Southern Utah
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The Southern Utah University Thunderbirds compete as members of the Great West Football Conference in NCAA Division I FCS football, and in the Summit League in NCAA Division I basketball. In 2012, the school will join the Big Sky Conference in all sports. Southern Utah, formerly known as "Branch Agricultural College," "College of Southern Utah," and "Southern Utah State," is a public institution located in Cedar City, Utah, in the southwestern corner of the state. The school has an undergraduate enrollment of around 6,000.
The campus is located in downtown Cedar City, bounded by I-15, 200 Street South, 300 Street West, and Center Street. Exit 59 (UT-56) off I-15 is the 200 Street North exit, which runs two blocks north and parallel to campus. Eccles Coliseum (8,000) is on the west end of campus at the corner of Center Street and 1150 Street West, while Centrum Arena (5,000) is on the east end at the corner of Center Street and 300 Street West.
Southern Utah has struggled to build a strong rivalry with anyone, due to a remote location and a fluctuating conference membership pattern which has usually left the school as an isolated outpost. Now, however, having finally achieved their long-standing goal of membership in the Big Sky, their rivalry with Weber State will intensify, and as they're now Northern Arizona's closest geographical rival, that rivalry should flourish as well.
Nine players have reached the NFL from Southern Utah, five of them in just the last two years. T Zane Beadles, drafted in the second round by Denver in 2010, is already arguably the school's most accomplished alumnus in the NFL. No Thunderbird has yet played in the NBA or ABA.
Conference Affiliations
Football
| Big Sky Conference | NCAA I FCS | 2012-present |
| Great West Conference | NCAA I FCS | 2004-2011 |
| NCAA Division I FCS Independents | NCAA I FCS | 1996-2003 |
| American West Conference | NCAA I FCS | 1993-1995 |
| Western Football Conference | NCAA II | 1986-1992 |
| Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | NAIA | 1969-1985 |
| NAIA Football Independents | NAIA | 1963-1968 |
Basketball
| Big Sky Conference | NCAA I | 2012-present |
| Summit League | NCAA I | 2007-2012 |
| Mid-Continent Conference | NCAA I | 1997-2007 |
| NCAA Division I Independents | NCAA I | 1996-1997 |
| American West Conference | NCAA I | 1994-1996 |
| NCAA Division I Independents | NCAA I | 1989-1994 |
| NCAA Division II Independents | NCAA II | 1986-1989 |
| Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | NAIA | 1969-1986 |
| NAIA Independents | NAIA | 1963-1969 |
Post-Season Appearances
Football
Southern Utah has yet to appear in a post-season contest in football.
Basketball
| NCAA Division I Men's Tournament | 2001 |
| NAIA Men's Basketball Tournament | 1977 |
Championships
Football
| Great West Conference Champions | 2010 |
| American West Conference Champions | 1993 |
Basketball
| Mid-Continent Conference Tournament Champions | 2001 |
| Mid-Continent Conference Regular Season Champions | 2001 |
| American West Conference Regular Season Champions | 1995 |
| NAIA District 7 Champions | 1977 |
National Individual Awards
Football
| NCAA Division I FCS First-Team All-Americans | 1995: Micah Deckert (TE) 1997: Jimmy Brimmer (LB) 1999: John Uriarte (OL) 1999: Josh Roberts (DB) 2000: Matt Cannon (QB) 2000: Randy Clark (OL) 2009: Trevor Ward (P) 2010: Tysson Poots (WR) |
| NCAA Division II Football First-Team All-Americans | 1987: Jeff McComb (P) 1989: Randy Bostic (C) 1990: Randy Bostic (C) |
| AP Football First-Team Little All-Americans | 1979: Lane Martino (DL) |
Basketball
Southern Utah has never had a player or coach recognized with a national honor.
External Links
Southern Utah University Athletics
| Big Sky Conference | edit |
|---|---|
| NCAA Division I FCS football • NCAA Division I basketball | |
| Cal-Davis† • Cal Poly-SLO† • Eastern Washington • Idaho State • Montana • Montana State • North Dakota | |
| Northern Arizona • Northern Colorado • Portland State • Sacramento State • Southern Utah • Weber State | |
| † • football only |
