Milestone Victories:
- October 9, 1920: First football win - Ashland 33, Wadsworth 0
- October 30, 1920: First intercollegiate football win - Ashland 6, Kent State 0
- September 9, 1978: First win as an NCAA Division II institution - Ashland 42, Franklin 21
- 100th Program Win (November 6, 1954): Ashland 13, Defiance 9
- 200th Program Win (November 11, 1972): Ashland 55, Northwood 0
- 300th Program Win (September 1, 1990): Ashland 45, Valparaiso 0
- 400th Program Win (October 14, 2006): Ashland 24, Northern Michigan 17
- First postseason win (November 15, 2008): Ashland 27, Minnesota State-Mankato 16
- Inaugural game at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field (September 12, 2009): Ashland 34, Michigan Tech 28
- First postseason win at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field (November 18, 2017): Ashland 21, Northwest Mo. State 18
The Victory Bell:
Prior to the start of the 1996 Eagle football season, a large cast-iron bell was donated to the University anonymously. After some discussion, the bell was mounted on a pole and placed near the north end zone at Community Stadium. Following an incident with players from Westminster College during the 1998 season, the bell was then moved to the south end zone area. Following each Eagle home victory, it is tradition that senior players take turns ringing the bell while the team sings the fight song.
The Victory Bell was moved to Jack Miller stadium in September 2009. A new post was made for the bell out of Redwood saved from old Redwood Stadium. The bell was rung for the first time on September 12, 2009 when the Eagles beat Michigan Tech. 34-28.
THE TRAVELING TROPHY GAME: The battle of Ohio and Michigan in Division I play has long been the Ohio State/Michigan game. At the NCAA II level, it's the Ashland Eagles and the Hillsdale Chargers who battle annually for the Traveling Trophy. Established in 1970, the Traveling Trophy game is one of only a few NCAA-recognized trophy games. The winner of the game gets to keep the trophy at their institution until the following year.
Accomplishments
TEAM NATIONAL RANKINGS:
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1948 - 1st in Nation Pass Defense
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1954 - 5th Scoring Defense
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1963 - 12th Scoring Defense
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1972 - 1st Scoring Defense
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1980 - 8th NCAA II Scoring Defense
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1989 - 14th in NCAA II Total Defense
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1989 - 12th in NCAA II Rushing Defense
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1989 - 7th in NCAA II Scoring Defense
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1991 - 7th NCAA II Rushing Defense
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1991 - 1st NCAA II Total Defense
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1992 - 1st NCAA II Rushing Defense
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1993 - 3rd NCAA II Total Defense
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1993 - 2nd NCAA II Rushing Defense
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1993 - 3rd NCAA II Scoring Defense
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1997 - 21st in NCAA II in Pass Efficiency
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1997 - 8th in NCAA II in Scoring Defense
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2005 - 2nd in Scoring Defense
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2005 - 7th in Total Defense
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2010 - 19th in Scoring Defense
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2010 - 20th in Rushing Offense
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2013 - Fewest penalties and penalty yards per game in Division II
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2014 - 16th in Rushing Offense
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2014 - 19th In Scoring Defense
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2016 - 4th In Scoring Defense
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2016 - 7th In Scoring Offense
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2016 - 3rd In Total Offense
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2018 - 3rd In Passing Defense
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2018 - 8th In Scoring Defense
- 2018 - 4th In Total Defense
INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RANKINGS
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Marion Zody, 1956 Division II Punting Average Champion
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Dave Biondo, 1987 Division II Passing Efficiency Champion
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Devin Conwell, 2004 Division II Solo Tackles Per Game Champion
OHIO SHRINE BOWL ALL STAR GAME: (played at Ohio Stadium from 1972-76)
1972 - Fred Martinelli, Asst. Coach
- Jeff Printy - C
- Bud Boughton - DB
- Dave Lucas - DL
1973 - Fred Martinelli, Head Coach
- Randy Fierbaugh - TE
- Steve Stoler - OL
- Jim Yockey - DL
1974 - Fred Martinelli, Asst. Coach
- Jeff Groza - K
- Dick Miller - LB
1975
- Jerry Draga - DB
- Jim Chiampo - C
- Steve Ross - FB
1976
- Cal Kennedy - DB
- Bob Nemecek - OL
UNDEFEATED TEAMS: 1954 (7-0), 1967 (8-0-1), 1972 (11-0)
Team USA - International Federation of American Football : (Austria-2011)
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Gregg Berkshire-Kicker/Punter
Northeastern Chapter of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Awards:
- Dino Lucarelli lifetime Achievement Award: 1994-Fred Martinelli, Ashland University
- College Assistant Coach of the year award: 2007-Doug Geiser, Ashland University
For more information on the history of Ashland football, go to the record book HERE.
Oldest Player to appear in an NCAA game: Ed Barreto '61 appeared at the age of 60 in the game against St. Francis, (Ill.) in 1997. Ashland shut out St. Francis with a score of 28-0, and Barretto's No. 32 game-day jersey is displayed in the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga. (Barreto was a student in the master's program with football eligibility time left from his earlier college career.)