University Southern University NCAA Division I FCS Location Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Conference SWAC Athletic director William Broussard Football stadium Ace W. Mumford Stadium | |
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The Southern Jaguars and Lady Jaguars represent Southern University in NCAA intercollegiate athletics. Southern University's 13 athletic teams participate in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) which is a part of the NCAA Division I. Football participates in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA). Southern University's colors are columbia blue and gold and their nickname is the Jaguars. Southern's loyal fanbase is traditionally referred to as the "Jaguar Nation".
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Bayou Classic
Every Thanksgiving weekend, Southern plays in-state archrival Grambling State University in the Bayou Classic at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The game is a national primetime telecast on NBC. Due to Hurricane Katrina, the 2005 game was moved to Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Homecoming
The homecoming football game is always a sold out game of 25,000+ against a SWAC opponent. The football game is annually the last major event of homecoming week.
Jackson State Rivalry
The Southern Jaguars maintains a very popular and heated football rivalry with SWAC East foe Jackson State University. The Jackson State–Southern University rivalry game is one of the highest attended and most anticipated games for both schools every year.
Texas State Fair Football Showdown
In 2016, Southern University agreed to a major deal with the city of Dallas and the Texas State Fair to play the Texas Southern University Tigers in Dallas in 2018 and 2019. The game will take place in October in the Cotton Bowl Stadium.
Notable alumni
Mel Blount played running back and cornerback for Southern from 1967–69 before enjoying a 14-year career as a cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Starring on the Steel Curtain defense, he helped the franchise win four Super Bowl championships in six years. Blount was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
GSU basketball rivalry
The basketball game against the Grambling State Tigers at the F.G. Clark Activity Center is annually the highest attended and one of the most anticipated games of the season.
TSU basketball rivalry
Since 2008, Southern and Texas Southern have traditionally been the favorites to compete for the SWAC Championship every season. The games have become very competitive and highly anticipated by both universities.
Notable alumni
Avery Johnson, former NBA star who won an NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs, is a 1988 graduate of Southern. Johnson was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2006 after leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals. Bob Love, known as "Butterbean" while at Southern, is the second leading scorer in Chicago Bulls history behind Michael Jordan. Love starred at Southern University between 1962-1965.
Baseball
The university's baseball team has won more regular season championships than any other SWAC member. They play their home games at Lee-Hines Field.
Notable alumni
Women's basketball
The 2005–2006 women's basketball team won a share of the SWAC regular season title and won the SWAC women's basketball tournament. This was Coach Sandy Pugh's third appearance in the NCAA tournament with the university.