Union celebrates 40 years of football

The fall of 2024 marks a special anniversary for Union Commonwealth University. Forty years ago, Union reinstated its football program with much support from the community and alumni.

“The inauguration of football at Union College brings excitement and high hopes to our institution,” said then Union President Dr. Jack C. Phillips. “We have received backing from trustees, alumni, parents, friends and members of surrounding communities who are eager to support football at Union College.”

The roots of Union football can be traced to 1905. The Bulldogs went 1-2 on the season with all three games being played against Williamsburg Institute, which is now the University of the Cumberlands.

Following that, there was not a football team until the 1922 season. Football remained at Union through 1941 before being dropped due to World War II. In that stretch, the program saw much success.

Despite multiple impressive seasons in that time, the 1934 team owns a distinction that separates them from the others. That season, the Bulldogs went undefeated with a 5-0-2 record. The 1934 campaign is the only undefeated season in program history.

Six years later, it looked throughout the season as though the 1940 Bulldogs might join the 1934 squad in that special club. Union entered its final game of the 1940 season with an undefeated record.

The score was tied 7-7 after three quarters of play, but Georgetown went on to give Union its only loss of the season by a final score of 27-7. The 1940 Bulldogs ended the season with a record of 5-1-1.

Almost a half-century later, Ossie Burch and Bill Nau would play vital roles in raising funds for the return of Union football. They were never teammates, but they were each leaders on some of Union’s most accomplished teams.

Burch was a key member of the undefeated 1934 team. In the final contest of the season, Burch scored the game’s only touchdown as Union defeated Louisville 7-0 to cement the undefeated campaign. Nau was a former gridiron standout for the Bulldogs as well. He played a vital role on the talented 1940 team.

 The 50-year anniversary of the undefeated 1934 season happened to feature the return of Union football. In just the second year of the program’s return, the Bulldogs registered a winning record of 5-4-1.

The following season, Union took another step forward as the Orange and Black accomplished an impressive 7-3 season, while being ranked in the NAIA Division II football poll.

The Bulldogs had successful campaigns in both 1988 and 1991 as Union was 6-4 in each of those seasons. The 1992 team established itself as one of the most successful Bulldog teams as Union went 8-2 overall, while being co-champions of the Mid-South Conference.

That season, the Bulldogs’ losses came against Findlay and Georgetown respectively. Findlay won the NAIA Division II National Championship in 1992, while Georgetown won it the season before in 1991.

Union would go on to earn seven-win seasons in 1994 and 1995. The Bulldogs went 9-3 in 2008 with an appearance in the opening round of the NAIA Football Championship Series.

Following the 2008 season, the Bulldogs were ranked at No. 10 in the NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Postseason Poll. Two seasons later, the Bulldogs posted an overall record of 7-4 in 2010.

Looking ahead to the 2024 season, Union is putting an emphasis on embracing its alumni and the 40-year anniversary of Union football’s return.

“This is an amazing celebration that aligns with our mission, who we are, and how far we’ve come,” said current Union President Dr. DJ Washington. “I can’t think of a better way to preserve and honor the long-standing relationship between the sport of football and this growing institution. Our dear old Union will continue to yield a competitive atmosphere where we showcase the best talent of small college football for years to come.”

Even with the amount of time that’s passed, there are still similarities and connections in the present day to the program’s return four decades ago. Burch and Nau were each inducted into Union’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. During the 1991 Homecoming ceremonies, the field was named in their honor.

Forty years following the program’s return, the Bulldogs are head coached by John Luttrell. The Harlan native was a standout performer for Union football from 1984-86. In 2002, Luttrell joined Burch and Nau in Union’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

“I owe a great deal to Union not only in my personal life, but my professional life,” said Luttrell. “I got my coaching start here. I got commissioned as a second lieutenant and started my military career here. That was a big time for me personally. It was a big reason I always wanted to come back and be a coach here again. Basically, just to give back and try to help these young men get what I got out of it. The community was great. They were such a big part of us getting the program started. I think it’s a good thing to recognize that era, and really what it’s done to the school itself.”

The 2024 Homecoming, “The Re-Union,” is scheduled for Oct. 4-5 with a several events planned for each day, including a special celebration of “40 Years of Bringing Back Football.” Included in the planned events is a President’s Picnic on Friday, Oct. 4, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Union football will host Bluefield on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 4:00 p.m. For more information on the events and registration, see unionky.edu/homecoming, email alumni@unionky.eduall, or call (606) 546-1281.