The UTSA Roadrunners is a collegiate athletic program that represents the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). The UTSA Roadrunners are also commonly referred to as "UTSA", "Roadrunners", or "Runners", and are represented by the mascot Rowdy. The origin of Rowdy dates back to 1977, when the Roadrunner was chosen as the university's mascot by student election.[2]
The UTSA Cheer team has garnered two National Cheerleading Associations’ (NCA) collegiate national championships, first in 2012[6] and again in 2021.[7][8] The cheer team has also secured a pair of top 5 finishes in 2019.[9][10]
UTSA men's basketball began as an Independent in 1981 before joining the Trans America Athletic Conference, now known as the Atlantic Sun Conference, in 1986. March 12, 1988, UTSA defeated Georgia Southern 76–69 in overtime sending the Roadrunners to their first NCAA post season appearance.[14][15] UTSA men's basketball has won 3 regular season championships, 4 conference tournaments, and has had 4 NCAA tournament appearances.[16][17]
UTSA appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) post season play in 2018. In 2019 the Roadrunners were invited to the CIT again but turned down post season play.[18]
The Roadrunners won their first ever Southland Conference Championship in 2008 defeating Lamar 65–56 at the Merrell Center. This also marked the UTSA women's basketball team's first NCAA Tournament berth in school history.
UTSA earned an NCAA Tournament berth for a second consecutive season[19] with a 74–63 win over top seed UT Arlington in the State Farm Southland Conference Tournament Championship Game on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at the Merrell Center.
The UTSA women's basketball team has earned 2 NCAA Tournament Appearances, 2 conference championships, 1 regular season title, and the 2011 Southland West Division Championship.
The UTSA baseball team was formed in 1992 where they initially competed in the Southland Conference. Built in 1993, UTSA plays at Roadrunner Field which is commonly known as "The Bird Bath." The Roadrunners have won 5 conference tournaments and have 3 NCAA post season appearances.
Softball
The UTSA softball team plays their home games at Roadrunner Field and initially competed in the Southland Conference since 1992. UTSA shattered its own NCAA record in 2007, hitting 105 round-trippers in 51 contests for a 2.06 average, eclipsing the 1.87 mark set in 2004 (101/54). The Roadrunners own three of the top six home run seasons in NCAA history 105 (2006), 103 (2005), 101 (2004) and set a conference record with 14 home runs in four games at the 2006 SLC Tournament.[20]
The Roadrunner softball team has 2 NCAA Tournament Appearances (2004, 2006), 3 Regular Season Southland Conference Titles (2004, 2005, 2006), and 2 Southland Conference Tournament Championships (2004, 2006).[21][22][23]
Volleyball
The Roadrunners volleyball team host their home games in the Convocation Center which has been dubbed "The Historic Convo" or "Convo" for short. The women's volleyball team began NCAA play in 1983 as an independent. In 1991 UTSA started play in the Southland Conference. In 2010 the Roadrunners won their second-ever Southland Conference Tournament Championship in program history[24] and head to the 2010 NCAA Tournament.[25] In 2012 the team played a single season in the Western athletics conference, the following year transitioned to conference USA. In 2014 the Roadrunners sweep Tulsa to win the Conference USA Regular Season Championship in 2013.[26] UTSA clinched their third NCAA Tournament berth in program history in 2013 by claiming the Conference USA Tournament Championship in four sets against Tulane (25–20, 25–16, 18–25, 25–23).[27] In 2014 the Roadrunners captured the Conference USA Regular Season Championship with a sweep of Rice (25–19, 25–21, 25–22). The volleyball team has 3 NCAA Tournament Appearances (2000, 2010, 2013), 3 Conference Tournament Championships (2000, 2010, 2013), and 5 Regular Season Championship Titles(1999, 2010, 2013, 2014).
I-35 Orange vs. Maroon rivalry
The I-35 Rivalry Orange vs. Maroon Rivalry series is the name given to the athletic competitions between the Roadrunners and the Texas State Bobcats. The name is derived from the Interstate highway that essentially links the two schools, which are in relatively close proximity to each other. In the beginning of the rivalry, a trophy was awarded to the winner of the men's basketball game. It has grown, however, to include all common sports the two schools compete with each other in throughout the academic year. A point system is used to crown a winner after the last competition between the schools in that year. The trophy is then inscribed with the annual winners and the winning institution retains the trophy for one year until the next winner is crowned.[28][29]
The women's basketball team wins the regular season Southland Conference (SLC) championship in 2002–03.[35]
The women's basketball team wins first-ever Southland Conference Championship in 2008.[36]
The women's basketball team wins Southland Conference regular season Title in 2009.[37]
The women's basketball team wins Southland Conference Championship in 2009.[38]
The women's basketball team clinches the 2011 Southland Conference West Division Championship.[39]
Baseball
The baseball team won the Southland Conference tournament in 1994[40][41]
The baseball team won the Southland Conference tournament in 2005[40][41]
The baseball team won the Southland Conference tournament in 2007[42][43]
The baseball team won the Southland Conference tournament in 2008[44][43]
The baseball team won the Western Athletic Conference Tournament in 2013.[45][46][47]
Cross country/track and field (indoor/outdoor)
The men's Track and Field team won the 1996 cross-country championships.
The women's Track and Field team won the 1996 cross-country championships.
The men's Track and Field team won the 1997 cross-country championships.
The women's Track and Field team won the 1997 cross-country championships.
UTSA wins their 6th consecutive Men's Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship in 2011.[48]
The men's Track and Field won the Conference USA Outdoor Championship back to back years in 2014 and 2015.
The women's Cross Country team won the 2013 Conference USA Championship.
Football
UTSA set the record for the highest-attended game for an NCAA Division I inaugural game with 56,743 fans in attendance[49][50][51]
UTSA Football makes inaugural bowl game appearance in 2016 season.[52][53]
UTSA Football team beat Baylor for their first win over a Power 5 opponent.[54][55]
UTSA Football team became bowl eligible for the second straight season in a row.[56]
UTSA Football program received votes in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll for the first time.[57]
In the 2020 season UTSA accepted a bid to their second bowl game ever at the Frisco Bowl but it was cancelled due to issues within the SMU program.[58] Days later the Roadrunners accepted their third bowl bid[59] and played in their second bowl game in program history at the First Responders Bowl against #19 Louisiana-Lafayette.[60]
The UTSA Football program earned its first shut out in their 2021 home opener, beating Lamar University 54–0.[61]
The UTSA Football program earned its first top 25 rankings in week 8 of the 2021 season. The rankings included ESPN's Power Rankings (#24),[62] USA Today Sports AFCA Coach's Poll (#25),[63] and in the Associated Press top 25 (#24)[64]
