College honors 1997 CIAA football team
From left shown are Andre Springs, Livingstone College athletic director; Coach Artis Smith of Winston-Salem, who was defense line and strength and conditioning coach; Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins Sr., Livingstone College president; and Bryce Holmes, committee chairman.
The 1997 CIAA Football Championship team was inducted into Livingstone College Athletic Hall of Fame in October.
The team was led by 27-year-old quarterback Parnell Wilder, one of the best quarterbacks to be ranked in Division II. Running back Chris Williams topped 1,000 yards rushing, and running back Wilmont Perry, former NFL player, rushed for 1,924 yards and had 24 touchdowns in the season. The team outscored the opposition 418-121 and set team records that still stand to this day. This Blue Bear powerhouse beat teams by 13 points and scored over 400 points. It led the CIAA in every major offensive and defensive category, and was the first team to win a CIAA Football Championship in 1997, the only CIAA football championship in school history.
Livingstone was selected to play in the first Pioneer Bowl in Atlanta, Ga., before falling to Kentucky State 46-42.
