | Quarterfinals Semifinals |
Findlay Pacific Lutheran |
W, 28–0 L, 13–16 |
| 1987 | First Round Quarterfinals |
Georgetown (KY) Geneva |
W, 24–17 L, 15–16 |
| 1988 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship |
Austin Bluffton Evangel Wisconsin–La Crosse |
W, 34–12 W, 40–7 W, 26–9 W, 21–14 |
| 1989 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship |
Georgetown (KY) Tarleton State Central Washington Wisconsin–La Crosse |
W, 29–9 W, 34–0 W, 21–10 W, 51–30 |
| 1990 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship |
Georgetown (KY) Tarleton State Central Washington Peru State |
W, 47–13 W, 19–17 W, 24–17 L, 7–17 |
| 1991 | First Round | Findlay | L, 8–9 |
| 1992 | First Round Quarterfinals |
Friends (KS) Findlay |
W, 28–0 L, 7–13 |
| 1993 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship |
Georgetown (KY) Findlay Hardin–Simmons Pacific Lutheran |
W, 20–13 W, 24–0 W, 10–0 L, 20–50 |
| 1994 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship |
Findlay Tiffin Lambuth Pacific Lutheran |
W, 41–30 W, 42–14 W, 46–6 W, 27–7 |
| 1996 | First Round Quarterfinals |
Clinch Valley Findlay |
W, 27–20 L, 9–28 |
| 1997 | First Round | Findlay | L, 0–40 |
References
- ^ "Football Record Book" (PDF). westminster.edu. Westminster Athletics. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
- ^ "Memorial Field inside Harold Burry Stadium". westminster.edu. Westminster Athletics. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
- ^ "Athletic Brand Identity Guide" (PDF). Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ 2009 Football Media Guide, Westminster College, p. 35, retrieved June 16, 2010.
- ^ "Titan Athletics – 2015 Football Coaching Staff". Westminster.edu. Retrieved January 25, 2016.