# Virginia Union Panthers football

The Virginia Union Panthers football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Virginia Union University located in the U.S. state of Virginia. The team competes at the NCAA Division II levels and are members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). Virginia Union's first football team was fielded in 1899. The team plays its home games at the 10,000 seat Hovey Field in Richmond, Virginia.

## Conference affiliations

Virginia Union has played as both an independent and conference-affiliated team.
* Independent (1900–1911)
* Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association / Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1912–present)

## Postseason appearances
### NCAA Division II

The Panthers have made eleven appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 2–11. After ten consecutive losses, VUU won its first playoff game in 2024.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1979 | First Round | Delaware | L, 28–58 |
| 1980 | First Round | North Alabama | L, 8–17 |
| 1981 | First Round | Shippensburg State | L, 27–40 |
| 1982 | First Round | North Dakota State | L, 20–21 |
| 1983 | First Round | North Alabama | L, 14–16 |
| 1986 | First Round | Troy State | L, 7–31 |
| 1990 | First Round | Edinboro | L, 14–38 |
| 1991 | First Round | IUP | L, 7–56 |
| 2022 | First Round | Wingate | L, 7–32 |
| 2023 | First Round | Kutztown | L, 15–38 |
| 2024 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | Wingate Lenoir–Rhyne Valdosta State | W, 34–31 $^{OT}$ W, 44–12 L, 14–49 |

## Championships
### Conference championships

The Panthers have won twelve conference championships, they had a championship-drought of 22 years between 2001 and their 2023 championship.
| Year | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference record |
| 1917 | Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Wesley A. Daniel | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| 1921 | Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Harold D. Martin | 6–0–2 | 3–0 |
| 1923 | Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Harold D. Martin | 6–0–1 | 5–0 |
| 1973 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Willard Bailey | 9–1 | 9–0 |
| 1979 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Willard Bailey | 10–2 | 8–0 |
| 1981 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Willard Bailey | 11–1 | 7–0 |
| 1982 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Willard Bailey | 8–3 | 6–1 |
| 1983 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Willard Bailey | 9–2 | 6–1 |
| 1986 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Joe Taylor | 11–1 | 7–0 |
| 2001 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Willard Bailey | 8–3 | 5–1 |
| 2023 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Alvin Parker | 10–2 | 7–1 |
| 2024 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Alvin Parker | 10–4 | 7–1 |

### Divisional championships

The Panthers have won six division titles, in 1981 through 1983, 1986, and 2023: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division and in 2001: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Eastern Division.
| Year | Division championship | Opponent | Result |
| 1981 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division | North Carolina Central | W 45–7 |
| 1982 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division | North Carolina Central | W 33–26 |
| 1983 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division | Winston-Salem State | W 34–7 |
| 1986 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division | Winston-Salem State | W 14–7 |
| 2001 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Eastern Division | Winston-Salem State | W 31–24 |
| 2023 | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division | Fayetteville State | W 21–10 |

## Notable former players

* Pete Hunter
* Mike Brim
* Malcolm Barnwell
* Tony Leonard
* Herbert Scott
* Bob Jones
* Cornelius Johnson
* Roger Anderson