What Is 1938 The Citadel Bulldogs football

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1938 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel Military College in the 1938 college football season, finishing with a 3–5–1 record under head coach Tatum Gressette. They competed as a member of the Southern Conference.

Key Facts

The 1938 The Citadel Bulldogs football team had a final record of 3 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie (3–5–1).
Head coach Tatum Gressette led the team during his fifth season at the helm.
The Bulldogs played as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) in 1938.
They played their home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina.
Their season included a notable 6–0 victory over VMI, a key military rivalry game.

Overview

The 1938 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel Military College during the 1938 college football season. Competing in the NCAA's Southern Conference, the team was led by head coach Tatum Gressette, who was in his fifth year at the school.

The Bulldogs played a challenging schedule against regional rivals and finished the season with a 3–5–1 overall record. Despite a losing record, the team maintained a strong defensive identity and upheld the military school's tradition of discipline on the field.

Season Record: The team ended the year with 3 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie, reflecting a modest performance in a competitive Southern Conference lineup.
Head Coach:Tatum Gressette, in his fifth season, continued to build the program with an emphasis on physical, disciplined play.
Home Stadium: All home games were played at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina, a venue that has hosted Citadel football since 1927.
Conference: As a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon), the Bulldogs faced traditional rivals such as VMI, Furman, and William & Mary.
Key Game: A 6–0 win over VMI stood out as the season's highlight, showcasing the team’s defensive strength in the long-standing military college rivalry.

Season Schedule and Results

The 1938 season featured a mix of conference and non-conference matchups, with games spread across South Carolina and neighboring states. The Bulldogs faced both established programs and smaller regional schools.

September 24: Opened the season with a 0–0 tie against Newberry College, a game marked by strong defensive play on both sides.
October 1: Lost 7–6 to Furman, a close contest that demonstrated the team’s ability to compete with conference rivals.
October 8: Fell to South Carolina (Gamecocks) 13–0, highlighting the gap between the Bulldogs and stronger in-state programs.
October 22: Secured a critical 6–0 victory over VMI, one of the few bright spots in the season and a morale boost for the team.
November 5: Lost 13–0 to William & Mary, another tough Southern Conference opponent with a rising football program.
November 12: Defeated Davidson 13–6, marking one of three wins and showing improvement in offensive execution.
November 26: Concluded the season with a 20–0 loss to North Carolina, a powerful team that would go on to have a strong season.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of The Citadel's 1938 performance against select Southern Conference peers:

Team	Overall Record	SoCon Record	Head Coach	Notable Result
The Citadel	3–5–1	2–3–1	Tatum Gressette	6–0 win vs. VMI
William & Mary	5–5	3–3	John Kellison	Beat Richmond 19–0
Furman	5–4–1	3–2–1	B. B. McCain	Tied Clemson 0–0
VMI	3–5–1	1–4–1	Pooley Hubert	Lost to The Citadel 6–0
South Carolina	7–3	5–2	Rex Enright	Beat Clemson 21–13

The Citadel’s 3–5–1 record placed them near the bottom of the Southern Conference standings. While they performed similarly to VMI, stronger programs like South Carolina and Furman demonstrated greater consistency. The close games against Furman and William & Mary suggest the Bulldogs were competitive but lacked the depth to secure more wins.

Why It Matters

The 1938 season is a snapshot of The Citadel’s football program during a transitional era in college sports. It reflects the challenges faced by smaller military colleges in maintaining competitive teams against larger state schools.

The season underscored the importance of rivalry games, particularly the win over VMI, which remains a cornerstone of The Citadel’s athletic identity.
Playing in the Southern Conference provided exposure to strong competition, helping shape future recruiting and coaching strategies.
The defensive focus of the 1938 team mirrored the disciplined, structured culture of the military college environment.
Despite a losing record, the team maintained student-athlete standards consistent with the school’s rigorous academic and military training.
The season contributed to the long-term development of Johnson Hagood Stadium as a historic venue in college football.
Historical records from 1938 help preserve institutional memory and support alumni engagement with the program’s legacy.

Though not a standout year in terms of wins, the 1938 season remains a documented chapter in The Citadel’s athletic history, illustrating perseverance and the enduring spirit of its football program.