‘I owe it all to ACU’, Football Alums Return for 2025 Ring Ceremony
6/18/2026 4:13:00 PM | Football
About a dozen players from the 2025 Abilene Christian football team who exhausted their eligibility returned to campus for a conference championship ring ceremony on Wednesday evening.
The former players joined 45 returners from the Wildcat squad which won the program's second consecutive United Athletic Conference title. The celebration began with a team meeting where Keith Patterson, entering his fifth season as head coach, educated the players on previous ACU championship teams such as the undefeated 'Singing Christians' in 1950, the NAIA national champions in 1973 and 1977, and the winners of the Lone Star Conference in 2008 and 2010.
The back-to-back UAC champion @ACUFootball team received their 2025 rings tonight.
The top pops off to reveal Wildcat Stadium 6-0 — a reference to their unbeaten run at home.
So great to see many former players again! pic.twitter.com/Z4QItnMV6T— Evan Nemec (@EpicNemec) June 18, 2026
Each player and coach was then awarded his championship ring which features the phrase Back2Back on one side. The head has the ACU logo and can be removed to reveal an indention of Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium along with the inscription 6-0 Wildcat Stadium for the teams' unbeaten run at home last year.
Following the ceremony Patterson invited all former players to give advice to the 2026 team and talk about how ACU has impacted them.
Below are some of those comments.
Kaghen Roach, All-America defensive lineman: I owe it all to ACU. I love this place. I love the teammates that I've had here, the coaches, um, forever in debt to them. Uh, love you guys. Can't wait to watch y'all run it back.
Quayde Hawkins, quarterback: I went out on a limb and came out here to play for KP three years ago, and it's the best thing I've ever done. It changed my life for the better. It'll do the same for you if you're allowed to.
Cade Fennegan, quarterback: I wasn't here for very long, but I can say that I enjoyed every minute of it. I love my brothers, love the friends I made in the short time, and even in the six months that I was here, it changed my life as well. Take whatever time you got and just enjoy it and appreciate it.
Will Shaffer, All-America linebacker: I came here in summer of 2024 after getting cut at Utah State, and it felt like a time when nobody believed in me, at a time like I felt like I didn't have a home. I found a home here. The camaraderie really is what stood out to me, just the way guys interact with each other, the way we were able to have each other in the weight room that translated to Saturdays. Just take it all in.
Dorian Plumley, All-America defensive back: Come in here every day ready to work and build a relationship with the people around you, because these relationships are going to stretch a lot further than just this campus.
Javon Gipson, All-America wide receiver: The biggest thing that I took from this place is it's not really where you start, it's really where you finish. When my opportunity arrived, I had the best game of my life, and I never knew that was going to happen. I was given an opportunity here. I stayed the course, and when your opportunity shines, take full advantage of it.
Sam Mason, Jr., defensive back: I was at Oregon State for two years and didn't play at all. KP gave me an opportunity to play. I am forever grateful: two championships and a degree!
Jordon Vaughn, running back: I started my first two years in college at Wyoming. ACU found me. It's been a great three years. The sense of community and pride that coach Person has helped instill in the team and in myself. It gives you a great feeling when you come back to campus and you can relive the moments you spent here
