Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Explained

Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs
University:University of Minnesota Duluth
Association:NCAA
Division:Division II most sports
Division I Men's & women's ice hockey
Conference:Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Director:Forrest Karr
Location:Duluth, Minnesota
Teams:16 (7 men’s and 9 women’s)
Stadium:James S. Malosky Stadium (4,500)
Basketballarena:Romano Gymnasium (2,759)
Icehockeyarena:AMSOIL Arena (6,600)
Baseballfield:Bulldog Park
Mascot:Champ
Nickname:Bulldogs
Fightsong:UMD Rouser
Pageurl:http://www.umdbulldogs.com/

The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Minnesota Duluth. They were first named Bulldogs in 1933.[1] Their colors are maroon and gold. The school competes in the NCAA's Division II and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in all sports except ice hockey. The men's team competes in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, and the women's hockey program compete in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Both hockey conferences are Division I. They are also known for having a strong club sports program, especially in ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, rugby, alpine skiing and ice hockey.

In 2008, the undefeated Bulldogs won the NCAA Division II National Football Championship—the first Division II championship in any sport at the school.[2] On December 18, 2010, the Bulldogs won their second Division II national title in football. On April 9, 2011, the Bulldogs men's ice hockey program won its first NCAA Division I national championship, beating Michigan 3–2 in overtime. The Bulldog women's ice hockey program has won five NCAA Division I national titles.

Intercollegiate programs

The UMD Bulldogs compete in the 16 following sports:

Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cross country
Cross country Ice hockey
Soccer
Softball
Track & field Tennis
Track & field
Volleyball

Football

See main article: Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs football.

Men's ice hockey

See main article: Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey.

The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's hockey program plays at the NCAA Division I level as a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. The Bulldogs play off campus in downtown Duluth, Minnesota at the new AMSOIL Arena. The team has been successful with numerous Frozen Four appearances, including a 4-overtime loss to Bowling Green in the 1984 Championship game – the longest championship game in the NCAA tournament's history, and three championships in 2011, 2018, and 2019.[3] [4]

Women's ice hockey

See main article: Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs women's ice hockey. The Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs women's hockey team also plays at the NCAA Division I level as a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The women's program has been one of the top women's teams in the nation winning 5 NCAA DI ice hockey championships, including the 2010 championship.

Softball

Minnesota–Duluth's softball team appeared in two Women's College World Series in 1970 and 1971.[5]

National championships

Facilities

Non-varsity sports clubs

Rugby

UMD has fielded a college rugby team since 1975. UMD plays in USA Rugby's Division II, and in 2013 reached the DII national playoffs.[6] UM Duluth rugby offers limited scholarships to select players.[7] UMD graduate Graham Harriman has played for the United States national rugby team.

Alpine skiing

UMD has produced an Alpine Ski team since the 1960s. UMD Alpine Ski teams (both men and women's) compete together in the U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA). The USCSA comprises over 170 Colleges and Universities competing in Alpine, Snowboard, Free-style & Cross-Country Skiing (Nordic). UMD Alpine has qualified a team to the USCSA National Championships every year since 2004 (Men's, women's or both). UMD Alpine is one of 2 colleges in its division to hold that distinction out of 20 colleges.[8] [9]

Discontinued intercollegiate programs

UMD, at one time, also sponsored a number of other successful varsity programs such as men's tennis, men's golf, women's golf, wrestling, men's and women's swimming and diving, and men's and women's cross-country skiing.[10]

Notes and References

  1. UMD Comes of Age: The First 100 Years, by Ken Moran and Neil Storch, 1996
  2. Web site: University of Minnesota-Duluth Wins Its First-Ever Division II Championship . Ncaafootball.fanhouse.com . 2008-12-13 . 2013-08-11.
  3. http://www.uscho.com/ncaad1/?data=longest_games
  4. Web site: Frozen Four: Minnesota Duluth beats Michigan in OT to win 1st national hockey title - ESPN . . 2011-04-10 . 2013-08-11.
  5. Book: A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. William. Plummer. Larry C.. Floyd. 2013. Turnkey Communications Inc.. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. 978-0-9893007-0-4.
  6. http://www.rugbytoday.com/college/um-duluth-players-secure-pratt-scholarship "UMD Players Secure Pratt Scholarship"
  7. http://www.rugbytoday.com/college/um-duluth-players-secure-pratt-scholarship "UMD players Secure Pratt Scholarship"
  8. Web site: The UMD Alpine Ski Team is no newcomer to success - UMD StatesmanUMD Statesman . Umdstatesman.wp.d.umn.edu . 2015-07-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402142008/https://umdstatesman.wp.d.umn.edu/2015/03/11/umd-alpine-ski-team-newcomer-success/ . 2015-04-02 .
  9. Web site: Malcomb . Jamey . YourSports: UMD skiers shake off the cold, place at nationals . Duluth News Tribune . 2014-04-15 . 2015-07-14.
  10. Web site: About UMD Athletics. The Official Site of the University of Minnesota Duluth. 12 April 2016.