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The Towson Tigers football team represents Towson University in the sport of
American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
. The Tigers compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the
Colonial Athletic Association The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA's NCAA Division I, Division I whose full members are located in East Coast ...
(CAA). The Tigers are currently coached (interim) by Lyndon Johnson. Their home games are played at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Maryland.


History

Towson University has had four head coaches since the program began in 1969 and has competed at three levels of NCAA Football: Division III (1969–1978), Division II (1979–1986), and Division I-AA (FCS) (1987–present). The Towson Tigers have qualified for post-season play at each level.


Division III (1969–1978)

The Towson Tigers football program debuted in 1969 with Carl Runk as the first-ever head coach. The first Tiger team posted a 4–4–1 record. The first program win came against Frostburg State University in a 53–16 blowout victory. In only the second season of Tiger football in 1970, the program posted its first winning season at 6–2. After a dismal 1–8 record in 1971 and Carl Runk's resignation, Phil Albert became the new Tiger head coach for the 1972 season. Albert's first season was unsuccessful as the Tigers went 1–9; however, the Towson team would follow this season with 14 consecutive non-losing seasons under Albert's leadership. In 1974, the Towson Tigers went 10–0 in the programs only unbeaten season. Towson's first All-American player came the following year when QB Dan Dullea led the team to a 6–4 record. The 1976 season saw the program's first playoff berth after posting an 8–2 record. Towson beat C.W. Post (14–10) and St.Lawrence (38-36) on their way to the NCAA Division III Championship game. In the Stagg Bowl, Towson trailed St. John's of Minnesota 28-0 until quarterback Dan Dullea rallied the team to tie 28–28 with a minute left. Eventually St. John's won with a 19-yard field goal with only seconds remaining. The final score was 31–28. The 1978 season was the final season that the Tigers played in Division III and the first season that the Tigers played in Towson Stadium. The new lighted 5,000-seat facility was christened with a 38–6 win over Mansfield before a crowd of 4,126 fans. Towson's DIII tenure would end on a positive note, as the Tigers finished the season with a 7–3 record. The Tigers ended their run in Division III with a record of 54–42–2.


Division II (1979–1986)

The Tiger's debut Division II game was against cross town rival Morgan State. The Bears won 34–7 in front of an over capacity crowd of 6,311. The following week, the Tigers upset I-AA Maine by a score of 13–7. This would be the start of a nine-game winning streak that would leave the Tigers with a 9–1 record on the season. The 1982 season saw the Tigers establishing themselves as a Division II power in the East. With quarterback Joe Anderson at the helm, the school ran a high powered passing game that lead to a 7–4 season, including the school's first wins over Morgan State and Bucknell. The 1983 season saw a stellar defense that only allowed 5.8 points per game, a stat that lead all Division II teams. The Tigers went 10–1 which earned them their first playoff bid in Division II. In their first D-II playoff game, the Tigers would lose to the eventual national champion North Dakota State Bison in Fargo, ND. The team was honored as the ECAC Division II Team of the Year while also winning the Lambert Award as the top Division II team in the East. Coach Albert was named as Kodak Region 3 "Coach of the Year". The 1984 season saw similar success, with the team fighting to a 7–0 start to the season. The year ended with an 8–3 record with two of the losses coming from Division I-AA opponents. In the Tigers second Division II playoff appearance, the team beat Norfolk State 31–21 in the first round. In the semi-final, the Tigers would lose to the eventual national champions for the second straight year, falling 45–3 to Troy. The Tigers opened 1985 with the 100th victory in school history, a 28–10 win over Shepherd. The Tigers also extended their regular season winning streak against Division II teams to 20 until a tie with Indiana (Pa.) 21–21. Despite finishing the season at 7-2-1 and not earning a playoff berth, the team managed to end the season ranked 10th in the nation. The 1986 season was then Towson's last season that they would play in Division II. After finishing the regular season at 8–3–1, the Tigers would make the playoffs for the third time in four years. Their year and time in Division II would end with a 31–0 loss to Central State (OH) in the first round.


Division I (FCS) (1987–present)


Under Phil Albert (1987–1991)

In their third game as an NCAA Division I-AA program, the Tigers made their presence known with their first I-AA win, a 17–14 victory at fourth-ranked Maine. The Tigers also stunned Howard University with a 30–14 victory, the Bison's only loss of the year. Their first DI season also provided a showcase for the talents of tailback David Meggett. A transfer from Morgan State where he played defensive back, he was switched to tailback at Towson. In 1987, Meggett scored a school record 16 touchdowns and led Division I-AA in all-purpose yardage, averaging 199 yards per game. In 1988, the Tigers showed improvement against a rugged schedule, finishing with a 5–5 record as Meggett continued to make headlines. In the season opener, he scored four touchdowns, including a 100-yard kickoff return for a TD, in a 45–34 win over Northeastern. Later in the season, he rushed for a school record 220 yards in a win over New Haven. He finished his career as the most decorated player in Towson football history, winning the Walter Payton Award as the top player in NCAA Division I-AA. He also earned a spot on several All-American teams. Meggett also became the first Tiger to play in the Senior Bowl and was named as the Most Valuable Player for the North squad. A fifth round draft pick by the New York Giants, he became an All-Pro player in the NFL and helped the Giants win Super Bowl XXV. In 1989, the Tigers struggled in Division I-AA. Despite terrific individual performances from All-Americans Rodney Smith and Mike Smith, the Tigers were only 2–8 on the year, their worst record since 1972. In 1990, the Tigers continued to struggle with a 2–9 record. In 1991, the Tigers finished with a 1–10 record, losing 10 games for the first time. Their 13–7 win over Howard was Albert's final victory as the Tiger coach. He resigned after leading Towson to a 117–91–3 mark in 20 years.


Under Gordy Combs (1992–2008)

The Tigers opened the 1992 season with a new coach as long-time assistant Gordy Combs inherited Albert's position. In their first season under their new head coach, the Tigers showed resiliency as they posted several thrilling come-from-behind wins in a 5–5 season. In October, the Tigers rallied from a 33–14 deficit with eight minutes left for a 35–33 win at Indiana of Pa. They also posted a 33–32 win over Northeastern, scoring on the game's final play. Running back Tony Vinson, a transfer from Purdue, made his debut and in 1992 and rushed for more than 1,000 yards in just eight games. In 1993, the Tigers became NCAA I-AA playoff contenders for the first time. With 27 seniors on the roster, the Tigers celebrated their 25th anniversary season in victorious style. Towson posted an 8–2 record and broke or tied 46 school records. Vinson led the Tigers to a 32–30 win at nationally ranked Delaware by scoring his fourth TD of the game with ten seconds left. He set 15 Towson records and 11 NCAA records. In a win over Bucknell, Vinson ran for 364 yards, an I-AA record. His 2,016 yards on the year set another I-AA record as the All-American won the “Triple Crown,” leading the nation in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards. The second Tiger to play in the Senior Bowl, he was a fifth round draft pick by the San Diego Chargers. The 1994 season was almost a carbon copy of 1993 as Towson went 8-2 and broke 36 records. Quarterback Dan Crowley and wide receiver Mark Orlando combined to form one of the top passing combinations ever to play at Towson. Orlando was a first team All-American in 1994. He caught a career record 178 passes for a record 3,460 yards and 31 TD's. Crowley finished his career by setting school records with 8,900 yards passing and 81 TD passes. After the 1994 season, the football changed direction and started playing non-scholarship football. In 1995, the Tigers posted a 6–4 record competing in the ECAC-IFC. In 1996, the biggest news came off the field. It was announced the Tigers would join the non-scholarship Patriot League for the 1997 season, providing the program with an emotional lift and an exciting conference affiliation. On the field, the Tigers recorded their fourth straight winning season. They won the final four games of the year to post a 6–4 record. Highlighting the season was a 33–32 triple overtime win at Marist, a game in which quarterback Kevin Smith passed for a school record 471 yards. Towson's first Patriot League season was a rough one as the Tigers went 2–8 with their only two wins coming in non-league games. Defensive backs Khalid McLeod and Jabari Garrett were both named first team All-Patriot League. In 1998, Towson's 30th season of football, the Tigers showed signs of improvement. The Tigers got off to a 2–0 start, beating rival Morgan State in the opener. They also claimed their first Patriot League win, beating Fordham in overtime. After a midseason slump against the league's heavyweights, the Tigers beat St. Mary's and Drake. Garrett was a first team All-Patriot League pick at defensive back for a second straight year. Jason Corle led the league in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards, earning second team all-league honors. The Tigers posted a second straight 7–4 record in 2000. Tailback Noah Read led the Patriot League in rushing with 1,422 yards, the second highest single season total by a Tiger. He rushed for over 100 yards in 10 of the 11 games. Meanwhile, Hollingsworth enjoyed a tremendous season at defensive end. Although sidelined for most of the last three games with an ankle injury, he led the nation with 18 sacks. Towson's first consensus first team All-American, he was named Defensive Player of the Year and Player of the Year by the Patriot League. In 2001, the Tigers struggled offensively due to an unsettled situation at quarterback. On their way to a 3–7 record, the Tigers started three different signal-callers. Defensive back Sporty Evans was the only first team All-Patriot League selection. Once again, the Tiger football program was on the move. Prior to the start of the 2002 season, it was announced that Towson would be joining the Atlantic-10 Football Conference as the A-10's 12th member. The move would be effective for the 2004 season. The Tigers were in the process of having a great year in 2002 when the injury bug hit, derailing the offense and turning an impressive 5–2 start into a very disappointing 1-3 finish. By the eighth game, the Tigers had lost 60 percent of their starting offensive line to season-ending injuries. The Tigers’ 5–2 start included a first-ever win over Lehigh and a big road victory at Holy Cross. The season finale marked the end of White's record-breaking career. White closed out his career as Towson's all-time leading receiver as well as the Patriot League's all-time leader with 219 receptions. Safety Edmund Carazo led the Patriot League with seven interceptions. Highlighting the 2003 season was the official dedication of Johnny Unitas Stadium at Towson University. In mid-October, the Tigers entertained a crowd of more than 8,000 that included many Baltimore Colt legends with a 30–13 win over Holy Cross in the Dedication Game. The Tigers, who were 5–1 at their newly named home, finished the season with a 6–6 record. Towson went 3–4 in its final Patriot League season. Senior offensive lineman Jason Gunning and defensive back P.D. Moore were named All-Patriot League for the second time. The 2004 season marked Towson's entry into the Atlantic 10 where the Tigers were severely challenged. Towson went 0–8 in A-10 play while Moore was named to the A-10's first team defense. Moore became the first Tiger to be named first team all-conference in two different leagues. The Tigers were much more competitive in 2005, beating Delaware, Rhode Island and Villanova in A-10 games. Non-league wins over Morgan, Lock Haven and Liberty gave Towson a final 6–5 record. Allante Harrison was named first team All-Atlantic-10 at cornerback. In 2006, the Tigers enjoyed one of their best seasons as a Division I-AA program. Quarterback Sean Schaefer directed one of the top passing games in the nation and Towson compiled a 7–4 record. Their 4–4 A-10 record included wins over Delaware, Villanova, Richmond and Hofstra. The Tigers were nationally ranked for six weeks in 2006 and achieved their highest I-AA ranking ever when they were 17th in the nation in late September. In April 2007, offensive lineman Jermon Bushrod became the fourth Towson football player drafted by an NFL team when he was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round. Bushrod was a three-time all-conference selection in the A-10. In 2007, the Atlantic-10 Football Conference became the Colonial Athletic Association and the Tigers entered the season with high expectations. Towson was ranked in the top 25 in the pre-season and got off to a 2–0 start. But, a rash of injuries took their toll and Towson finished with a 3–8 record. Senior linebacker Brian Bradford had a stellar season in 2007 when he finished second in the nation with 149 tackles in 11 games. In addition to earning first team All-CAA notice, he was a consensus first team All-American. In 2008, the Tigers celebrated their 40th anniversary with an explosive passing game and a difficult schedule. In the season opener, the Tigers achieved a milestone when they played Navy in Annapolis. Before a crowd of 31,613, the Tigers battled the Mids on nearly even terms in the first half before Navy pulled out a 41–13 victory. While Schaefer seemed to break a record every week, the Tigers had a difficult time defensively. A third team All-CAA pick, Schaefer led the CAA in passing yards (3,286) and yards of total offense (3,288). He set school career records for pass completions (1044), pass attempts (1610), completion percentage (.648) and passing yardage (11,644). He finished his career ranked eighth among the NCAA FCS all-time passing leaders. Senior Marcus Lee, his favorite target, set an NCAA FCS record by catching at least one pass in all 45 games of his career. Lee ended his career as Towson's all-time leader with 225 catches for 2,389 yards with 13 touchdowns. The Tigers finished the 2008 season with a 3–9 record and a 1–7 mark in the CAA. For only the third time in program history, there was a coaching change after the end of the season. Rob Ambrose, a 1993 Towson graduate who was an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut for seven years, was introduced as Towson's new coach.


Under Rob Ambrose (2009–present)

2009 Season In his first season as head coach, Ambrose led the Tigers to a 2–9 record while going 1–7 in CAA play. The Tigers' lone conference victory came against
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while their other victory came against
Coastal Carolina Coastal Carolina University (CCU or Coastal) is a public university in Conway, South Carolina. Founded in 1954 as Coastal Carolina Junior College, and later joining the University of South Carolina System as USC Coastal Carolina, it became an in ...
of the Big South. 2010 Season Ambrose was met with additional growing pains in his second season as head coach, ending up with a 1–10 record with no conference wins. The Tigers' only win was memorable as the Tigers needed 5 overtimes to outlast
Coastal Carolina Coastal Carolina University (CCU or Coastal) is a public university in Conway, South Carolina. Founded in 1954 as Coastal Carolina Junior College, and later joining the University of South Carolina System as USC Coastal Carolina, it became an in ...
. Several staff changes were made in the off-season, including Ambrose taking over as the team's Offensive Coordinator. Ambrose was the OC at UConn for three seasons before assuming the head coaching duties at his alma mater. 2011 Season The 2011 season began with three wins, vaulting the Tigers into the national FCS polls for the first time since 2007. Home wins over instate rival Morgan State 42–3, #20 Villanova 31–10, and 42–17 over the
Colgate Raiders The Colgate Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Colgate University. The teams include men and women's basketball, cross country, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, swimming & diving, track and field and tennis. Men's sports include g ...
, gave the Tigers their first 3–0 start since 2007. Through the first three games the average attendance at Johnny Unitas Stadium was 9,125, which was up from the 2010 season which saw an average crowd of 7,107 fans per game. The Tigers' next game was a 28–3 setback loss to the in-state Maryland Terrapins, a BCS team from the ACC, a game in which the Tigers outgained the struggling Terps but failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the first half. The Tigers came back strong for a last-second 31–28 win over the #14 Richmond Spiders at Unitas Stadium. This marked the second win for Towson over a Top 25 opponent during the 2011 season and the second victory over a former FCS national champion. Richmond won the title in 2008 and Villanova claimed the crown in 2009. Following those victories, a thrilling come-from-behind road victory over the Old Dominion Monarchs, another nationally ranked team, put Towson atop the CAA standings. The victory of Old Dominion was one of the program's most memorable moments as it defined the never-give-up attitude instilled by Ambrose. Towson's 3–0 start in CAA play was their best-ever beginning in league action. Towson added to that total the following week with another road win against the nationally ranked
William & Mary Tribe The William & Mary Tribe is a moniker for the College of William & Mary's athletic teams and the university's community more broadly. William & Mary has won two team national championships (both in men's tennis), the AIAW championships in ...
. With the win over the Tribe, the Tigers rose to 6–1 overall and 4–0 in CAA play and achieved the highest ranking in school history #13. The following week the Tigers dropped a tough 35-30 decision to 2010 FCS runners-up,
University of Delaware The University of Delaware (colloquially UD or Delaware) is a public land-grant research university located in Newark, Delaware. UD is the largest university in Delaware. It offers three associate's programs, 148 bachelor's programs, 121 ma ...
, in a game plagued by snow, sleet and bitter temperatures. The final three weeks of the 2011 regular season presented a march towards a first-ever CAA Championship and NCAA FCS playoff berth. Road games at Maine and Rhode Island with a home match-up against New Hampshire provided the menu for the Tigers, who were picked to finish dead last in the preseason conference poll. The game against the
Maine Black Bears The Maine Black Bears are the athletic teams that represent the University of Maine. A member of the America East Conference, the University of Maine sponsors teams in eight men's and nine women's NCAA sanctioned sports. The men's and women's ic ...
was played at Alfond Stadium in
Orono, Maine Orono () is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. Located on the Penobscot and Stillwater rivers, it was first settled by American colonists in 1774. They named it in honor of Chief Joseph Orono, a sachem of the indigenous Penobs ...
. The Towson running game clicked on all counts to total a seasonal high 334 yards en route to a 40–30 victory over the No. 7 Maine. With the win, the Tigers moved into a three-way tie for first place in the CAA with Maine and No. 9 New Hampshire. The loss snapped the Black Bears' six-game winning streak. The Tigers' ground game was led by junior Tremayne Dameron and freshman Terrance West as both of them rushed for more than 100 yards. While Dameron, who had been injured for much of the season, picked up a season high 109 yards on 19 carries, West ran for a then career high 183 yards on 21 carries and scored three rushing touchdowns to increase his NCAA FCS-leading total to 21 touchdowns. The win was Towson's first ever road win over a top 10 opponent and was the 5th victory of the season against a team ranked in the Top 25 and 3rd such win coming on the road in 2011. The final regular season home game at Unitas Stadium saw the Tigers defeat
New Hampshire New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
, 56–42. West would run for a career-best 261 yards and 4 touchdowns, including scores of 72 and 69 yards in the first and second quarters, respectively. The victory, coupled with Maine's triumph over the
UMass The University of Massachusetts is the five-campus public university system and the only public research system in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The university system includes five campuses (Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and a medical ...
, vaulted Towson into a two-way tie with the Black Bears for the CAA lead going into the final week of the season, which would see the Black Bears facing off against the Wildcats and the Tigers playing against the
Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...
. In the regular season finale against Rhode Island, the Tigers emerged victorious 28-17 after falling behind early in the first quarter 10–0. The Rams defense was able to keep star freshman running back Terrance West under 100 yards rushing for the first time since the October 1st game against Maryland, although he still found the end zone twice to increase his league leading total to 27. Instead, Grant Enders would lead the team to victory in
Kingston, Rhode Island Kingston is a village and a census-designated place within the town of South Kingstown in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, and the site of the main campus of the University of Rhode Island. The population was 6,974 at the 201 ...
, with 212 yards passing and 2 passing touchdowns to junior receiver Tom Ryan. With Maine's 30–27 defeat at the hands of New Hampshire, the Tigers clinched their first-ever CAA title outright. The title made the Tigers the first team in NCAA history to make the postseason at the Division III, Division II, and the FCS levels of College Football. With their automatic bid to the playoffs secured, the Tigers received a first round bye and played the
Lehigh Mountain Hawks The Lehigh Mountain Hawks are the athletic teams representing Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Hawks participate in NCAA Division I competition as a member of the Patriot League. In football, Lehigh competes in the Division I ...
(10–1) of the Patriot League at Unitas Stadium in the second round of the FCS Playoffs. The Tigers would lose the game, 40–38, after a fourth quarter sack of Enders by Lehigh defensive lineman Tom Bianchi led to a safety. 2012 season The Tigers played their most competitive schedule in the history of the program, playing two FBS programs (Kent State & LSU). Even with a tough schedule, Towson came out with a winning record (7–4) which included wins over ranked teams; Delaware, Villanova and New Hampshire. Unfortunately the Tigers missed the playoffs, although some sports writers thought they should have qualified since New Hampshire and Villanova both made the playoffs and there were teams with less competitive schedules selected. 2013 season The 11th ranked Tigers began the year by beating UConn, an FBS team from the American Athletic Conference, by a score of 33–18, giving the Tigers their first victory over a FBS team in program history. The win would be the first in a 6-game win streak to start the season for the Tigers, including wins over Holy Cross, Delaware State, North Carolina Central, Stony Brook, and
New Hampshire New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
. The Tigers were handed their first loss of the season during Towson's homecoming weekend at the hands of Villanova. After victories against Albany,
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, William & Mary,
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, and a loss to
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, The Tigers qualified for the FCS playoffs with a final record of 10–2 (6–2 CAA), the program's first 10 win season at the Division I level. The Tigers were selected as #7 seed for the FCS playoffs and received a first-round bye. They hosted
Fordham University Fordham University () is a private Jesuit research university in New York City. Established in 1841 and named after the Fordham neighborhood of the Bronx in which its original campus is located, Fordham is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit un ...
(11–2, 0–0 Patriot) at Johnny Unitas Stadium following the Rams' victory over
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in the first round of the FCS playoffs. Although Fordham tied the game late in the second quarter, Towson cruised to a 48–28 victory behind a combined 490 yards of offense including 146 total yards and 2 touchdowns from freshman running back Darius Victor, 105 total yards and 3 touchdowns from 2013
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first team running back Terrance West, and 310 total yards and three touchdowns from senior quarterback Peter Athens. In a game played in snowy conditions at
O'Brien Stadium O'Brien Field is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Charleston, Illinois. It is home to the Eastern Illinois University Panthers football and track and field teams. O’Brien Field is named after Maynard O'Brien who coached football and trac ...
, the #7 ranked Tigers defeated
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(12–2, 8–0 Ohio Valley), the #2 ranked FCS team, 49–39. They did so on the strength of 472 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns, including 354 yards and 5 touchdowns by 2013 Walter Payton Award finalist Terrance West. The Tigers advanced to the semifinals where they played Eastern Washington (12–3, 8–0 Big Sky) at
Roos Field Roos Field is an outdoor college football stadium in the northwest United States, on the campus of Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington, southwest of Spokane. It is the home venue of the Eastern Washington Eagles of the Big Sky ...
in Cheney, Washington. In a game plagued by fog and wet conditions, the Tigers emerged victorious, 35–31, in a wild shootout over the host Eagles. After the Tigers jumped out to an early 21–0 lead, the Eagles scored 31 unanswered points and knocked Towson starting quarterback Peter Athens out of the game with a shoulder injury. The Tigers would then score 14 unanswered points behind Terrance West and sophomore backup quarterback Connor Frazier to win the game and qualify for the school's first ever FCS national title game. At Toyota Stadium, The Tigers (13–3, 6–2 CAA) were defeated by three-time defending national champion
North Dakota State North Dakota State University (NDSU, formally North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Fargo, North Dakota. It was founded as North ...
(15–0, 8–0 MVC) for the NCAA FCS National Championship. Despite a gallant beginning effort in which the Tigers played the Bison to stalemate, the defending champions would pull away in impressive fashion, shutting down the Tigers, 35–7. Terrance West was held under 100 yards rushing for only the third time this year, giving Towson a 1–2 record in such games. West added 39 yards receiving to give him 138 all purpose yards. Although Towson quarterback Peter Athens outgained NDSU's Brock Jensen through the air, the Bison's pummeling run game was the factor that proved too much for Towson to handle. The Bison got 170 total rushing yards from their duo, Senior Sam Ojuri and Junior John Crockett - more than Towson's entire running back corps. 2014 season With the loss of Terrance West and other experienced players, Towson struggled through the 2014 season. Much of the difficulty was attributed to player injuries and the inexperience of a very youthful team. Many starters were Sophomores while, there were also several Freshmen who had significant playing time. The offensive front consisted of 1 Junior, 4 Sophomores and a Freshman. RB Darius Victor still finished the season with 1350 rushing yards. 2015 - 2017 Season The 2015 season would see a return to Towson's recent success and winning tradition as the team posted a 7-4 (5-3 CAA) record. The team would, however, miss the playoffs for the second straight year and for the third time in four years. That success was short lived as the Tigers have posted back to back losing seasons in 2016 (4-7) and 2017 (5-6), making it 4 straight seasons of missing the FCS Playoffs. 2018 Season Towson finished the 2018 campaign with a return to the FCS playoffs and a 7-5 overall record and a 5-3 conference record. Towson traveled to FBS Wake Forest in week two after dominating rival Morgan State 36-10. 2019 Season Towson again finished the regular season with a 7-5 overall record, but finishing 4-4 in the conference was not enough to make the FCS playoff. Towson traveled to FBS University of Florida in the middle of a three game losing streak. 2020 Season Postponed due to COVID 19. CAA season moved to Spring 2021; Towson opted out of the Spring 2021 competition period and will compete in the fall 2021. Of note, Towson once again had an FBS opponent scheduled in University of Maryland. 2022 The Towson University athletics department has announced that Rob Ambrose will not return as head coach of Towson football next season. Effective immediately, special teams coordinator Lyndon Johnson will serve as interim head coach. Towson announced Pete Shinnick as the team's 5th all-time head coach on December 11, 2022.


Current coaching staff


Head coaches


Conference affiliations


Championships


Conference championships


Playoffs


Division III

The Tigers, then known as the Towson State Tigers, made one appearance in the Division III playoffs. They had a combined record of 2-1.


Division II

The Tigers, still then known as the Towson State Tigers, made three appearances in the Division II playoffs. They had a combined record of 0-3.


Division I-AA/FCS

The Tigers have made three appearances in the Division I-AA/FCS playoffs. They have a combined record of 3-3.


National individual awards


Tigers in the Pros


Active

*QB
Tom Flacco Tom Patrick Flacco (born November 2, 1994) is an American football coach and former quarterback who is currently an assistant coach for the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens. He attended three different colleges: Western Michigan, Rutgers, and Towson ...
Saskatchewan Roughriders (
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) (2021–present) *DL Tibo Debaillie - Edmonton Elks (
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) (2021–present) *LB Malik Tyne - Edmonton Elks (
CFL The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...
) (2021–present) *DL Frank Beltre - Calgary Stampeders (
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) (2014–2016),
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(2017),
Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team competing in the CFL East Division, East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), based i ...
(
CFL The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...
) (2018–2019),
Ottawa Redblacks The Ottawa Redblacks (officially stylized as REDBLACKS) ( French: Le Rouge et Noir d'Ottawa) are a professional Canadian football team based in Ottawa, Ontario. The team plays in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Starti ...
(
CFL The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...
) (2021–present) *CB
Tye Smith Tye Smith (born May 3, 1993) is an American football cornerback for the Orlando Guardians of the XFL. He played college football at Towson University and was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has al ...
-
Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 a ...
(2015–2016),
Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) ...
(2017), Tennessee Titans (2017–2021)
Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansi ...
(2021-Present) *S
Jordan Dangerfield Jordan Isaac Aldon Dangerfield (born December 25, 1990) is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Towson and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills in 2013. Dangerfield has al ...
- Brooklyn Bolts ( FXFL) (2014), Pittsburgh Steelers (2014–2020)


Former

* P Sean Landeta - Philadelphia Stars ( USFL) (1983–1984), Baltimore Stars (USFL) (1985),
New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisio ...
(1985–1993, 2006), St. Louis Rams (1993–1996, 2003–2004),
Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The cl ...
(1997),
Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. It is the t ...
(1998),
Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team play ...
(1999–2002, 2005) *WR Marc Brown -
Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division ...
(1987) *OL Stan Eisenhooth -
Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 a ...
(1988),
Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 ...
(1989) *RB
Dave Meggett David Lee Meggett (born April 30, 1966) is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. He played college football at Towson and was selected by the New York Giants in the fifth round of ...
-
New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisio ...
(1989–1994),
New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...
(1995–1997),
New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The ...
(1998) *DB
Chad Scott Chad Oliver Scott (born September 6, 1974) is a former American football cornerback. Scott was a first round pick, 24th overall, by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1997 NFL Draft. He played professionally for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New En ...
- Pittsburgh Steelers (1997–2004),
New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...
(2005–2006) *DB Madieu Williams -
Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The club's home ...
(2004–2007),
Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansi ...
(2008–2010),
San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's Nationa ...
(2011),
Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) ...
(2012) *OL Jermon Bushrod -
New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the te ...
(2007–2012),
Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears have won nine ...
(2013–2015),
Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team p ...
(2016-2017)
New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the te ...
(2018) *RB Terrance West -
Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conferenc ...
(2014–2015), Tennessee Titans (2015),
Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays its ...
(2015–2017),
New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the te ...
(2018) *DE Ryan Delaire -
Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The cl ...
(2015),
Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL), as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. ...
(2015–2016),
Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 ...
(2018),
San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's Nationa ...
(2018)


Rivals

Towson University and Morgan State University share a rivalry called The Battle for Greater Baltimore. Towson leads the rivalry with 19 football victories versus 6 losses.


References


Towson takes down UCONN for first FBS win

North Dakota State tops Towson U for 3rd FCS title


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Towson Tigers Football 1969 establishments in Maryland American football teams established in 1969