Stetson Hatters | |||
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First season | 1901 (ended 1956, relaunched 2013) |
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Athletic director | Jeff Altier | ||
Head coach |
Roger Hughes 4th year, 13–27 (.325) |
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Stadium | Spec Martin Stadium | ||
Seating capacity | 6,000 | ||
Location | DeLand, Florida | ||
NCAA division | Division I FCS | ||
Conference | Pioneer Football League | ||
Bowl record | 1–0 (1.000) | ||
Colors | Hunter Green and White |
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Rivals |
Mercer Rollins |
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Website | GoHatters.com |
The Stetson Hatters football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Stetson University located in the U.S. state of Florida. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Pioneer Football League. Stetson's first football team was fielded in 1901, but the school dropped the sport in 1956 and did not reinstate it until 2013. The team plays its home games at the 6,000 seat Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand, Florida. The Hatters are coached by Roger Hughes.
A 7-game series between intramural teams from Stetson and Forbes occurred in 1894, the first football games in the state of Florida. The first intercollegiate game between official varsity teams was played on November 22, 1901. Stetson beat Florida Agricultural College at Lake City, one of the four forerunners of the University of Florida, 6-0, in a game played as part of the Jacksonville Fair. A sure score by FAC was obstructed by a tree stump. Stetson claims state titles in 1901, 1903, 1905, 1906, 1907, and 1909.
The Hatters participated in one bowl game, the 1952 Tangerine Bowl. They won 35–20 over Arkansas State.
After a 57-year hiatus, on August 31, 2013, Stetson revived their football program against Warner University (who were playing in their inaugural football game) at Spec Martin Stadium. The Hatters held a lead of 10-3 with 12:35 remaining in the 2nd quarter when the game was suspended due to lightning. After more than a two-hour delay, the game was officially postponed until the next day. On September 1, 2013, the game resumed, and Stetson won 31-3. It was Stetson's first win since defeating the University of Havana 64-0 at the end of the 1956 season.