Sul Ross State Lobos Explained

Sul Ross State Lobos
University:Sul Ross State University
Conference:Lone Star Conference
Association:NCAA
Division:Division II
Director:Amanda Workman
Location:Alpine, Texas
Teams:14 varsity teams, NIRA rodeo
Stadium:Jackson Field
Basketballarena:Pete P. Gallego Center
Baseballfield:Kokernot Field
Arena2:Graves-Pierce Recreational Complex
Mascot:Sully
Nickname:Lobos
Color1:Red
Color2:Grey[1]
Hex1:BC0107
Hex2:5C5C5C
Pageurl:http://www.srlobos.com/

The Sul Ross State University Lobos are the athletic teams of Sul Ross State University, a public university in Alpine, Texas. They compete in the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the Lone Star Conference.

Sul Ross State competes in 12 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, soccer and tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.[2]

In July 2023, Lobos athletic programs were approved for reclassification to Division II.[3] On July 1, 2024, the university became a member of the Lone Star Conference.[4]

Volleyball

In 1970 and 1971, the women's volleyball team won the first two Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Volleyball National Championships. The AIAW governed women's sports prior to NCAA recognition. Sul Ross State defeated UCLA and Long Beach State, respectively, in the championship matches. In addition, Sul Ross won Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association Conference Championship in 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1991.

Football

In 2007, it was announced that 59-year-old Mike Flynt would be joining the Sul Ross football team. He had played college football when he was originally enrolled in college and his athletic eligibility had not expired.[5]

In 2015, the team finished 3–7.[6] The following season, 2016, the Lobos finished with a record of 6–4, the program's first winning record in a decade.[7]

The Lobos are currently lead by head coach Barry Derickson. Derickson, who was originally hired as the offensive coordinator prior to the 2021 season, was announced as the program's interim head coach on November 30, 2021, following the resignation of John Pearce.[8] Following the conclusion of the 2022 season, Derickson was promoted to full-time head coach.[9]

Jackson Field

Stadium Name:Jackson Field
Location:204 S. Cockrell St
Alpine, TX 79380
Broke Ground:1924
Opened:1924
Surface:FieldTurf
Seating Capacity:3,000[10]

Jackson Field is a football stadium located in Alpine, Texas with a seating capacity of 2,000. The stadium is the home field for the Sul Ross Lobos and Alpine High School Fighting Bucks. The stadium was constructed and opened in 1924 and is named after Big Bend rancher J. D. Jackson who donated the land for the stadium.[11] The old playing surface, natural grass, was replaced with a new artificial turf surface in 2016 as part of a larger project that included the construction of a multi-purpose recreational/intramural field just east of Jackson Field, with the funding coming from private donations and gifts.[12] [13]

Rivalries

McMurry

The Battle of I-20 is the name given to the McMurry–Sul Ross football rivalry.[14] Going into the 2019 match-up McMurry led the all-time series 46–40–2;[15] the Lobos would win that year's game 21–7. As of the 2023 season, the two teams have met 93 times with McMurry leading the series 48–43–2. The future of the rivalry remains uncertain as Sul Ross joined the Lone Star Conference in 2024, which competes at the Division II level, while McMurry competes in the Division III Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.[16]

Western New Mexico

In 2024, a new trophy series was introduced for the Lobos' games against the Western New Mexico Mustangs, dubbed the Battle for the Golden Tumbleweed, with the winner receiving the Golden Tumbleweed Trophy.[17] The teams first met in 1949, with the Mustangs leading the overall series 15–7 entering the 2024 match-up.[18] Sul Ross won the inaugural trophy game, 30–14, on October 19, 2024; this victory also marked the Lobos' first win since rejoining the LSC and first win over an NCAA Division II opponent.[19]

Conference affiliations

Co-champion: 1936

Champions: 1947, 1948, and 1949

As a member of the NMIC, Sul Ross never lost a conference game including during its initial, probationary 1946 season when the team did not play a complete conference schedule and was ineligible for a league title.[20]

Champions: 1950 and 1965

1951 Aztec Bowl Champion defeating ONEFA All-Stars 41–40

1964 All-Sports Bowl Champion defeating East Central State 21–13

1965 NAIA Div. I playoff loss to Linfield College, 27–30

Champion: 1982 (undefeated regular season)

Co-champions: 1981, 1983, and 1985

1982 NAIA Div. II playoff loss to William Jewell, 43–44

Co-champion: 1996

Baseball

The Lobos home park, Kokernot Field, was the host for the first ever NAIA Baseball World Series. Texas Monthly called Kokernot Field the Yankee Stadium of Texas.

Men's basketball championships

Women's basketball championships

Tennis championships

Track and field championships

Cross country

Softball

Sul Ross began playing softball in 1996.

Women's soccer

Sul Ross State University hired Marquis Muse in July 2015 as its first Head Women's Soccer Coach. The Lobos finished 2–8 in conference play and 3–13 overall in its inaugural season.

Men's golf

Sul Ross captured the 1985 TIAA Golf Championship by 80 strokes. 1st Team All Conference\Medalist Blake Moody(Ozona, TX), 1st Team All Conference Daniel Nunez(Alpine, TX) and Kevin Farrer(Alpine, TX), 2nd Team All Conference Ronnie Martinez(Marfa, TX) and Kevin Burnett(Pecos, TX), but has subsequently dropped the program.

Intercollegiate rodeo

Sul Ross was a founding member of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association and has a long and successful history with seven national titles, placing in the top 10 at the College National Finals Rodeo 33 times, and having six all-around cowboys and cowgirls.

Notable athletes and coaches

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sull Ross Merchant Guidelines and Branding Standards . 2016-06-15 . 2021-03-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210307230652/https://www.sulross.edu/sites/default/files//sites/default/files/users/docs/admissions/merchant_guidelines_and_branding_standards_rev_03-03-2016.pdf . dead .
  2. https://srlobos.com/news/2018/6/4/general-track-and-field-at-sul-ross-ends-cross-country-continues-mens-soccer-begins.aspx "Track and Field Ends at Sul Ross"
  3. https://www.mrt.com/sports/college/article/sul-ross-moving-ncaa-division-ii-competition-18199904.php "Sul Ross moving up to NCAA Division II competition"
  4. https://lonestarconference.org/news/2023/7/22/general-sul-ross-state-to-join-the-lsc-on-july-1-2024.aspx "Sul Ross State to join the LSC on July 1, 2024"
  5. Web site: . Flynt, 59, making comeback with Sul Ross State University . August 22, 2007 . September 12, 2024.
  6. Web site: 2015 Football Schedule.
  7. Web site: Football Scoop . Barnett . Zach . John Pearce resigns at Sul Ross State . November 30, 2021 . August 16, 2024.
  8. Web site: Sul Ross State University Athletics . John Pearce announces resignation; Barry Derickson named interim head football coach . November 30, 2021 . August 16, 2024.
  9. Web site: Sul Ross State University Athletics . Interim tag removed: Barry Derickson officially named head football coach . November 18, 2022 . August 16, 2024.
  10. Web site: American Southwest Conference . Sul Ross State University . August 16, 2024.
  11. Web site: Jackson Field (2020) . August 16, 2024.
  12. Web site: Jackson Field (2016) . August 16, 2024.
  13. Web site: . Hendricks . Jay . Sul Ross Breaks Ground on New Turg Project for Intramural Fields . January 21, 2016 . August 16, 2024.
  14. News: Big Bend Times . Sul Ross State Lobos Showcase Resilience in 93rd Battle of I-20 Rivalry Despite Loss to McMurry War Hawks . November 12, 2023 . September 12, 2024.
  15. News: . Hofeditz . Jordan . McMurry football welcomes Sul Ross State in "Battle of I-20" . September 20, 2019 . September 12, 2024.
  16. Web site: McMurry University Unifies Intercollegiate Athletics Joining Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in Fall 2024 . September 12, 2024 . McMurry University.
  17. Web site: Sul Ross State Athletics . GAME 6 PREVIEW: Lobos return to action with trip to Midwestern State . October 9, 2024 . October 19, 2024.
  18. Web site: Sul Ross State Athletics . GAME 7 PREVIEW: Lobos take on Western New Mexico for homecoming . October 16, 2024 . October 19, 2024.
  19. Web site: FOOTBALL: Lobos notch first LSC win on homecoming over WNMU . October 20, 2024 . October 21, 2024.
  20. Web site: New Mexico Intercollegiate Conference. Saylor. Roger B.. XLS. October 3, 2015. March 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160311113026/https://cdm61prod.dlt.psu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/saylor/id/2304. dead.
  21. News: Lobo Baseball Team Rates With The Best . . . 6 . June 5, 1961 . August 8, 2020 . newspapers.com.
  22. News: UofA Unloads Big Guns; Mauls Sul Ross, 22-10 . . . 31 . April 10, 1962 . August 8, 2020 . newspapers.com.

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