What Is 2010 The Citadel Bulldogs football

Content on WhatAnswers is provided "as is" for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees. Content is AI-assisted and should not be used as professional advice.

Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2010 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, during the 2010 NCAA Division I FCS football season, finishing with a 6–6 record under head coach Kevin Higgins.

Key Facts

The Citadel finished the 2010 season with a 6–6 overall record
Head coach Kevin Higgins led the team in his fifth season
The Bulldogs played in the Southern Conference, going 4–4 in conference play
Quarterback Sionne McClendon started most games, throwing for 1,537 yards
The team’s season-high point total was 45, scored against Gardner–Webb

Overview

The 2010 The Citadel Bulldogs football team represented The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, during the 2010 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) season. Competing in the Southern Conference (SoCon), the team was led by head coach Kevin Higgins in his fifth year at the helm, aiming to improve upon previous campaigns.

The Bulldogs finished the season with a balanced 6–6 overall record and a 4–4 mark in conference play, demonstrating moderate competitiveness in a challenging league. Despite falling short of a postseason berth, the team showed resilience through key wins and strong individual performances across the roster.

Record: The Citadel finished the 2010 season with a 6–6 overall record, marking a slight improvement from their 5–6 record in 2009.
Conference: As members of the Southern Conference, the Bulldogs posted a 4–4 conference record, placing them in the middle of the league standings.
Head coach:Kevin Higgins was in his fifth season as head coach, overseeing offensive development and team discipline throughout the year.
Home games: The team played its home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina, one of the oldest FCS stadiums still in use.
Notable win: The Bulldogs defeated Gardner–Webb 45–17 in October, their highest-scoring game of the season and a highlight of offensive efficiency.

How It Works

The structure and operation of The Citadel’s football program in 2010 followed standard NCAA Division I FCS protocols, with a focus on military discipline, physical play, and balanced offensive strategies. The team operated under a triple-option offense, emphasizing ball control and ground attacks.

Triple-option offense: The Bulldogs relied heavily on a triple-option rushing attack, a hallmark of their offensive strategy, designed to control clock time and limit turnovers.
Quarterback role:Sionne McClendon served as the primary quarterback, accumulating 1,537 passing yards and 10 touchdowns despite the run-heavy scheme.
Defensive scheme: The defense utilized a 3–4 alignment, focusing on stopping the run and forcing turnovers, finishing the season with 18 total takeaways.
Recruiting base: The team drew most of its players from the Southeastern United States, particularly South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina.
Academic integration: As a military college, all players were cadets, required to meet strict academic and physical training standards alongside athletics.
Game schedule: The Bulldogs played a 12-game regular season, including eight conference matchups and four non-conference contests.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing The Citadel’s 2010 performance to other Southern Conference teams reveals their mid-tier standing and competitive balance.

Team	Overall Record	SoCon Record	Postseason	Key Stat
Appalachian State	7–5	6–2	FCS Playoffs	Defeated The Citadel 24–17
Georgia Southern	6–5	5–3	None	Rushed for 3,200+ yards
The Citadel	6–6	4–4	None	45 points vs. Gardner–Webb
Wofford	6–5	5–3	None	Ranked in top 25
Elon	5–6	3–5	None	Struggled in second half

The Citadel’s 4–4 conference record placed them in the middle of the SoCon standings, behind powerhouses like Appalachian State but ahead of lower-tier teams. While they avoided a losing season, they narrowly missed postseason eligibility due to tiebreaker rules and lack of marquee wins.

Why It Matters

The 2010 season exemplified The Citadel’s commitment to competitive football within the constraints of a military academy structure, balancing athletic and academic demands. Though not a championship contender, the team provided valuable experience for future rebuilding efforts.

Player development: Several underclassmen gained starting experience, laying the foundation for improved performance in 2011 and beyond.
Recruiting impact: A .500 record helped maintain recruiting momentum, especially within the South Carolina high school pipeline.
Program stability: Kevin Higgins’ continued leadership provided consistency during a transitional era for Southern Conference football.
Academic integration: The season demonstrated that cadet-athletes could compete at a high level while meeting rigorous military standards.
Community engagement: Home games at Johnson Hagood Stadium drew strong local support, reinforcing the team’s role in Charleston culture.
Historical context: The 6–6 record marked one of several near-.500 seasons in the 2000s, reflecting the team’s struggle to break into the conference elite.

The 2010 campaign remains a representative example of The Citadel’s football identity—resilient, disciplined, and grounded in tradition, even without postseason accolades.