St. Bonaventure Bonnies
Encyclopedia
The St. Bonaventure Bonnies are the varsity intercollegiate athletic programs of St. Bonaventure University
, based in Allegany
, New York
, USA. The school sponsors 14 athletic programs (7 men's, 7 women's), all of which compete in the NCAA's Division I Atlantic 10 Conference, of which it has been a member since 1979. The school's athletic director
is Steve Watson. The programs' mascot is the Bona Wolf and colors are brown and white.
appearance in 1970
, and an NIT
Championship in 1977. St. Bonaventure's last NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2000, an 85-80 double overtime loss in the 1st round to Kentucky
. Currently, St. Bonaventure's head men's basketball coach is Mark Schmidt
.
NBA
Hall of Famer Bob Lanier played at St. Bonaventure, leading them to the 1970 Final Four. The men's and women's basketball teams play at the 6,012-seat Reilly Center
. The playing surface was renamed Bob Lanier Court in a dedication ceremony on October 12, 2007. Lanier attended along with his mother, sister, and daughter.
, where it has been held since the late 1980's.
, however, this was changed to the Bona Fanatic. This new mascot was poorly received, so much so that costume wearers were assaulted by St. Bonaventure fans. After only a few years (1996-1998) in existence, the Fanatic was dropped in favor of the current Bona Wolf.
The school's colors, brown and white, reflect the colors of Franciscan
friar robes. The university is closely affiliated with this religious order.
Unfurl the Brown and White
Into the breeze;
Snow of the mountain height;
Brown of the trees!
Emblem of loyalty,
Manhood, and might,
We love thy shining folds of Brown and White!
Hark! The trumpets are calling.
Drums like thunder resound.
Feet in rhythm are falling-
Armies shaking the ground!
Rise to the march.
Fill the sky with a throaty cheer. Rah!
Unfurl the Brown and White
Into the breeze;
Snow of the mountain height;
Brown of the trees!
Emblem of loyalty,
Manhood, and might,
We love thy shining folds of Brown and White!
The song was written by St. Bonaventure graduates L.G. O'Brien (Class of 1925) and C.R. Kean (Class of 1924).
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
, based in Allegany
Allegany, New York
Allegany, New York may refer to:*Two locations in Cattaraugus County, New York:**Allegany , New York**Allegany , New York*Allegany County, New York...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA. The school sponsors 14 athletic programs (7 men's, 7 women's), all of which compete in the NCAA's Division I Atlantic 10 Conference, of which it has been a member since 1979. The school's athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
is Steve Watson. The programs' mascot is the Bona Wolf and colors are brown and white.
Teams
| Men | Women | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Facility | Sport | Facility |
| Baseball | McGraw-Jennings Field | Basketball | Reilly Center Reilly Center Reilly Center is a 5,780-seat multi-purpose arena, in St. Bonaventure, New York, United States. It is home to the St. Bonaventure University Bonnies men's and women's basketball teams... |
| Basketball | Reilly Center Reilly Center Reilly Center is a 5,780-seat multi-purpose arena, in St. Bonaventure, New York, United States. It is home to the St. Bonaventure University Bonnies men's and women's basketball teams... |
Cross Country | - |
| Cross Country | - | Lacrosse | McGraw-Jennings Field |
| Golf | Bartlett Country Club | Soccer | McGraw-Jennings Field |
| Soccer | McGraw-Jennings Field | Softball | St. Bonaventure Softball Diamond |
| Swimming & Diving | Reilly Center Pool | Swimming & Diving | Reilly Center Pool |
| Tennis | St. Bonaventure Outdoor Tennis Courts | Tennis | St. Bonaventure Outdoor Tennis Courts |
Men's basketball
The men's basketball program has enjoyed success on and off throughout its history, including an NCAA Final FourFinal four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
appearance in 1970
1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 7, 1970, and ended with the championship game on March 21 in College Park, Maryland...
, and an NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
Championship in 1977. St. Bonaventure's last NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2000, an 85-80 double overtime loss in the 1st round to Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
. Currently, St. Bonaventure's head men's basketball coach is Mark Schmidt
Mark Schmidt
-External links:...
.
NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
Hall of Famer Bob Lanier played at St. Bonaventure, leading them to the 1970 Final Four. The men's and women's basketball teams play at the 6,012-seat Reilly Center
Reilly Center
Reilly Center is a 5,780-seat multi-purpose arena, in St. Bonaventure, New York, United States. It is home to the St. Bonaventure University Bonnies men's and women's basketball teams...
. The playing surface was renamed Bob Lanier Court in a dedication ceremony on October 12, 2007. Lanier attended along with his mother, sister, and daughter.
Men's Golf
The Bonnies men's golf team is coached by John Powers, a 2010 graduate of Bowling Green University. Powers took over the team in the summer of 2011. The team hosts the annual Leo Keenan Invitational at Bartlett Country Club in Olean, New YorkOlean, New York
Olean is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. Olean is the largest city in Cattaraugus County, and serves as the financial, business, transportation and entertainment center of the county. It is one of the principal cities of the Southern Tier region of New York.The city is...
, where it has been held since the late 1980's.
Mascot and colors
The school's current mascot is the Bona Wolf, the third mascot in school history. From 1927-1992, St. Bonaventure's mascot was the Brown Indian. As part of an ongoing debate over Native American mascotsNative American mascot controversy
The propriety of using Native American mascots and images in sports has been a topic of debate in the United States and Canada since the 1960s.Americans have had a history of drawing inspiration from native peoples and "playing Indian" that dates back at least to the 18th century...
, however, this was changed to the Bona Fanatic. This new mascot was poorly received, so much so that costume wearers were assaulted by St. Bonaventure fans. After only a few years (1996-1998) in existence, the Fanatic was dropped in favor of the current Bona Wolf.
The school's colors, brown and white, reflect the colors of Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friar robes. The university is closely affiliated with this religious order.
Men's basketball
- Tom Stith, 1960, consensus First Team
- Tom Stith, 1961, consensus First Team
- Bob Lanier, 1968, consensus Second Team
- Bob Lanier, 1970, consensus First Team
Conference championships
- Men's Swimming and Diving 1993
- Women's Swimming and Diving 1996
- Women's Swimming and Diving 1997
- Women's Swimming and Diving 1998
- Men's Swimming and Diving 1999
- Men's Tennis 2001
- Men's Tennis 2003
- Baseball 2004
- Men's Swimming and Diving 2006
Fight song
The school fight song is "Unfurl the Brown and White," the lyrics of which are shown below.Unfurl the Brown and White
Into the breeze;
Snow of the mountain height;
Brown of the trees!
Emblem of loyalty,
Manhood, and might,
We love thy shining folds of Brown and White!
Hark! The trumpets are calling.
Drums like thunder resound.
Feet in rhythm are falling-
Armies shaking the ground!
Rise to the march.
Fill the sky with a throaty cheer. Rah!
Unfurl the Brown and White
Into the breeze;
Snow of the mountain height;
Brown of the trees!
Emblem of loyalty,
Manhood, and might,
We love thy shining folds of Brown and White!
The song was written by St. Bonaventure graduates L.G. O'Brien (Class of 1925) and C.R. Kean (Class of 1924).