What Is 2008 The Citadel Bulldogs football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2008 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, during the 2008 NCAA Division I FCS season. Led by sixth-year head coach Kevin Higgins, the team finished with a 5–7 overall record, including a 4–4 mark in Southern Conference play.

Key Facts

The 2008 The Citadel Bulldogs finished the season with a 5–7 overall record
Head coach Kevin Higgins was in his sixth season leading the program
The team played its home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston
They went 4–4 in Southern Conference (SoCon) competition
Quarterback Matt Thompson started most games under center

Overview

The 2008 The Citadel Bulldogs football team competed in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as members of the Southern Conference (SoCon). Coached by Kevin Higgins, who was in his sixth year at the helm, the team aimed to build on previous seasons' improvements and contend for a conference title.

The season was marked by modest progress and competitive performances against regional rivals. While the Bulldogs narrowly missed a winning record, they demonstrated resilience and growth under Higgins’ leadership. The team played all home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium, one of the most storied venues in FCS football.

Overall record: The Bulldogs finished the 2008 season with a 5–7 win-loss record, showing slight improvement from the previous year’s 4–7 mark.
Conference performance: In Southern Conference play, they posted a 4–4 record, tying for fifth place in the nine-team league.
Head coach:Kevin Higgins led the team in his sixth season, compiling a 5–7 record in 2008 and a 39–36 overall record at The Citadel by season’s end.
Home stadium: The Bulldogs played all home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina, which has a capacity of 11,400 and is known for its intimidating atmosphere.
Key player: Quarterback Matt Thompson started most games, throwing for 1,654 yards and nine touchdowns while also contributing on the ground.

Season Performance

The 2008 campaign featured a mix of close losses and solid wins, highlighting both the team’s potential and areas needing improvement. The Bulldogs opened the season with a win against Presbyterian but struggled against stronger conference opponents later in the year.

Opening win: The Bulldogs began the season with a 27–24 victory over Presbyterian, a local FCS opponent, setting a positive tone early.
Offensive stats: The team averaged 21.8 points per game and 317.6 yards of total offense, relying heavily on a balanced run-pass attack.
Defensive effort: The defense allowed 26.8 points per game, struggling at times against high-powered SoCon offenses like Appalachian State and Georgia Southern.
Key loss: A 27–13 defeat to Appalachian State in October showcased the gap between The Citadel and the conference’s elite programs.
Season finale: The Bulldogs closed the year with a 24–21 win over VMI, securing a winning home record and ending on a positive note.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2008 season compared to recent Citadel football campaigns in terms of key metrics:

Season	Overall Record	SoCon Record	Head Coach	Key Statistic
2008	5–7	4–4	Kevin Higgins	Scored 262 points (21.8 ppg)
2007	4–7	3–5	Kevin Higgins	Scored 210 points (19.1 ppg)
2006	5–6	4–4	Kevin Higgins	Scored 237 points (21.5 ppg)
2005	5–6	4–4	Kevin Higgins	Scored 245 points (22.3 ppg)
2004	6–5	5–3	Kevin Higgins	Scored 273 points (24.8 ppg)

The 2008 season represented a slight uptick in performance compared to 2007, though the team still fell short of a winning record. While scoring improved slightly, consistency remained an issue, especially in road games. The Citadel continued to be competitive within the SoCon but lacked the depth to challenge for a conference title.

Why It Matters

The 2008 season is a snapshot of The Citadel’s football program during a transitional era under Kevin Higgins. Though not a championship contender, the team remained competitive and laid groundwork for future development.

Program continuity: The 2008 season reinforced Kevin Higgins’ long-term leadership, as he became one of the longest-tenured coaches in school history.
Player development: Several underclassmen gained experience, including future starters who would contribute in 2009 and 2010.
Recruiting impact: Competitive performances helped maintain recruiting momentum in South Carolina and the Southeast.
Stadium tradition: Johnson Hagood Stadium continued to provide a strong home-field advantage, with consistent fan support.
Conference relevance: The Citadel remained a respected member of the Southern Conference, contributing to league parity.
Foundation for future: The modest gains in 2008 contributed to a 6–6 record in 2009, showing incremental progress.

While the 2008 Bulldogs did not achieve postseason play, their season reflected steady effort and development within a challenging FCS conference. The team’s performance underscored the competitive nature of military college athletics and the ongoing pursuit of excellence at The Citadel.