What Is 2009 UT Martin Skyhawks football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2009 UT Martin Skyhawks football team represented the University of Tennessee at Martin in the NCAA Division I FCS football season, finishing with a 4–7 overall record under head coach Jason Simpson, competing in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Key Facts

UT Martin finished the 2009 season with a 4–7 overall record
The team played in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)
Head coach Jason Simpson led the team in his fourth season
The Skyhawks competed in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC)
The team played home games at Graham Stadium in Martin, Tennessee

Overview

The 2009 UT Martin Skyhawks football team represented the University of Tennessee at Martin in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Competing as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), the team was led by head coach Jason Simpson in his fourth year at the helm. The Skyhawks played their home games at Graham Stadium, located on campus in Martin, Tennessee.

This season marked continued development under Simpson’s leadership, with the team striving for greater consistency in conference play. Despite not qualifying for the FCS playoffs, the 2009 campaign contributed to building a foundation for future competitiveness within the OVC. The team’s performance reflected both growing pains and moments of promise.

Final record: The Skyhawks finished the 2009 season with a 4–7 overall record, including a 3–5 mark in OVC play, placing them in the lower half of the conference standings.
Head coach: Jason Simpson was in his fourth season as head coach, continuing to implement a balanced offensive scheme and improve team discipline.
Home stadium: Graham Stadium, with a capacity of approximately 11,000, served as the team’s home field and hosted all four of their victories.
Conference affiliation: As a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, UT Martin faced traditional rivals such as Eastern Illinois, Tennessee State, and Jacksonville State.
Notable game: A 31–28 win over Southeast Missouri State in October was a highlight, showcasing the team’s resilience in a closely contested matchup.

Season Performance and Key Games

The 2009 campaign featured a mix of competitive outings and challenging losses, with the Skyhawks showing improvement in certain phases of the game. The offense struggled at times, but key players began to emerge, laying the groundwork for future seasons.

September 5, 2009: The season opened with a 38–17 loss to FBS opponent Middle Tennessee State, highlighting the difficulty of early-season matchups against higher-division teams.
Quarterback play: Junior quarterback Wes Brown started multiple games and threw for over 1,800 yards on the season, leading the team in passing.
Defensive effort: The defense recorded 18 sacks and forced 17 turnovers, with linebacker J.R. Carr emerging as a standout performer.
October 10 game: A 24–21 victory over Tennessee Tech provided a crucial conference win and demonstrated the team’s ability to execute under pressure.
Late-season struggles: The Skyhawks lost four of their final five games, including a 48–14 defeat to Eastern Illinois, exposing offensive limitations.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares the 2009 UT Martin Skyhawks’ performance with key rivals and conference peers:

Team	Overall Record	OVC Record	Head Coach	FCS Playoffs
UT Martin	4–7	3–5	Jason Simpson	No
Eastern Illinois	6–5	5–3	Darrell Dickey	No
Tennessee State	5–6	4–4	James Webster	No
Morehead State	2–9	1–7	Sean Woods	No
Jacksonville State	9–3	6–2	Jack Crowe	Yes

The Skyhawks’ 3–5 conference record placed them sixth in the OVC standings, ahead of only Morehead State. While Jacksonville State dominated the league and earned a playoff berth, UT Martin’s season reflected moderate progress compared to previous years. The team’s offensive output averaged 21.8 points per game, slightly below the conference average, while defense allowed 28.6 points per game.

Why It Matters

The 2009 season was a transitional year that helped shape the trajectory of the UT Martin football program. Though not a postseason contender, the team gained valuable experience that contributed to future improvements.

Program development: The season was part of a longer rebuilding process under Jason Simpson, who would later lead the team to multiple playoff appearances.
Player growth: Several underclassmen saw significant playing time, including future starters who would contribute in 2010 and beyond.
Conference competitiveness: The Skyhawks remained competitive in OVC play, proving capable of winning tight games against conference foes.
Recruiting momentum: Continued on-field development helped boost recruiting efforts, attracting more regional talent to the program.
Stadium upgrades: Graham Stadium saw minor improvements during this period, enhancing the fan and player experience.
Foundation for success: The 2009 season laid groundwork for future achievements, including UT Martin’s first FCS playoff berth in 2012.

While the 2009 record was not championship-caliber, the season played a crucial role in the long-term growth of UT Martin football, setting the stage for greater success in the coming decade.