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Sul Ross State Lobos

Sul Ross State Lobos
Logo
UniversitySul Ross State University
ConferenceLone Star Conference
NCAADivision III
Athletic directorBobby Mesker
LocationAlpine, Texas
Varsity teams14 varsity teams, NIRA rodeo
Football stadiumJackson Field
Basketball arenaPete P. Gallego Center
Baseball stadiumKokernot Field
Other venuesGraves-Pierce Recreational Complex
MascotSully
NicknameLobos
ColorsRed and Grey[1]: 5 
   
Websitewww.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 III 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

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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

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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

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Jackson Field
Location204 S. Cockrell St
Alpine, TX 79380
Capacity3,000[10]
SurfaceFieldTurf
Construction
Broke ground1924
Opened1924

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

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McMurry

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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

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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 a NCAA Division II opponent.[19]

Conference affiliations

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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

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Kokernot Field in 2008

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

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Women's basketball championships

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Tennis championships

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Track and field championships

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Cross country

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Softball

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Sul Ross began playing softball in 1996.

Women's soccer

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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

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ "Sull Ross Merchant Guidelines and Branding Standards" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  2. ^ "Track and Field Ends at Sul Ross"
  3. ^ "Sul Ross moving up to NCAA Division II competition" Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  4. ^ "Sul Ross State to join the LSC on July 1, 2024" Lone Star Conference. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  5. ^ "Flynt, 59, making comeback with Sul Ross State University". ESPN. August 22, 2007. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  6. ^ "2015 Football Schedule".
  7. ^ Barnett, Zach (November 30, 2021). "John Pearce resigns at Sul Ross State". Football Scoop. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  8. ^ "John Pearce announces resignation; Barry Derickson named interim head football coach". Sul Ross State University Athletics. November 30, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  9. ^ "Interim tag removed: Barry Derickson officially named head football coach". Sul Ross State University Athletics. November 18, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  10. ^ "Sul Ross State University". American Southwest Conference. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  11. ^ "Jackson Field (2020)". Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  12. ^ "Jackson Field (2016)". Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  13. ^ Hendricks, Jay (January 21, 2016). "Sul Ross Breaks Ground on New Turg Project for Intramural Fields". KOSA-TV. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  14. ^ "Sul Ross State Lobos Showcase Resilience in 93rd Battle of I-20 Rivalry Despite Loss to McMurry War Hawks". Big Bend Times. November 12, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  15. ^ Hofeditz, Jordan (September 20, 2019). "McMurry football welcomes Sul Ross State in "Battle of I-20"". Abilene Reporter News. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "McMurry University Unifies Intercollegiate Athletics Joining Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in Fall 2024". McMurry University. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  17. ^ "GAME 6 PREVIEW: Lobos return to action with trip to Midwestern State". Sul Ross State Athletics. October 9, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  18. ^ "GAME 7 PREVIEW: Lobos take on Western New Mexico for homecoming". Sul Ross State Athletics. October 16, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  19. ^ "FOOTBALL: Lobos notch first LSC win on homecoming over WNMU". October 20, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  20. ^ Saylor, Roger B. "New Mexico Intercollegiate Conference". Archived from the original (XLS) on March 11, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  21. ^ "Lobo Baseball Team Rates With The Best". Del Rio News-Herald. Del Rio, Texas. June 5, 1961. p. 6. Retrieved August 8, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "UofA Unloads Big Guns; Mauls Sul Ross, 22-10". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. April 10, 1962. p. 31. Retrieved August 8, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
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