What Is 2001 The Citadel Bulldogs football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2001 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel Military College during the 2001 NCAA Division I-AA football season, finishing with a 6–5 overall record under head coach Charlie Taaffe, who resigned mid-season, leading to wide receiver coach Maurice Drayton taking over as interim.

Key Facts

The 2001 The Citadel Bulldogs finished the season with a 6–5 overall record
Head coach Charlie Taaffe resigned mid-season after a 2–5 start
Interim head coach Maurice Drayton led the team for the final five games
The team played as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon)
They won four of their final five games under Drayton’s leadership

Overview

The 2001 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, during the 2001 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Competing in the Southern Conference (SoCon), the team faced significant upheaval when head coach Charlie Taaffe resigned after a 2–5 start, marking a pivotal moment in the program’s season.

Despite early struggles, the Bulldogs showed resilience under interim leadership, finishing strong with a 4–1 record in their final five games. The season concluded with an overall 6–5 record, reflecting both instability and determination under new guidance.

Record: The team finished the 2001 season with a 6–5 overall record, a rare winning mark during a transitional period in the program’s history.
Conference: As a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon), The Citadel competed against regional rivals including Appalachian State and Furman.
Head Coach: Charlie Taaffe resigned after five games, having led the team since 1987 and compiling a 78–76–2 record over 14 seasons.
Interim Leader: Wide receivers coach Maurice Drayton assumed head coaching duties for the final five games of the season.
Season Turnaround: The Bulldogs won four of their last five games, including victories over VMI and Chattanooga, showcasing late-season momentum.

Season Leadership and Coaching Changes

The 2001 season was defined by a major coaching transition that reshaped the team’s trajectory. After a 2–5 start, long-time head coach Charlie Taaffe stepped down, prompting a shift in leadership that tested the program’s depth and adaptability.

Resignation Date: Charlie Taaffe resigned on October 15, 2001, following a 28–17 loss to Western Carolina that dropped the team to 2–5.
Interim Appointment: Maurice Drayton, then the wide receivers coach, was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
First Game as HC: Drayton’s first game leading the team was a 24–21 win over VMI on October 20, 2001, sparking a late-season revival.
Coaching Experience: Drayton had previously served as a graduate assistant and position coach but had no prior head coaching experience at the collegiate level.
Recruiting Impact: The leadership change raised concerns among recruits, though Drayton’s performance helped stabilize interest in the program.
Future Role: Drayton later became head coach at Charleston Southern in 2023, marking a full-circle moment in his coaching career.

Comparison at a Glance

The Citadel’s 2001 season performance compared to recent years highlights both inconsistency and resilience under pressure. The table below contrasts key metrics across three seasons.

Season	Overall Record	SoCon Record	Head Coach	Notable Outcome
1999	5–6	4–4	Charlie Taaffe	Mid-tier SoCon finish
2000	4–7	3–5	Charlie Taaffe	Missed postseason
2001	6–5	4–4	Taafe/Drayton	Interim leadership turnaround
2002	6–5	5–3	Maurice Drayton (interim)	Best SoCon performance in years
2003	3–8	2–6	John Zernhelt	New head coach struggled to maintain momentum

The 2001 season stands out for its mid-year coaching change and the team’s ability to rebound under Drayton. Though not eligible for the FCS playoffs due to NCAA reclassification rules at the time, the Bulldogs demonstrated marked improvement in morale and execution during the second half of the season.

Why It Matters

The 2001 season holds historical significance for The Citadel football program, illustrating how leadership transitions can impact team performance and institutional stability. It also marked the emergence of Maurice Drayton as a future head coach, adding long-term relevance to the season.

Leadership Test: The mid-season resignation tested the program’s depth and crisis management capabilities.
Player Development: Young players gained valuable experience under Drayton, contributing to improved performance in 2002.
Recruiting Signal: Successfully navigating a coaching change helped maintain recruiting momentum despite uncertainty.
Historical Benchmark: The 6–5 record was one of only two winning seasons between 1999 and 2004.
Coaching Legacy: Drayton’s interim role foreshadowed his eventual rise to head coach at another FCS program.
Institutional Resilience: The season demonstrated The Citadel’s ability to adapt under pressure, a core value of the military college.

The 2001 The Citadel Bulldogs football season remains a case study in adaptability, leadership, and perseverance, offering lessons relevant to collegiate sports programs facing similar transitions.