Southland
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History
The Southland Conference serves to unite its members in celebrating academic success, achieving competitive excellence, promoting positive values and developing community relationships within a framework of efficiency, integrity and personal dignity."
In an era of considerable change in intercollegiate athletics, the Southland Conference continues to be a model of stability and consistent achievement as it celebrates the academic and athletic accomplishments of its member institutions.
What began as a small gathering of college administrators over 43 years ago, the Southland Conference has transformed itself into a dynamic and respected consortium of 12 member universities in three states. Beginning with a historic meeting of five institutions in Dallas on March 15, 1963, that included current members Lamar University (then Lamar State College of Technology) and the University of Texas at Arlington (then Arlington State College), the Southland Conference set on an extraordinary course that has proven successful well into its fifth decade of existence.
On July 1, 2006, the Southland Conference commemorated another milestone as the league membership reached 12, marking the largest configuration ever for the organization. The addition of the University of Central Arkansas and Texas A&M Corpus Christi expands the Southland into the Little Rock metro area and into the eighth largest city in Texas.
In addition to its two newest members, the Southland Conference lineup also consists of Lamar University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Sam Houston State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Stephen F. Austin State University, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Texas State University-San Marcos.
Southland Conference football ranks among the best Division I-AA leagues in the nation, and enjoys an annual expectation of competing for the national championship with multiple teams advancing to the NCAA playoffs each year. In 2002 and 2003, McNeese State finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation, and advanced to the 2002 national championship contest, the sixth such title game appearance since the league joined I-AA in 1982. All told, Southland teams have played in 84 Division I-AA playoff games in 23 years, winning 42 of the contests. Southland representatives have advanced to the national semifinals in each of the last two years.
Historically, the Southland's successful football heritage has sustained itself through numerous membership and classification changes. Originally an NAIA conference, the Southland joined the NCAA College Division in 1968. The College Division was re-named NCAA Division II in 1973, and the league played two seasons in that class. The Southland was an NCAA Division I league from 1975-81, before joining the ranks of I-AA in 1982, its home ever since.
During its tenure as a Division I conference from 1975-81, the Southland Conference was instrumental in the startup of the Independence Bowl in 1976. The Southland representative served as the host team of the bowl until 1980, compiling a 2-3 record in the contests.
Members
Southland Conference Fight Songs
Central Arkansas U.C.A. Fight Song
Lamar Go Big Red
McNeese St On McNeese (Official), Jolie Blonde (Unofficial)
Nicholls State Nicholls State Fight Song
Northwestern State Demon Fight Song
Sam Houston State SHSU Fight Song
Southeastern Louisiana Cheer Our Team
Stephen F. Austin SFA Fight Song
Texas Arlington UTA Fight Song
Texas San Antonio UTSA Fight Song
Texas State Go Bobcats!
Texas A&M Corpus Christi
External Links
| Southland Conference Central Arkansas • Lamar • McNeese State • Nicholls State • Northwestern State >• Sam Houston State Southeastern Louisiana • Stephen F. Austin • Texas Arlington • Texas San Antonio • Texas State • Texas A&M Corpus Christi |
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