1982 West Georgia Braves football team

The 1982 West Georgia Braves football team was an American football team that represented West Georgia College (now known as the University of West Georgia) as an independent during the 1982 NCAA Division III football season. In their second season under head coach Bobby Pate, the Braves compiled a 12–0 record and won the NCAA Division III championship.^[1]

1982 West Georgia Braves football
NCAA Division III champion
Stagg Bowl, W 14–0 vs. Augustana (IL)
Conference	Independent
Record	12–0
Head coach	Bobby Pate (2nd season)
Home stadium	Grisham Stadium
Seasons ← 1981 1983 →

1982 NCAA Division III independents football records
v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
West Georgia ^			–					12	–	0	–	0
Wabash			–					10	–	0	–	0
Union (NY)			–					8	–	1	–	0
Wagner ^			–					8	–	1	–	1
DePauw			–					8	–	2	–	0
Frostburg State			–					6	–	2	–	2
Albany			–					6	–	3	–	0
Canisius			–					6	–	3	–	0
Duquesne			–					6	–	3	–	0
Iona			–					5	–	3	–	1
Dayton			–					6	–	4	–	0
Hofstra			–					6	–	4	–	0
Norwich			–					6	–	4	–	0
Colorado College			–					5	–	4	–	0
Salisbury State			–					5	–	4	–	0
Buffalo			–					5	–	5	–	0
Mercyhurst			–					4	–	5	–	0
San Diego			–					4	–	5	–	0
Buffalo State			–					4	–	6	–	0
Cortland			–					4	–	6	–	0
Georgetown			–					3	–	5	–	0
Fordham			–					2	–	8	–	0
Rochester (NY)			–					2	–	8	–	0
Brockport			–					1	–	8	–	0
Saint Francis (PA)			–					0	–	8	–	1
^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant

During its undefeated regular season, the team scored an average of 42.1 points per game while holding opponents to 4.6 points per game.^[2] The season included a Sunday afternoon game against Millsaps intended to fill the void for television viewers during the 1982 NFL strike.^[3]

In the postseason, West Georgia faced Widener in the Division III South Region Championship game. Widener had spoiled West Georgia's undefeated 1981 season in that year's playoffs. West Georgia prevailed in the rematch by a 31–24 score. West Georgia then went on to shut out Augustana (Illinois), 14–0, in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl to win the Division III national championship.

The team played its home games at Grisham Stadium in Carrollton, Georgia.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 18	Miles	Grisham Stadium Carrollton, GA	W 38–6	9,000	^[4]
September 25	Baptist	Grisham Stadium Carrollton, GA	W 45–0	10,422	^[5]
October 2	at Millsaps	Alumni Field Jackson, MS	W 41–6	2,500	^[6]
October 9	Hampden-Sydney	Grisham Stadium Carrollton, GA	W 48–0	7,000	^[7]
October 16	Knoxville	Grisham Stadium Carrollton, GA	W 45–3	6,000	^[8]
October 23	at Randolph–Macon	Day Stadium Ashland, VA	W 34–0	935	^[9]
October 30	at UCF	Tangerine Bowl Orlando, FL	W 41–7	9,257	^[10]
November 6	Morehouse	Grisham Stadium Carrollton, GA	W 42–6	6,500	^[11]
November 13	Maryville	Grisham Stadium Carrollton, GA	W 45–13		^[12]
November 20	Widener	Grisham Stadium Carrollton, GA (NCAA Division III South Region Championship)	W 31–24 ^OT	7,200	^[13]^[14]
November 27	Bishop (TX)	Grisham Stadium Carrollton, GA (NCAA Division III semifinal)	W 27–6		^[15]
December 4	vs. Augustana (IL)	Phoenix City, AL (Stagg Bowl)	W 14–0	8,000	^[16]
Homecoming

References

1. "1982 Football Schedule". University of West Georgia. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
2. Bill Banks (November 15, 1982). "W. Georgia to meet Widener in playoffs". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 4D – via Newspapers.com.
3. "West Ga., Millsaps play Sunday on TV". The Atlanta Constitution. October 3, 1982. p. 10D – via Newspapers.com.
4. Ray Tapley (September 19, 1982). "Long leads the way as West Georgia dominates Miles 38-6". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 14C – via Newspapers.com.
5. Steve Lasky (September 26, 1982). "W. Georgia takes it easy on Baptist 45-0". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 18C – via Newspapers.com.
6. Earnest Reese (October 4, 1982). "West Ga. keeps on rolling 41-6". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 5D – via Newspapers.com.
7. Gaylon Wardlaw (October 10, 1982). "West Georgia routs Hampden-Sydney". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 11C – via Newspapers.com.
8. Prentis Rogers (October 17, 1982). "West Ga. wins fifth in a row". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 9D – via Newspapers.com.
9. Earnest Reese (October 24, 1982). "West Georgia starts slow, but goes to 6-0 with 34-0 show". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 11D – via Newspapers.com.
10. Steve Lasky (October 31, 1982). "West Georgia sinks Central Florida 41-7". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 14C – via Newspapers.com.
11. Earnest Reese (November 7, 1982). "West Georgia rolls on past Morehouse 42-6". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 16C – via Newspapers.com.
12. Bill Banks (November 14, 1982). "West Georgia's 10-0 second straight year". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 17B – via Newspapers.com.
13. Gary Shelton (November 21, 1982). "Widener defeated in playoffs". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 11E – via Newspapers.com.
14. John McGrath (November 21, 1982). "West Georgia wins 31-24". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. 1E, 12E – via Newspapers.com.
15. Earnest Reese (November 28, 1982). "W. Georgia rolls into Division III final 27-6". The Atlanta Constitution. pp. 1D, 12D – via Newspapers.com.
16. Earnest Reese (December 5, 1982). "West Georgia defense responds to fear". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 18C – via Newspapers.com.