What Is 1960 The Citadel Bulldogs football

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1960 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, during the 1960 NCAA University Division season. They finished with a record of 4–6 under head coach John S. Griffith, who was in his fourth season.

Key Facts

The 1960 The Citadel Bulldogs football team had a 4–6 overall record
They competed in the Southern Conference and went 2–4 in conference play
Head coach John S. Griffith led the team in his fourth season
The season included a 14–13 win over VMI in a close rivalry game
Home games were played at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, SC

Overview

The 1960 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, during the 1960 NCAA University Division football season. Competing in the Southern Conference, the team was led by head coach John S. Griffith, who was in his fourth year at the helm.

The Bulldogs played their home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina, a venue that has hosted The Citadel’s football team since 1948. Despite a challenging schedule, the team showed moments of competitiveness, particularly in conference matchups and rivalry games.

Record: The team finished the season with a 4–6 overall record, reflecting a slight improvement from previous years under Griffith’s leadership.
Conference performance: In Southern Conference play, The Citadel went 2–4, placing them in the lower half of the league standings.
Head coach: John S. Griffith, who served from 1957 to 1960, concluded his tenure after this season with a cumulative 10–24–1 record.
Key victory: A 14–13 win over Virginia Military Institute (VMI) stood out as a highlight, preserving the rivalry’s intensity.
Home stadium: Johnson Hagood Stadium, with a capacity of around 10,500 at the time, hosted all home games and remains in use today.

Season Performance and Game Results

The 1960 season featured a mix of close losses and hard-fought wins, showcasing the team’s resilience despite an overall losing record. The Bulldogs faced a balanced schedule of regional and conference opponents, many of whom were stronger programs.

September 17: Lost 14–21 to Furman in the season opener, setting an early tone of competitiveness.
September 24: Suffered a 7–34 defeat against South Carolina, highlighting defensive struggles against stronger teams.
October 1: Secured a 14–13 win over VMI, a crucial victory in the long-standing military rivalry.
October 8: Lost 14–20 to West Virginia, a major conference opponent that tested The Citadel’s limits.
October 15: Lost 6–14 to Richmond, continuing a stretch of narrow defeats.
October 22: Beat Western Carolina 20–14, demonstrating offensive improvement.
October 29: Lost 7–14 to George Washington, another close Southern Conference loss.
November 5: Lost 13–27 to North Carolina State, a tough non-conference matchup.
November 12: Won 20–14 against Davidson, securing their second conference win.
November 19: Lost 0–14 to rival South Carolina, ending the season on a tough note.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1960 season can be better understood by comparing it to surrounding years in The Citadel’s football history.

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Head Coach	Key Result
1958	3–7	2–4	John S. Griffith	Beat VMI 20–14
1959	3–7	2–4	John S. Griffith	Lost to South Carolina 0–28
1960	4–6	2–4	John S. Griffith	Beat VMI 14–13
1961	4–6	3–3	Ed Reeves	Beat Western Carolina 21–14
1962	4–6	3–3	Ed Reeves	Tied The VMI 14–14

This comparison shows that 1960 marked a modest improvement in win total while maintaining consistent conference performance. The transition from Griffith to Ed Reeves in 1961 brought slight changes in strategy, but overall results remained stable through the early 1960s.

Why It Matters

The 1960 season is a snapshot of The Citadel’s football program during a transitional era in college athletics, reflecting both challenges and perseverance. Though not a championship year, it contributed to the long-term development of the team’s identity and competitive spirit.

Rivalry continuity: The close win over VMI preserved one of college football’s oldest military rivalries, now exceeding 100 meetings.
Player development: Several players from the 1960 squad went on to serve in leadership roles in later seasons.
Coaching transition: Griffith’s departure after 1960 led to the hiring of Ed Reeves, who modernized the program.
Stadium legacy: Johnson Hagood Stadium’s role as a fortress for The Citadel was reinforced through consistent home game hosting.
Historical context: The season occurred during a period of growth in Southern Conference football, with increasing competition.
Program foundation: The modest gains in 1960 laid groundwork for future improvements in the 1960s and 1970s.

While not widely remembered nationally, the 1960 Bulldogs season remains a meaningful chapter in The Citadel’s athletic history, illustrating the perseverance of student-athletes in a demanding academic and military environment.