About the Program
The Bowdoin College football program is nearly as old as the
sport itself. Established in 1889 as a varsity program, the Polar
Bears have played football for 116 seasons. A member of the New
England Small College Athletic Conference, Bowdoin plays against
some of the most competitive teams in the country, and enjoys
storied rivalries with both Bates and Colby. The Bowdoin-Colby
rivalry is the third-longest rivalry in Division III history,
having been played 119 times dating back to 1892 (a 56-0 Bowdoin
victory). The Bowdoin-Bates game is the 10th longest Division III
series, dating back to 1889 (a 62-0 Bowdoin win).
Bowdoin is considered the "Cradle of College Football in Maine",
having been the first intercollegiate football squad in the state.
For decades, the Polar Bears were part of the fabled Maine State
Championship Series along with rivals Colby, Bates and Maine-Orono.
Bowdoin was the crowned State Champion nine times prior to 1965,
when U-Maine made the jump to Division I. The state championship
teams of 1935, '36, '37, '40, '42, '49, '52, '60 and '63 leave a
lasting legacy for the current Polar Bears to strive towards.
Football at Bowdoin provides student-athletes with the rare
opportunity to combine a competitive athletic experience with a
top-rate education. Over the past few seasons, head coach Dave
Caputi has incorporated a sense of renewal and excitement around a
young, athletic squad. The team plays its home games at Whittier
Field, on the campus of Bowdoin College. Built in 1902, Whittier
Field is one of the most storied football stadiums in New England,
seeing over 400 games in its existence. For more information about
the Bowdoin football team, contact Head Coach Caputi at
dcaputi@bowdoin.edu.
Bowdoin, as all other NESCAC teams, play a conference-only
eight-game schedule and do not participate in the NCAA Division III
Football Tournament.
