Emory and Henry Wasps
{{Short description|Collegiate sports program}}
{{Infobox college athletics
| name = Emory & Henry Wasps
| logo = Emore henry wasp logo.png
| logo_width = 200
| university = Emory & Henry University
| association = NCAA
| conference = South Atlantic (primary)
| division = Division II
| director = Kyle Sensabaugh
| location = Emory, Virginia
| first season =
| teams = 24
| mens_teams = 10
| womens_teams = 12
| coed_teams = 2
| stadium = Fred Selfe Stadium at Nicewonder Field
| basketballarena = Bob Johnson Court at the King Center
| baseballfield = Porterfield-DeVault Field
| softballstadium = Wasps Field
| soccerstadium = Fred Selfe Stadium at Nicewonder Field
| natatorium = Aquatics Center
| tenniscourt = Richardson Tennis Courts
| arena2 = Glenrochie Country Club
| mascot = Stinger the Wasp
| nickname = Wasps
| fightsong =
| pageurl = https://www.gowasps.com/
| ncaa titles =
| indiv_relay ncaa champs =
| altlogo = 150px
}}
The Emory & Henry Wasps, also known as E&H Wasps, are the athletic teams that represent Emory & Henry University, located in Emory, Virginia, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Wasps will compete as members of the South Atlantic Conference as they plan to start playing a full SAC schedule in 2022–23.{{cite news|url=https://roanoke.com/sports/local/emory-henry-leaving-odac-moving-up-to-division-ii-and-south-atlantic-conference/article_e738d38c-2905-11eb-87a3-f7dad8ee2690.html |title=Emory & Henry leaving ODAC, moving up to Division II and South Atlantic Conference |first=Robert |last=Anderson |newspaper=The Roanoke Times |date=November 17, 2020 |access-date=November 30, 2020}}{{cite press release|url=https://www.gowasps.com/general/2020-21/releases/20201116mfy5n6 |title=Emory & Henry To Join The South Atlantic Conference Pending Approval To Division II |publisher=Emory & Henry Wasps |date=November 17, 2020 |access-date=November 30, 2020}} Altogether, Emory & Henry sponsors 26 sports: 11 men's teams, 11 women's teams, and 4 co-ed teams. Emory & Henry previously competed as members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) of NCAA Division III from 1976–77 to 2020–21.
Emory and Henry adopted the Wasps nickname in 1921. The school's athletic teams has previously been called the Wildcats, Jackrabbits, and Whitetoppers.{{cite web |author= |title=Why are Emory & Henry teams called the Wasps? |url=https://www.gowasps.com/general/Wasps |publisher=Emory & Henry College Athletics |location=Emory, Virginia |access-date=February 27, 2024 }}
History
=NCAA investigation=
The Emory & Henry football team came under investigation for alleged violations of NCAA bylaws in 2013-2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesnews.net/article/9073833/report-eandh-athletic-department-under-ncaa-investigation|title=Report: E&H athletic department under NCAA investigation|work=Kingsport Times-News|access-date=8 November 2014|archive-date=31 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131120755/http://www.timesnews.net/article/9073833/report-eandh-athletic-department-under-ncaa-investigation|url-status=dead}} The allegations came to public attention after the resignation of former coach Don Montgomery from the football program and departure of the College's president, Rosalind Reichard.{{cite web|url=http://www.gowasps.com/sports/fball/2013-14/releases/20131125spk1tp|title=Don Montgomery Resigns As Emory & Henry Head Football Coach|publisher=Gowasps.com|access-date=8 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ehc.edu/news/2013/04/emory-henry-community-says-goodbye-president-reichard/|title=Emory & Henry Community Says Goodbye to President Reichard|publisher=Ehc.edu|access-date=8 November 2014}} The student newspaper reported that allegations were due to lack of "institutional control" of the athletic department.{{Cite web |last=ehcwhitetopper |date=2014-02-27 |title=BREAKING: Emory & Henry Athletic Department under NCAA investigation |url=https://ehcwhitetopper.wordpress.com/2014/02/27/ehcunderncaainvestigation/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=EHC Whitetopper |language=en}} The NCAA investigation revealed that during the time period of recruitment, two possible football student-athletes of the College's athletics program had gotten extra financial aid in their financial aid packages.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=GoWasps.com {{!}} The Official Site of Emory & Henry College Athletics |url=https://www.gowasps.com/landing/index |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Emory & Henry |language=en}}
In these cases, the College went away from its standard awarding procedure by modifying an award and including endowed funds as part of the initial financial aid package. Due to these inappropriate financial aid decisions, both of these student-athletes were said to be ineligible to take part in football during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
= Mascot =
The official Emory & Henry mascot is the Wasps. While there are many rumored origins of the nickname, the most commonly accepted story is that Emory & Henry was first called the Wasps after the football team played the first-ever game in Tennessee's Neyland Stadium by a local Knoxville newspaper.[http://www.bushwood.org/Neyland_Stadium.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020065702/http://www.bushwood.org/Neyland_Stadium.htm|date=October 20, 2013}} Despite the Volunteers from Tennessee being heavily favored, they only held a 6-0 lead at halftime, this is due to the defensive efforts of Emory & Henry. The local Knoxville newspapers described the college team as the "Wasps" because of the tenacious and swarming defense they displayed, akin to the persistence of wasps in protecting their nest. This description was inspired by the distinctive uniforms worn by the Emory & Henry players, which included blue-gold striped socks and jerseys adorned with blue-gold stripes on the chest and sleeves. Though Emory and Henry was beaten 27–0, legend has it that the local paper declared "that those Virginia boys stung like wasps," and the nickname has stuck ever since.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-06 |title=GoWasps.com {{!}} The Official Site of Emory & Henry College Athletics |url=https://www.gowasps.com/landing/index |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Emory & Henry |language=en}}
Conference affiliations
NCAA
- Old Dominion Athletic Conference (1976–2021)
- South Atlantic Conference (2022–present)
Varsity teams
=List of teams=
{{Col-begin|width=auto}}
{{Col-break}}
Men's teams
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Indoor Track & Field
- Lacrosse
- Outdoor Track & Field
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Wrestling
{{Col-break|gap=5em}}
Women's teams
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Indoor Track & Field
- Lacrosse
- Outdoor Track & Field
- Rugby
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
{{Col-break|gap=5em}}
Co-ed teams
- Cheerleading
- Dance
- Equestrian (IDA)
- Equestrian (IHSA)
Football
The E&H Wasps are credited with inventing an American football offensive formation, named in the college's honor, that divides the offensive line and wide receivers into three groupings of three.Kindred, Dave. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_4_226/ai_82885066 Spurrier dares to imagine—always]. The Sporting News. January 28, 2002. While it is primarily used today as a trick play, it was revived in 2007 as an integral part of the A-11 offense, a high school football offensive scheme that was eventually banned due to the exploitation of loopholes in the high school rulebooks. The offense inspired Steve Spurrier to use variations of it as a trick play formation at Florida and South Carolina named "Emory and Henry", as Spurrier attended Wasps games as a child growing up in nearby Johnson City, Tennessee.{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bulls/2006/12/long_live_the_e.html|title=Tampa Bay, Florida news - Tampa Bay Times/St. Pete Times|publisher=Tampabay.com|access-date=8 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108153635/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bulls/2006/12/long_live_the_e.html|archive-date=8 November 2014|url-status=dead}} The formation is featured on EA Sports' NCAA Football 07 video game as well.
The Emory & Henry football team has a long storied history claiming 11 ODAC Conference Championships (more than any other member of the ODAC) since the league's inception in 1976,{{cite web|url=http://www.odaconline.com/sports/fball/archives/alltimeodacchampionships|title=ODAC|publisher=Odaconline.com|access-date=8 November 2014}} along with appearing in the 1950 Tangerine Bowl and the 1951 Tangerine Bowl. They have also managed to make it to the 1987 NCAA DIII Semifinal game under coach Lou Wacker before losing to now Division I Wagner College, and well as making it to the DIII playoffs numerous times.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/02/sports/college-football-emory-henry-plays-past-its-obscurity.html | work=The New York Times | title=COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Emory and Henry Plays Past Its Obscurity | date=December 2, 1987}} E&H also boasted the nations longest home game winning streak in 1999 at 37 games.[http://www.ehc.edu/cgi-bin/MySQLdb?VIEW=/athletics/teams/viewone.txt¤tteam=8] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924141339/http://www.ehc.edu/cgi-bin/MySQLdb?VIEW=%2Fathletics%2Fteams%2Fviewone.txt¤tteam=8|date=September 24, 2008}} In 2004, Y'all magazine listed Emory and Henry among the 40 colleges and universities in the South with the greatest football traditions. "Not to be overshadowed by neighboring Division I powerhouses . . .Winning seasons plus pride and pageantry equals one of the greatest Southern football traditions."{{cite web|url=http://www.yall.com/|title=Y'all - The South's Homepage™|publisher=Yall.com|access-date=8 November 2014}}
The Wasps football team began play in 1893 beating Virginia Tech 6–0,{{cite web|url=http://www.fanbase.com/Emory-Henry-Wasps-Football-1893 |title=1893 Emory & Henry Wasps Football rosters, game schedules, photos, articles, and videos - Fanbase |work=Fanbase |access-date=8 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108155823/http://www.fanbase.com/Emory-Henry-Wasps-Football-1893 |archive-date=8 November 2014 }} and have won games against other Division I programs such as Appalachian State, Marshall, The University of Central Florida, and Middle Tennessee State.{{cite web|url=http://www.fanbase.com/Emory-Henry-Wasps-Football |title=Emory & Henry Wasps Football |work=Fanbase |access-date=8 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108155820/http://www.fanbase.com/Emory-Henry-Wasps-Football |archive-date=8 November 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://rogersimmons.com/ucf-football-history/2008/07/05/|title=UCF Football History|publisher=Rogersimons.com|access-date=8 November 2014}} The Wasps oldest current football rival is Hampden-Sydney College who first played the Wasps in 1922.{{cite web|url=http://www.fanbase.com/Emory-Henry-Wasps-Football-1922 |title=1922 Emory & Henry Wasps Football rosters, game schedules, photos, articles, and videos - Fanbase |work=Fanbase |access-date=8 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108155320/http://www.fanbase.com/Emory-Henry-Wasps-Football-1922 |archive-date=8 November 2014 }}
Emory and Henry University has had three players drafted to the NFL over the years.{{cite web|url=http://www.drafthistory.com/n_college/college_n.html|title=Colleges With Most Draft Picks|publisher=Drafthistory.com|access-date=8 November 2014}} The most notable being Sonny Wade (class of '69) who went on to play several years in the CFL.
=NCAA Division III playoff appearances=
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Emory & Henry Wasps|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}} | |||
align="center"
| 1986 | First Round | Salisbury State | L 10–14 |
align="center"
| 1987 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals | Ferrum Washington & Jefferson Wagner | W 49–7 W 23–16 L 13–20 |
align="center"
| 1992 | First Round Quarterfinals | Thomas More Washington & Jefferson | W 17–10 L 15–51 |
align="center"
| 1995 | First Round | Washington & Jefferson | L 16–35 |
align="center"
| 2000 | First Round | McDaniel | L 14–38 |
align="center"
| colspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Emory & Henry Wasps|border=0|color=white}}" | Playoff Record (8 games total) | colspan=2 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Emory & Henry Wasps|border=0|color=white}}" | 3–5 |
References
{{reflist}}