2019 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team

The 2019 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team represented Gardner–Webb University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by seventh-year head coach Carroll McCray and played their home games at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium. They were members of the Big South Conference. They finished the season 3–9, 1–5 in Big South play to finish in a three-way tie for fifth place. On November 24, 2019, Carroll McCray was fired, he finished with a record of 27–53.[1]

2019 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football
Conference	Big South Conference
2019 record	3–9 (1–5 Big South)
Head coach	Carroll McCray (7th season)
Offensive coordinator	Brett Nichols (7th season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Chris Grimes
Co-defensive coordinator	Dennis Thomas
Home stadium	Ernest W. Spangler Stadium (Capacity: 9,000)

2019 Big South Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 12 Monmouth $^		6	–	0					11	–	3
No. 13 Kennesaw State ^		5	–	1					11	–	3
Charleston Southern		4	–	2					6	–	6
Campbell		3	–	3					6	–	5
Hampton		1	–	5					5	–	7
Gardner–Webb		1	–	5					3	–	9
Presbyterian		1	–	5					2	–	10
North Alabama *		0	–	0					4	–	7
$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant * North Alabama ineligible for FCS postseason play due to transition to NCAA Division I Rankings from STATS Poll

Previous season

The Runnin' Bulldogs finished the 2018 season 3–8, 2–3 in Big South play to finish in fourth place.

Preseason

Big South poll

In the Big South preseason poll released on July 21, 2019, the Runnin' Bulldogs were predicted to finish in fifth place.[2]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Kennesaw State	134 (14)
2	Monmouth	122 (5)
3	Charleston Southern	79 (1)
4	Campbell	73
5	Gardner–Webb	67
6	Hampton	64
7	Presbyterian	21
—	North Alabama	n/a

Preseason All–Big South team

The Runnin' Bulldogs had three players selected to the preseason all-Big South team.[3]

Offense Brandon Leahey – OL

Defense John Singleton – DL Darien Reynolds – LB

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 29	7:30 p.m.	at Charlotte*	Jerry Richardson Stadium Charlotte, NC	ESPN+	L 28–49	16,119
September 7	6:00 p.m.	at East Carolina*	Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Greenville, NC	ESPN3	L 9–48	34,118
September 14	6:00 p.m.	North Carolina Central*	Spangler Stadium Boiling Springs, NC	ESPN+	W 21–12	5,012
September 21	6:00 p.m.	at Wofford*	Gibbs Stadium Spartanburg, SC	ESPN+	L 10–49	3,777
October 5	3:00 p.m.	at Western Carolina*	E.J. Whitmire Stadium Cullowhee, NC	ESPN+	W 24–21	11,865
October 12	1:30 p.m.	Hampton	Spangler Stadium Boiling Springs, NC	ESPN+	W 35–27	6,300
October 19	1:00 p.m.	at Monmouth	Kessler Stadium West Long Branch, NJ	ESPN3	L 28–49	3,466
October 26	1:30 p.m.	Campbell	Spangler Stadium Boiling Springs, NC	ESPN+	L 47–49 ^3OT	1,980
November 2	1:30 p.m.	Charleston Southern	Spangler Stadium Boiling Springs, NC	ESPN+	L 27–30	1,538
November 9	1:00 p.m.	at Presbyterian	Bailey Memorial Stadium Clinton, SC	ESPN+	L 14–24	1,509
November 16	1:30 p.m.	North Alabama	Spangler Stadium Boiling Springs, NC	ESPN+	L 30–34	1,486
November 23	2:00 p.m.	at No. 16 Kennesaw State	Fifth Third Bank Stadium Kennesaw, GA	ESPN3/ESPN+	L 14–42	4,383
*Non-conference game Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

• Source:[4]

Game summaries

at Charlotte

	1	2	3	4	Total
Runnin' Bulldogs	0	14	7	7	28
49ers	7	28	7	7	49

at East Carolina

	1	2	3	4	Total
Runnin' Bulldogs	0	7	2	0	9
Pirates	17	14	7	10	48

North Carolina Central

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	3	6	0	3	12
Runnin' Bulldogs	0	7	7	7	21

at Wofford

	1	2	3	4	Total
Runnin' Bulldogs	0	3	0	7	10
Terriers	14	14	0	21	49

at Western Carolina

	1	2	3	4	Total
Runnin' Bulldogs	7	7	7	3	24
Catamounts	14	0	0	7	21

Hampton

	1	2	3	4	Total
Pirates	3	21	0	3	27
Runnin' Bulldogs	14	7	7	7	35

at Monmouth

	1	2	3	4	Total
Runnin' Bulldogs	7	0	14	7	28
Hawks	7	14	21	7	49

Campbell

	1	2	3	4	OT	2OT	3OT	Total
Fighting Camels	0	13	0	14	7	7	8	49
Runnin' Bulldogs	10	14	3	0	7	7	6	47

Charleston Southern

	1	2	3	4	Total
Buccaneers	10	14	6	0	30
Runnin' Bulldogs	0	0	7	20	27

at Presbyterian

	1	2	3	4	Total
Runnin' Bulldogs	0	14	0	0	14
Blue Hose	3	7	7	7	24

North Alabama

	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	0	14	7	13	34
Runnin' Bulldogs	7	13	3	7	30

at Kennesaw State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Runnin' Bulldogs	7	0	0	7	14
No. 16 Owls	7	7	14	14	42

References

1. "Gardner-Webb's Carroll McCray Will Not Return As Head Football Coach". Gardner–Webb University Athletics. November 24, 2019.
2. "Kennesaw State Voted 2019 Preseason Football Favorite". Big South Conference. July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
3. "Bahar, Armstrong Headline 2019 Preseason All-Conference Team". Big South Conference. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
4. "2019 Football Schedule". gwusports.com. Gardner–Webb University. Retrieved April 30, 2019.