Hall of Fame
Playing an invaluable role in Cal U’s emergence as a perennial football power was Antoine Bagwell.
A virtually unstoppable running back during the 2004 and 2005 seasons, Bagwell earned first-team recognition from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Associated Press Second Team All-American honors in 2005. He also was a two-time Daktronics Second-Team All-American and two-time Harlon Hill Regional Finalist.
In just two years Bagwell rushed for 3,353 yards and scored 272 total points, with 41 rushing touchdowns, 45 overall touchdowns and one two-point conversion. Despite playing for only two seasons, his career rushing, touchdown and scoring totals still rank second in school history. He becomes the first football player from the John Luckhardt coaching era to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“Even though I played a little bit in the NFL and CFL this feels like the biggest accomplishment in sports that has ever happened to me,” said Bagwell. “It feels very good.”
Bagwell’s 1,765 rushing yards and 1, 894 all-purpose yards in 2004 both ranked second in NCAA Division II that year. He averaged 7.2 yards per carry and caught 12 passes for 129 yards.
He scored a single-season, school record 25 touchdowns in 2005 and rushed for 1,588 yards on just 186 carries with 21 rushing scores.
Bagwell averaged an amazing 8.5 yards per carry. He also was also Cal’s third-leading receiver his senior season with 28 receptions for 420 yards, four touchdowns and one two-point conversion. His 15.2 points per game was third best among all NCAA Division II players and he ranked fifth in rushing (155.8) and all-purpose yards (206.2).
“We averaged 42 points per game and every week when we played we knew the best player on the field was on our team and that was Antoine,” said Mike Kellar, Cal U’s Associate Head Coach for Offense who previously served as the team’s offensive coordinator from 2004-2008. “We had great talent on both sides of the ball but even the players knew he was the most special guy on the team.”
His explosive running helped the Vulcans win their first PSAC-West title in 21 years. Cal’s 8-2 overall record (.800) in 2005 was the program’s best since the 1960 squad went 7-1 (.875). And it started a trend: Heading into 2011, the Vulcans and 10th-year head coach John Luckhardt have won or shared the past six consecutive PSAC-West crowns.
“To start from the bottom and see everything that’s happened in front of you certainly makes you proud,” said Bagwell. “Because we started something that’s still going on today and probably well into the future.”
While the Vulcans have won 46 of 55 games over the past four years with three NCAA national semifinal appearances, Kellar said the 2005 season was the true breakthrough for Cal football.
During Cal’s journey to the 2005 PSAC-West title, the Vulcans defeated longtime nemesis’ Edinboro and IUP.
Bagwell scored two second half touchdowns in the 10-point Homecoming win over the Fighting Scots.
In his final collegiate game he accounted for 210 all-purpose yards and two first-half touchdown runs of 55 and 16 yards as Cal whipped IUP on the road, 38-23.
“Everyone looks at 2007 as when the program took off but I definitely look at 2005,” Kellar said. “We had to beat those two teams to take the program to the next level and Antoine just made huge plays in both games.”
Bagwell was selected as the PSAC-West Offensive Player of the Year in both 2004 and 2005.
“Antoine is really where this thing started,” said Kellar. “He was the beginning. A lot of great players that came here after him sort of stood on his shoulders and built upon what he started.”
Kellar also pointed out that Cal often jumped out to early leads and Bagwell averaged fewer then 19 rushing attempts per game his senior year.
“He was also totally unselfish,” Kellar added. “At the time he’s trying to make the NFL and needs big stats but he could have cared less. I remember him on the sidelines after the game’s outcome was long ago decided politicking the coaches to give other guys carries.”
Following his senior season he was the first Vulcan ever invited to play in the Hula Bowl, held in Hawaii. He also competed in the Cactus Bowl, the Division II All-Star game.
Bagwell attended training camp with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles (2005) and St. Louis Rams (2006), along with brief stints with the CFL’s Winnipeg and Hamilton clubs.
Originally from East Lansing, Mich., Bagwell is a graduate of East Lansing High School, where he was a star running back, safety, and track and field standout.
Aided by Bagwell, East Lansing reached the Division 3 state championship game in 2000 and the state semifinal in 2001.
A two-time first-team all-state safety, Bagwell totaled 187 tackles and nine interceptions his final two scholastic seasons. He gained 1,729 and 1,668 rushing yards during his junior and senior seasons with 53 total touchdowns.
The versatile Bagwell also placed fourth at the 2001 state championship in the 100-meters and helped East Lansing’s 4x100-meter relay team earn a silver medal.
Bagwell transferred to Cal U from Joliet (Ill.) Junior College. He was Cal’s running backs coach under Head Coach John Luckhardt in 2007 when the Vulcans compiled a school-best 13-1 overall record. Bagwell said the coaching experience was invaluable and lauded Kellar, Luckhardt and offensive line coach Mike Evans.
“If you asked them I never really knew any defense when I played. They just handed me the ball and I ran with it,” Bagwell said. “But when I came back I gained so much knowledge and I started to understand defenses. They helped me so much and I definitely will get back into coaching but I feel I have a couple of years left to play.”
Last spring Bagwell was the leading receiver for the Ultimate Indoor Football League’s Johnstown Generals, with 51 receptions for 660 yards and 18 touchdowns. His total of 19 touchdowns was eighth highest in the league.
Kellar is hardly surprised at Bagwell’s pro success as a receiver.
“What can you say besides he’s just a phenomenal football player,” he said. “Antoine was so versatile. He was a threat from anywhere on the field. The kid really could do it all.”
Bagwell resides in Philadelphia and works with troubled children for Outside In School, Inc., in Bolivar, Pa. He has a three-year old daughter, Sanaai.
updated 10/26/11
