Carroll Fighting Saints football
The Carroll Fighting Saint football program represents Carroll College of Helena, Montana in college football. The team competes in the Frontier Conference, which is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Carroll Fighting Saints football team began playing in 1920 and is one of the most successful programs in the NAIA division of college football. The program has won six NAIA Football National Championships (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010) and 40 conference championships, 14 while a member of the Montana Collegiate Conference and 26 as a member of the Frontier Conference. The team is currently coached by Troy Purcell who in his 1st season at Carroll. The Carroll College Fighting Saints plays their home games on campus at Nelson Stadium.
| Carroll Fighting Saints | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First season | 1920 |
| Head coach | Troy Purcell 1st season, 6–4 (.600) |
| Stadium | Nelson Stadium (Capacity: 7,000) |
| Field surface | Grass |
| Location | Helena, Montana |
| Conference | Frontier Conference |
| All-time record | 428–244–16 (.634) |
| Claimed nat'l titles | 6 (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010) |
| Conference titles | 43 |
| Rivalries | Montana Tech University |
| Colors | Purple and Gold |
| Mascot | Fighting Saints (Halo) |
| Website | carrollathletics.com |
Brandon Day, a linebacker on the team in 2007, made the December 24, 2007 cover of Sports Illustrated.[1][2]
Notable alumni
In addition, the Carroll program has developed many well known talents either as a coach or a player, including the winningest coach in college football history, John Gagliardi, former Detroit Lions tight end, Casey FitzSimmons, and former Louisville Cardinals football head coach, Bobby Petrino. The team is currently coached by Troy Purcell and plays its home game on campus at Nelson Stadium.
Championships
National Championship appearances
| Year | Coach | Result | Score | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Mike Van Diest | Won | 28–7 | Georgetown (KY) |
| 2003 | Mike Van Diest | Won | 41–28 | Northwestern Oklahoma State |
| 2004 | Mike Van Diest | Won | 15–13 | St. Francis (IN) |
| 2005 | Mike Van Diest | Won | 27–10 | St. Francis (IN) |
| 2007 | Mike Van Diest | Won | 17–9 | Sioux Falls |
| 2008 | Mike Van Diest | Lost | 23–7 | Sioux Falls |
| 2010 | Mike Van Diest | Won | 10–7 | Sioux Falls |
| 2011 | Mike Van Diest | lost | 24–20 | St. Xavier |
Conference championships
| Year | Conference | Coach | Postseason result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | Montana Collegiate Conference | Wilbur Eaton | |
| 1927 | Montana Collegiate Conference | Wilbur Eaton | |
| 1928 | Montana Collegiate Conference | Wilbur Eaton | |
| 1931 | Montana Collegiate Conference | Bill Jones | |
| 1940 | Montana Collegiate Conference | Ed Simonich | |
| 1941 | Montana Collegiate Conference | Ed Simonich | |
| 1950 | Montana Collegiate Conference | John Gagliardi | |
| 1951 | Montana Collegiate Conference | John Gagliardi | |
| 1952 | Montana Collegiate Conference | John Gagliardi | |
| 1953 | Montana Collegiate Conference | Raymond Hunthausen | |
| 1954 | Montana Collegiate Conference | Raymond Hunthausen | |
| 1955 | Montana Collegiate Conference | Raymond Hunthausen | |
| 1956 | Montana Collegiate Conference | Raymond Hunthausen | |
| 1960 | Montana Collegiate Conference | John Hunthausen | |
| 1972 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | |
| 1973 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | |
| 1974 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | |
| 1976 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | |
| 1978 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | NAIA Quarterfinal |
| 1980 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | |
| 1981 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | |
| 1982 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | |
| 1985 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | NAIA Semifinal |
| 1986 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | NAIA Semifinal |
| 1987 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | NAIA First Round |
| 1988 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | NAIA Semifinal |
| 1989 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | NAIA First Round |
| 1990 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | |
| 1993 | Frontier Conference | Bob Petrino Sr. | NAIA First Round |
| 2000 | Frontier Conference | Mike Van Diest | NAIA Semifinal |
| 2001 | Frontier Conference | Mike Van Diest | NAIA Semifinal |
| 2002 | Frontier Conference | Mike Van Diest | NAIA National Champion |
| 2003 | Frontier Conference | Mike Van Diest | NAIA National Champion |
| 2004 | Frontier Conference | Mike Van Diest | NAIA National Champion |
| 2005 | Frontier Conference | Mike Van Diest | NAIA National Champion |
| 2006 | Frontier Conference | Mike Van Diest | NAIA Quarterfinal |
| 2007 | Frontier Conference | Mike Van Diest | NAIA National Champion |
| 2008 | Frontier Conference | Mike Van Diest | NAIA Finalist |
| 2009 | Frontier Conference | Mike Van Diest | NAIA Semifinal |
| 2010 | Frontier Conference | Mike Van Diest | NAIA National Champion |
| 2011 | Frontier Conference | Mike Van Diest | NAIA Final |
| 2013 | Frontier Conference | Mike Van Diest | NAIA Semifinal |
| 2014 | Frontier Conference | Mike Van Diest | NAIA Quarterfinal |