The 2016 Southern Conference football season was the 95th season of college football for the Southern Conference (SoCon) and formed a part of the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season.
Head coaches
Russ Huesman, Chattanooga – 8th year Brent Thompson, The Citadel – 1st year Carl Torbush, East Tennessee State – 2nd year Bruce Fowler, Furman – 6th year Bobby Lamb, Mercer – 4th year
Chris Hatcher, Samford – 2nd year Scott Wachenheim, VMI – 2nd year Mark Speir, Western Carolina – 5th year Mike Ayers, Wofford – 29th year
Preseason poll results First place votes in parentheses MediaCoachesPlaceSchoolPointsPlaceSchoolPoints1Chattanooga (26)2501Chattanooga (7)632The Citadel (2)2082The Citadel (1)523Western Carolina1793Samford (1)504Mercer1484Western Carolina415Samford1475Mercer386Wofford1366Wofford337Furman1027Furman248VMI628VMI149East Tennessee State289East Tennessee State9
Preseason All-Conference Teams Offensive Player of the Year: Detrez Newsome, Jr., RB (Western Carolina) Defensive Player of the Year: Keionta Davis, Sr., DL (Chattanooga) Position Player Class Team First Team Offense QB Al Cobb Jr. VMI RB Derrick Craine Sr. Chattanooga RB Detrez Newsome Jr. Western Carolina WR Karel Hamilton Sr. Samford WR Aaron Sanders Sr. VMI TE Tyler Sexton Sr. Western Carolina OL Isaiah Pinson Jr. The Citadel OL Brett Niederreither Sr. Mercer OL Armando Bonheur Sr. Samford OL Corey Levin Sr. Chattanooga OL Jacob Revis Jr. Chattanooga OL (tie) Anton Wahrby Sr. Wofford First Team Defense DL Joe Crochet Sr. The Citadel DL Ahmad Gooden Sophomore Samford DL Keionta Davis Sr. Chattanooga DL Miles Brown So. Wofford LB Tevin Floyd Sr. The Citadel LB Nakevion Leslie Sr. Chattanooga LB Tyson Dickson Sr. Western Carolina LB (tie) Daniel Riddle Jr. Western Carolina DB Dee Delaney Jr. The Citadel DB Trey Robinson Sr. Furman DB Jamerson Blount Sr. Samford DB Lucas Webb Jr. Chattanooga First Team Special Teams PK Henrique Ribeiro Sr. Chattanooga P Ian Berryman So. Western Carolina RS Dane Forlines Sr. VMIReference:
Rankings + Legend Increase in ranking Decrease in ranking Not ranked previous week
Pre Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 FinalChattanooga Stats 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 11 10 9 7 12 C 7 6 4 3 3 3 3 8 8 8 7 11 FCS Not released 8 7 NR Not releasedThe Citadel Stats 15 15 15 10 9 9 8 5 5 5 5 5 C 15 16 15 10 10 9 9 6 7 7 6 6 FCS Not released 6 6 6 Not releasedEast Tennessee State Stats – – – RV – – – – – – – – C – – – – – – – – – – – FCS Not released – – – Not releasedFurman Stats – RV RV – – – – – – – – – C RV – – – – – – – – – – FCS Not released – – – Not releasedMercer Stats RV RV – RV – – – – – – – – C RV – – – – – – – – – – FCS Not released – – – Not releasedSamford Stats RV RV RV RV RV RV 24 21 20 20 22 18 C RV RV RV RV RV 24 20 19 18 21 18 FCS Not released – – – Not releasedVMI Stats – – – – – – – – – – – – C – – – – – – – – – – – FCS Not released – – – Not releasedWestern Carolina Stats RV RV RV – – – – – – – – – C – – – – – – – – – – – FCS Not released – – – Not releasedWofford Stats RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 20 C RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 19 FCS Not released – – – Not released
Regular season Index to colors and formattingSoCon member wonSoCon member lostSoCon teams in bold All times Eastern time.
Rankings reflect that of the Sports Network poll for that week.
Week One Date Time Visiting team Home team Site Broadcast Result Attendance Reference September 1 7:00 PM The Citadel Mercer Moye Complex • Macon, GA FSN CIT 24–23 12,542 September 1 7:00 PM Shorter Chattanooga Finley Stadium • Chattanooga, TN SDN W 66–0 9,588 September 1 7:00 PM Samford Seibert Stadium • Homewood, AL ESPN3 W 77–7 4,482 September 1 7:00 PM Wofford Tennessee Tech Tucker Stadium • Cookeville, TN OVCDN W 21–7 9,066 September 2 7:00 PM Furman Michigan State Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI BTN L 13–28 74,516 September 3 6:00 PM Western Carolina East Carolina Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC ESPN3 L 7–52 44,161 September 3 6:30 PM VMI Akron InfoCision Stadium • Akron, OH ESPN3 L 24–47 11,061 September 3 7:00 PM East Tennessee State Kennesaw State Fifth Third Bank Stadium • Kennesaw, GA WPCH W 20–17 8,574
Players of the week: Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Tyler Renew The Citadel Jaleel Green Wofford JJ Jerman East Tennessee StateReference: Weekly Release
Week Two Date Time Visiting team Home team Site Broadcast Result Attendance Reference September 10 2:00 PM Presbyterian Chattanooga Finley Stadium • Chattanooga, TN SDN W 34–0 8,370 September 10 3:00 PM Mercer Georgia Tech Bobby Dodd Stadium • Atlanta, GA ESPN3 L 10–35 49,992 September 10 4:00 PM Wofford Ole Miss Vaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS SECN L 13–38 64,232 September 10 6:00 PM Furman The Citadel Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC ESPN3 CIT 19–14 12,009 September 10 6:00 PM VMI Morehead State Jayne Stadium • Morehead, KY OVCDN W 17–13 5,588 September 10 6:00 PM Gardner–Webb Western Carolina E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC SDN W 44–14 11,598 September 10 7:00 PM Samford Central Arkansas Estes Stadium • Conway, AR BNN W 35–29 9,987
Players of the week: Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Tyrie Adams Western Carolina Dee Delaney The Citadel Austin Barnard SamfordReference: Weekly Release
Week Three Date Time Visiting team Home team Site Broadcast Result Attendance Reference September 17 1:30 PM Western Carolina East Tennessee State Bristol Motor Speedway • Bristol, TN ESPN3 ETSU 34–31 13,863 September 17 3:00 PM Wofford Gibbs Stadium • Spartanburg, SC ESPN3 W 59–0 5,417 September 17 4:00 PM Tennessee Tech Mercer Moye Complex • Macon, GA ESPN3 W 34–27 9,772 September 17 6:00 PM The Citadel Gardner–Webb Ernest W. Spangler Stadium • Boiling Springs, NC BSN W 31–24 6,850 September 17 7:00 PM Chattanooga Furman Paladin Stadium • Greenville, SC ESPN3 UTC 21–14 5,347
Players of the week: Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Austin Herink East Tennessee State Nakevion Leslie Chattanooga DeAndre Shoultz The CitadelReference: Weekly Release
Week Four Date Time Visiting team Home team Site Broadcast Result Attendance Reference September 24 1:30 PM East Tennessee State Wofford Gibbs Stadium • Spartanburg, SC ESPN3 WOF 31–0 7,316 September 24 2:00 PM Samford Chattanooga Finley Stadium • Chattanooga, TN SDN UTC 41–21 8,714 September 24 3:00 PM VMI Bucknell Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium • Lewisburg, PA PLN W 23–173OT 4,972 September 24 6:00 PM Furman Coastal Carolina Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC CCUN L 21–41 10,311
Players of the week: Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Derrick Craine Chattanooga Ryan Francis VMI Henrique Ribeiro ChattanoogaReference: Weekly Release
Week Five Date Time Visiting team Home team Site Broadcast Result Attendance Reference October 1 12:00 PM Chattanooga East Tennessee State Kermit Tipton Stadium • Johnson City, TN SDN UTC 37–17 7,411 October 1 1:30 PM Mercer VMI Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA ESPN3 MER 33–30OT 5,266 October 1 3:00 PM Wofford Samford Seibert Stadium • Homewood, AL ESPN3 SAM 28–26 8,509 October 1 3:00 PM Kennesaw State Furman Paladin Stadium • Greenville, SC ESPN3 L 42–52 6,970 October 1 3:30 PM The Citadel Western Carolina E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC ESPN3 CIT 37–14 12,283
Players of the week: Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Deviln Hodges Samford Joe Crochet The Citadel Henrique Ribeiro ChattanoogaReference: Weekly Release
Week Six Date Time Visiting team Home team Site Broadcast Result Attendance Reference October 6 7:00 PM The Citadel Younts Stadium • Tigerville, SC W 38–14 5,435 October 8 1:00 PM Samford Furman Paladin Stadium • Greenville, SC ESPN3 SAM 38–21 4,587 October 8 1:30 PM East Tennessee State VMI Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA ESPN3 VMI 37–7 5,638 October 8 4:00 PM Mercer Chattanooga Finley Stadium • Chattanooga, TN SDN UTC 52–31 11,039 October 8 7:00 PM Wofford Western Carolina E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC ESPN3 WOF 31–19 9,457
Players of the week: Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Devlin Hodges Samford Montrell Pardue Chattanooga David Marvin WoffordReference: Weekly Release
Week Seven Date Time Visiting team Home team Site Broadcast Result Attendance Reference October 15 12:00 PM Furman East Tennessee State Kermit Tipton Stadium • Johnson City, TN SDN FUR 52–7 6,052 October 15 3:00 PM Chattanooga The Citadel Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC FSN CIT 22–14 14,590 October 15 3:00 PM VMI Samford Seibert Stadium • Homewood, AL ESPN3 SAM 55–21 4,085 October 15 4:00 PM Western Carolina Mercer Moye Complex • Macon, GA ESPN3 MER 38–24 12,247
Players of the week: Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Devlin Hodges Samford Nakevion Leslie Chattanooga Cody Clark The CitadelReference: Weekly Release
Week Eight Date Time Visiting team Home team Site Broadcast Result Attendance Reference October 20 7:30 PM East Tennessee State Kermit Tipton Stadium • Johnson City, TN SDN W 38–7 6,196 October 22 1:30 PM The Citadel Wofford Gibbs Stadium • Spartanburg, SC ESPN3 CIT 24–21OT 11,102 October 22 2:00 PM VMI Chattanooga Finley Stadium • Chattanooga, TN SDN UTC 30–13 10,505 October 22 5:00 PM Mercer Austin Peay Fortera Stadium • Clarksville, TN OVCDN W 41–34 6,506 October 22 7:00 PM Western Carolina Samford Seibert Stadium • Homewood, AL ASN SAM 30–17 4,031
Players of the week: Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Karel Hamilton Samford Kailik Williams The Citadel David Marvin WoffordReference: Weekly Release
Week Nine Date Time Visiting team Home team Site Broadcast Result Attendance Reference October 29 1:30 PM Furman VMI Alumni Memorial Stadium • Lexington, VA ESPN3 FUR 24–10 5,610 October 29 1:30 PM Mercer Wofford Gibbs Stadium • Spartanburg, SC ESPN3 WOF 31–21 6,190 October 29 2:00 PM East Tennessee State The Citadel Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC ESPN3 CIT 45–10 12,978 October 29 2:30 PM Samford Mississippi State Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS SECN L 41–56 58,019 October 29 3:30 PM Chattanooga Western Carolina E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC SDN UTC 38–25 10,760
Players of the week: Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Detrez Newsome Western Carolina Paul Hunter East Tennessee State David Howerton WoffordReference: Weekly Release
Week Ten Date Time Visiting team Home team Site Broadcast Result Attendance Reference November 5 1:30 PM Wofford Furman Paladin Stadium • Greenville, SC ESPN3 WOF 34–27 7,834 November 5 2:00 PM Samford The Citadel Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC ESPN3 CIT 37–34OT 15,015 November 5 2:00 PM VMI Western Carolina E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC SDN WCU 32–29 8,225 November 5 3:00 PM East Tennessee State Mercer Moye Complex • Macon, GA FSN MER 21–13 10,200
Players of the week: Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Tyler Renew The Citadel Keion Crossen Western Carolina David Marvin WoffordReference: Weekly Release
Week Eleven Date Time Visiting team Home team Site Broadcast Result Attendance Reference November 12 1:00 PM East Tennessee State Kermit Tipton Stadium • Johnson City, TN SDN W 23-16 6,735 November 12 1:30 PM The Citadel VMI Alumni Memorial Stadium • Lexington, VA ESPN3 CIT 30-20 8,251 November 12 2:00 PM Wofford Chattanooga Finley Stadium • Chattanooga, TN SDN WOF 36-28 8,750 November 12 3:30 PM Mercer Samford Seibert Stadium • Homewood, AL ESPN3 SAM 24-19 8,379 November 12 4:00 PM Western Carolina Furman Paladin Stadium • Greenville, SC ESPN3 FUR 49-21 4,117
Players of the week: Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Devlin Hodges Samford Jonathan King The Citadel Lennox McAfee WoffordReference: Weekly Release
Week Twelve