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| Bryant Bulldogs | |
| University | Bryant University |
|---|---|
| Conference(s) | NEC |
| NCAA | Division I |
| Athletics director | Bill Smith |
| Location | Smithfield, RI |
| Varsity teams | 22 |
| Football stadium | Bulldog Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Chace Athletic Center |
| Mascot | Tupper |
| Nickname | Bulldogs |
| Fight song | |
| Colors | Black and Gold
|
| Homepage | Bryant Bulldogs |
The Bryant Bulldogs are the athletic teams representing Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The Bulldogs are currently in NCAA Division I reclassification process and compete at the Division I level as a member of the Northeast Conference.[1] Bryant's largest rivalry during its Division II years was Bentley College, both founders of the Northeast-10 and both have prominent business programs.[citation needed] Bryant University athletics started out as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) before it transitioned into Division II. Bryant competed in the Northeast-10 Conference from the conferences founding in 1980 until 2008 when the university began the transition to Division I.[2] They will be a full Division I member by 2012. They regularly scrimmage against the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.
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History [link]
The Beginning: The Providence Years [link]
Bryant University originally competed independently before the NCAA had classifications.[citation needed] The first teams were men's basketball and rowing, which started in 1896. The first women's team was women's basketball.[citation needed] When the NCAA began more strict classifications Bryant moved to the NAIA in 1963.[citation needed] During Bryant's tenure in the NAIA, it competed as an independent school. The university's tenure in the NAIA saw the men's basketball team record an undefeated regular season, going 22-0 before losing the final two games of the 1966-67 season in the District 32 Tournament.[3] The 22-2 overall record was the team's best during the NAIA years.[3] The move to Division II was partly because of the new campus, and the school's goals.[citation needed]
During their NAIA playing years, they were known as the Indians, and were located in Providence, Rhode Island, near Brown University.[citation needed] The school's largest rivalry at the time was Salem State College.[citation needed] The school was still a small business school, who was still only known on a local level.[citation needed] In 1976 the college left the NAIA In 1977 the college exited the NAIA and became a member of the NCAA at the Division II level.[citation needed] From there they became a charter member of the Northeast-10 Conference when the conference formed in 1979 and began play in 1980.[2]
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Bryant College Indians logo from 1896-1977
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Bryant College Indians logo from 1977-1995
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Bryant College Bulldogs logo from 1995-2004
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Bryant University Bulldogs logo from 2004-present
The Charter Years: Move to Division II [link]
In 1980 Bryant was one of the charter members of the Northeast-10.[2] Bryant along with other New England schools helped create a Division II conference that could succeed on and off the playing field and create rivalries at the same time.[citation needed] With the conference affiliation Bryant was able to keep its closest current day rival Bentley College Falcons close both academically and athletically.[citation needed]
The university used the Indians nickname and logos since the inception of the athletics program in 1896 until 1995.[4]
Entering the 2000s (decade) the university has won 40 conference championships; and the President's Cup 4 times in 2004, 2005, and 2007 and in their last season as a Division II member in 2008.[citation needed] They lost in 2006 by 1 point to Stonehill College.[citation needed] In their last year of competition in Division II and in the Northeast-10, Bryant won the President's Cup by over 30 points, and sent 19 out of the 22 teams into the NCAA playoffs.[citation needed] They also amassed a record of 292-65-6 throughout the entire year.[citation needed]
The 2000s (decade) also saw the injection of many new coaches at the university.[citation needed] Before the move to Division I they had signed four former Division I coaches from Duke University,[5] Iowa State University, Wagner College, and UNLV.[citation needed] These moves have been noted as being one of the reasons that Bryant athletics have had such a successful run.[neutrality is disputed] This run has also brought on the exploratory commission to explore the move to Division I.[citation needed]
Move to Division I [link]
On October 18, 2007 Bryant announced they would join the Northeast Conference.[6] The move had Bryant participating as a Division I institution starting in 2008.[7] The NCAA will vote in 2012 to make the university a full member, which would allow Bryant to be eligible for NCAA Division I member postseason tournament play as well as have voting rights for its conference.[8]
Sports [link]
Bryant University's 22 varsity athletics are broken down into 11 athletic sports for men, and 11 for women. The Men's teams include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, indoor & outdoor track & field, tennis, soccer, and swimming & diving. The Women's teams consist of basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, indoor & outdoor track & field, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, and volleyball.
Facilities [link]
Bulldog Stadium [link]
Bulldog Stadium was completed in 1999 and has a seating capacity of 5,500 with a 4,200-seat permanent structure and press box on the home side of the field and 1,300 additional seats on the visitor's side.[9] In addition to serving as the home of Bryant Football, Bulldog Stadium also serves as the home venue to the school's men's and women's lacrosse and men's and women's soccer teams. It has also been the host of Rhode Island's high school state championship games.[9]
Baseball Complex [link]
The Bryant University Baseball Complex is located in the northwest section of the campus near the other athletic facilities. The field has dimensions 330' down the left and right field lines, 385' to the right and left center field gaps and 400' to center field.[10] It is equipped with step down dug outs, each with a connected clubhouse space. It also has bullpens down each line with two mounds and a hitting cage down the left field line just out side of the fence next to the bullpen.[10] In addition to hosting several Northeast-10 Conference tournament games, the Bryant Baseball Complex hosted the 2004 NCAA Division II Baseball Northeast Regional Championship, won by the Bulldogs.[10]
Other facilities [link]
The Chace Wellness Center is a 31,000-square-foot (2,900 m2) student recreation center that augments the current gymnasium and Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC). The center includes workout space, a 8,000-square-foot (740 m2) fitness center, and an aerobic and martial arts studio.[11] The Elizabeth & Malcolm Natatorium is an olympic-size pool originally constructed with the additions to the current Wellness and Athletic Center.[12] The pool had only recreational use until the winter of 2005 when Bryant added men's and women's swim teams as a varsity sport. The natatorium features six lanes equipped with a scoreboard, seating area, and sound system.[12]
The Bryant Track and Turf Complex was build in 2005 and is the home venue for the men's and women's track & field teams.[13] The facility also hosts soccer, field hockey and lacrosse games in addition to being used as the football practice field.[13] The facility has a bleacher seating section with a capacity of 1,000 fans. Another valuable addition was the lights surrounding the track.[13]
Championships [link]
Northeast-10 History [link]
While competing as a charter member of the Northeast-10 conference from 1980 until 2008 the school won the President's Cup, awarded to the best overall athletic team in the NE-10, eight times. Bryant also finished in second five times and third three times.[14] Considered to be one of the most successful teams in Northeast-10 History Bryant has won 93 conference championships.[citation needed] In the 2007-2008 school year, the university won 9 conference championships[citation needed] During its Division II years, the university sponsored 22 of 23 sports that the Northeast-10 Conference offered.[citation needed]
| Sport | Conference Championships | Last Championship |
|---|---|---|
| Golf | 20 | 2005 |
| Volleyball | 10 | 2007 |
| Tennis (w) | 9 | 2008 |
| Baseball | 7 | 2008 |
| Tennis (m) | 6 | 2008 |
| Cross Country | 4 | 1996 |
| Softball | 3 | 2006 |
| Basketball (w) | 3 | 1989 |
| Field Hockey | 2 | 2003 |
| Lacrosse (m) | 2 | 2008 |
| Football | 2 | 2007 |
| Soccer (w) | 2 | 2007 |
| Soccer (m) | 1 | 1988 |
| Lacrosse (w) | 1 | 1999 |
| Track and Field | 1 | 1993 |
| Basketball (m) | 0 | ---- |
| Swimming & Diving | 0 | ---- |
Mascot [link]
The Bulldog logo became the official new logo and mascot of the university after a 1995 campus-wide vote.[citation needed] The school now has a living mascot and a costumed mascot to represent the bulldogs mascot and university athletics.[citation needed] Bryant has also used two bulldog logos as they did during the Indian years; first using a realistic bulldog's head inside a diamond design, followed by the current design in 2004.[citation needed] The change came when Bryant went from being a college to a university.
Ironclad Tupper I, or Tupper for short, is an English bulldog purchased by Bryant University President Ron Machtley and his wife, Kati.[15] The Machtleys gave the dog to the school to honor the class of 2010's senior class gift campaign, which exceeded its goals and set two senior class gift records.[15] Tupper now serves as Bryant University's mascot and attends campus events, as well as performing community service as a therapy dog.[15] He is the first live bulldog mascot in the university's history and received an honorary degree at 2010 commencement for "character and obedience."[15]
References [link]
- ^ "Multidivision, Reclassifying and Provisional Institutions for 2011-12". NCAA. August 2011. https://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/AMA/DI%20Membership/MULTIDIVISION.pdf. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ^ a b c "The History of the Northeast-10 Conference". Northeast-10 Conference. https://www.northeast10.org/information/about_ne10/timeline. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ^ a b "2006-07 BryantMen's Basketball Media Guide". Bryant University. https://static.psbin.com/2/t/2wcxp635jzwjnx/2006-07BryantMBKBGuide.pdf. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
- ^ "Four-Year Schools - B". ColorWerx. https://www.ssur.org/research/CollegeColorsNicknames/FourYear/B/B.htm. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ^ Clemmons, Anna Katherine (March 12, 2010). "Pressler builds Bryant lacrosse". ESPN. https://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=4980330. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ^ "Bryant University Accepts Invitation to Join Northeast Conference Northeast Conference - Bryant University Accepts Invitation to Join". Northeast Conference. October 18, 2007. https://northeastconference.org/News/general/2007/10/18/NEC-BryantAcceptance07.asp?path=general. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ^ AP Staff (October 19, 2007). "Bryant Will Move To Division I". New York Times. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E6DD1E3EF93AA25753C1A9619C8B63. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ^ McNamara, Kevin (September 25, 2007). "Success has led Bryant to seek move to Div. I". The Providence Journal. https://www.projo.com/college/content/sp_bryant25_09-25-07_L0736UF.31db95a.html. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ^ a b "Bulldog Stadium". Bryant University. https://www.bryantbulldogs.com/information/Facilities/Bulldog_Stadium. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ^ a b c "The Bryant University Baseball Complex". Bryant University. https://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/bsb/Baseball_Stadium. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
- ^ "Chace Wellness Center". Bryant University. https://www.bryantbulldogs.com/information/Chace_Wellness/REDESIGN/Wellness_Center. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ^ a b "Chace Athletic Center Pool". Bryant University. https://www.bryantbulldogs.com/information/Facilities/Chace_Athletic_Center_Pool. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Bryant Track and Turf Complex". Bryant University. https://www.bryantbulldogs.com/information/Facilities/Bryant_Track_and_Turf_Complex. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
- ^ "Northeast-10 Conference". Northeast-10 Conference. https://www.northeast10.org/information/presidents_cup/Year-By-Year. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Bryant’s mascot Ironclad Tupper 1, aka Tupper". Bryant University. https://blogs.bryant.edu/newsroom/?p=507. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
External links [link]
- Bryant University official website
- Bryant University Athletics
Coordinates: 41°55′32″N 71°31′57″W / 41.92545°N 71.53241°W
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Bryant Bulldogs men's basketball
The Bryant Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Bryant University in NCAA Division I men's basketball. The team currently competes in the Northeast Conference. They are currently led by head coach Tim O'Shea and play their home games at the Chace Athletic Center.
History
Bryant University competed in the NAIA as an NAIA independent program from 1963 until 1976 as the Bryant College Indians before the college became a member of the NCAA Division II level in 1977. Bryants most successful season during the college's tenure in the NAIA came in the 1966–67 season when the team recorded an undefeated regular season, going 22–0 before losing the final two games of the 1966–67 season in the District 32 Tournament. The 22–2 overall record was the team's best during the NAIA years. The 22 wins set a team high win streak that still stands as a school record as of 2012. And the 22 total wins was not eclipsed until the 2003–04 season.
Within a few seasons of transitioning to NCAA Division II, the college became a charter member of the Northeast-10 Conference in 1980.
Bryant Bulldogs football
The Bryant Bulldogs football program represents Bryant University in college football. The Bulldogs are members of the Northeast Conference and compete at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level. Since its inception in 1999, the team has played its home game at Bulldog Stadium in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Bryant's head coach is Marty Fine, who has held the position since the 2004 season.
History
Bryant University football was created in 1999, since its inception it has quickly become one of the more powerful teams in its conference. Also, they Bryant football has had some of the best home crowds the conference has seen. The Bulldogs' fans have also been known to travel well. Bryant has only had 2 coaches since its inception.
The first Bulldog coach was Jim Miceli who coached the team from 1999 until 2003. The second and current Bulldog coach is Marty Fine, who has coached the team from 2004–present. Marty Fine used to be an assistant head coach at Iowa State University before coming over to Bryant University. In only his third year as head coach he brought the Bulldogs to the playoffs.
