Southern Utah Thunderbirds football
Encyclopedia
The Southern Utah Thunderbirds football (also referred to as the SUU Thunderbirds) program is a college football
team that represents Southern Utah University
(SUU). With a history dating back to 1963, SUU currently competes in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision as a member of the Great West Conference (Great West). The Thunderbirds currently play their home games at Eccles Coliseum
, located on the campus in Cedar City, Utah
. Since December 2007, Ed Lamb
has served as the Thunderbirds' head coach.
and Bruce Osborne served as head coach. Southern remained as an independent through the 1968 season
when they became a charter member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
(RMAC). The Thunderbirds competed as a member of the RMAC from 1969 to 1985 and had an overall record of 86–73–3 during that time. Following the 1985 season, Southern Utah made the move from the RMAC of the NAIA
to the NCAA Division II Western Football Conference (WFC) for the 1986 season. As part of the WFC from 1986 to 1992, the Thunderbirds had an overall record of 41–34–1 during that time.
For the 1993 season, Southern Utah joined the American West Conference
(AWC) as a charter member. The move to the AWC also marked the move from Division II to NCAA Division I-AA for the program. The AWC folded following the 1995 season with the Thunderbirds compiling an overall record of 9–23–1 , and starting their tenure as an I-AA Independent for the 1996 season. After competing eight years as an Independent, Southern Utah once again became a charter conference member, this time with the Great West Conference (GWC), beginning with the 2004 season.
In November 2010, Southern Utah announced they will be joining the Big Sky Conference
effective for the 2012 season
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
team that represents Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University, or SUU, is located in Cedar City, Utah. It was founded in 1897 as an extension of the Agricultural College of Utah, by the citizens of Cedar City.During its history, the school has been known as:...
(SUU). With a history dating back to 1963, SUU currently competes in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision as a member of the Great West Conference (Great West). The Thunderbirds currently play their home games at Eccles Coliseum
Eccles Coliseum
Eccles Coliseum is an 6,200-seat multi-purpose stadium in Cedar City, Utah. It is home to the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds track & field team and football team. The stadium also hosts the Utah Summer Games opening ceremonies and several events. The facility opened in 1967.-External links:*...
, located on the campus in Cedar City, Utah
Cedar City, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,527 people, 6,486 households, and 4,682 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,021.8 people per square mile . There were 7,109 housing units at an average density of 353.9 per square mile...
. Since December 2007, Ed Lamb
Ed Lamb
Ed Lamb is the football head coach at Southern Utah University, he took over from Wes Meier in December 2007. Lamb is an alumnus of Brigham Young University.-Head coaching record:-External links:*...
has served as the Thunderbirds' head coach.
History
Southern Utah fielded their inaugural team as part of the 1963 college football season1963 college football season
During the 20th Century, the NCAA had no playoff for the college football teams that would later be described as "Division I-A". The NCAA Football Guide, however, did note an "unofficial national champion" based on the top ranked teams in the "wire service" polls...
and Bruce Osborne served as head coach. Southern remained as an independent through the 1968 season
1968 college football season
In the 1968 college football season, the system of "polls and bowls" changed. The Associated Press returned to its pre-1961 system of ranking the Top 20 rather than the Top 10, and voted on the national champion after the bowl games, rather than before. During the 20th Century, the NCAA had no...
when they became a charter member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the western United States, mostly in Colorado with some members in Nebraska and New Mexico...
(RMAC). The Thunderbirds competed as a member of the RMAC from 1969 to 1985 and had an overall record of 86–73–3 during that time. Following the 1985 season, Southern Utah made the move from the RMAC of the NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
to the NCAA Division II Western Football Conference (WFC) for the 1986 season. As part of the WFC from 1986 to 1992, the Thunderbirds had an overall record of 41–34–1 during that time.
For the 1993 season, Southern Utah joined the American West Conference
American west conference
The American West Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States from 1993 to 1996. It consisted of schools in California and Utah...
(AWC) as a charter member. The move to the AWC also marked the move from Division II to NCAA Division I-AA for the program. The AWC folded following the 1995 season with the Thunderbirds compiling an overall record of 9–23–1 , and starting their tenure as an I-AA Independent for the 1996 season. After competing eight years as an Independent, Southern Utah once again became a charter conference member, this time with the Great West Conference (GWC), beginning with the 2004 season.
In November 2010, Southern Utah announced they will be joining the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
effective for the 2012 season
Football classifications
- 1963–1985: National Association of Intercollegiate AthleticsNational Association of Intercollegiate AthleticsThe National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
- 1986–1992: NCAA Division II
- 1993–present: NCAA Division I-AA/FCS
Conference affiliations
- 1963–1968: Independent
- 1969–1985: Rocky Mountain Athletic ConferenceRocky Mountain Athletic ConferenceThe Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the western United States, mostly in Colorado with some members in Nebraska and New Mexico...
- 1986–1992: Western Football Conference
- 1993–1995: American West ConferenceAmerican west conferenceThe American West Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States from 1993 to 1996. It consisted of schools in California and Utah...
- 1996–2003: I-AA Independent
- 2004–2011: Great West Conference
- 2012– Big Sky ConferenceBig Sky ConferenceThe Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
Coaching history
| Name | Seasons | Overall | Overall % | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963–1964 | 9–6–1 | ||||||
| 1965–1966 | 8–8 | ||||||
| 1967–1977 | 49–53 | ||||||
| 1978–1982 | 30–17–2 | ||||||
| 1983–1985 | 14–14–1 | ||||||
| 1986–1995 | 50–57–2 | ||||||
| 1996 | 4–7 | ||||||
| 1997–2002 | 28–38 | ||||||
| 2003 | 4–7 | ||||||
| 2004–2007 | 10–33 | ||||||
| 2008–present | 15–18 | ||||||
| Source: | |||||||