Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters

Last updated
Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters
Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters logo.svg
University Lincoln Memorial University
Conference South Atlantic (primary)
Conference Carolinas (bowling)
Independent (men's volleyball)
NCAA Division II
Location Harrogate, Tennessee
First season1907
Varsity teams24 (11 men's, 12 women's, 1 co-ed)
Basketball arena B. Frank "Tex" Turner Arena
Baseball stadiumLamar Hennon Field
Softball stadiumDorothy Neely Softball Complex
Soccer stadiumLMU Soccer Complex
Lacrosse stadiumLMU Lacrosse Complex
Tennis venueLMU Tennis Complex
NicknameRailsplitters
ColorsDark Blue and Light Gray [1]
   
Website lmurailsplitters.com

The Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters are the athletic teams that represent Lincoln Memorial University, located in Harrogate, Tennessee, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Railsplitters compete as members of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) for most varsity sports, although the bowling team competes in the Conference Carolinas (CC) and the men's volleyball program plays as an independent. Field hockey and men's wrestling, two of three sports to be added in 2021–22, will compete in South Atlantic Conference Carolinas, an alliance between the SAC and CC that operates in those two sports, with the SAC operating the field hockey championship and CC operating the men's wrestling championship. LMU will thus become a de facto CC men's wrestling affiliate at that time. The third sport to be added in 2021–22 is women's wrestling, newly added to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program for 2020–21. [2]

Contents

History

Athletics have been a part of LMU since 1907, when baseball was first organized on campus. The first intercollegiate contest was a baseball game against Cumberland College in 1910.

From 1991 to 2006 LMU was a member of the Gulf South Conference. Prior to that, the school was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and competed in the Smoky Mountain Athletic Conference (1929–1961) and Volunteer State/Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference (1946–1989).

Over the years the teams have enjoyed great success on the field and in the classroom. Academically, the 2000–01 women's basketball team led the NCAA Division II in team GPA and both soccer teams' 3.0 or better cumulative GPA have won them recognition from the NSCAA for the past few years.

In November 2019, LMU hired its first ever African American Athletics Director in Jasher Cox.

Conference affiliations

NAIA

NCAA

Varsity teams

List of teams

  1. 1 2 The NCAA considers indoor and outdoor track & field, both sponsored by LMU, to be two separate sports. NCAA championships in indoor track are held in the organization's winter season, with outdoor championships held in the spring season.

Former teams

LMU does not have a football program, though it did have one in the past. Other sports formerly offered at LMU include fencing and tumbling.

Facilities

Facilities include the Turner Arena, Mars Gymnasium, Neely Field and Hennon Field. The golf teams are based out of Woodlake Golf Club in Tazewell, Tennessee. New soccer and tennis complexes are currently under construction.

Individual teams

The men's and women's basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, cross-country and soccer teams have all made appearances in their respective national tournaments over the years. The men's soccer team reached the NCAA Division II Championship Match in 2007, losing to Franklin Pierce College 1–0. In 2016, the men's basketball team reached the NCAA Division II National Championship game, losing 90–81 to Augustana University. In 2019, the Men’s Golf Team reached the NCAA Division II National Championship game, dropping a heartbreaker to Lynn University 3–2.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Atlantic Conference</span> American college athletic conference

The South Atlantic Conference (SAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, which operates in the southeastern United States. The SAC was founded in 1975 as a football-only conference and became an all-sports conference beginning with the 1989–90 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference</span> Collegiate athletic conference

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. Formed in 1913, it consists mostly of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), with all but one member located in the Southern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln Memorial University</span> Private university in Harrogate, Tennessee, U.S.

Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) is a private university in Harrogate, Tennessee. LMU's 1,000-acre (4.0 km2) campus borders on Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. As of fall 2023, it had 1,605 undergraduate and 4,200 graduate and professional students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sooner Athletic Conference</span> American college athletic conference

The Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Originally developed as a five-team conference of Oklahoma-based schools, the SAC now boasts 12 schools in a league that spans four states – Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, with a Missouri-based school to join in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conference Carolinas</span> American college athletic conference

Conference Carolinas, formerly known as the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) or the Carolinas Conference, is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) primarily at the Division II level. It is also considered as one of the seven Division I conferences for men's volleyball. Originally formed in 1930, the league reached its modern incarnation in 1994. Member institutions are located in the southeastern United States in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The Conference Carolinas membership currently consists of 14 small colleges or universities, 12 private and two public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Binghamton Bearcats</span> Athletic teams representing Binghamton University

The Binghamton Bearcats are the NCAA Division I athletics teams at Binghamton University located in Binghamton, New York. United States. They are one of four Division I programs in the SUNY system. A member of the America East Conference, Binghamton University, SUNY sponsors teams in eleven men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports. The men's golf, men's tennis, and women's tennis teams are affiliate members of the Northeast Conference, and the wrestling team is a member of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presbyterian Blue Hose</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Presbyterian College

The Presbyterian Blue Hose are the athletic teams of Presbyterian College, located in Clinton, South Carolina, United States. The Blue Hose athletic program is a member of the Big South Conference and competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The PC Athletic Department fields a total of 19 varsity teams, eight men's and 11 women's sports. The school colors are garnet and blue, and the mascot is Scotty the Scotsman, a medieval Scottish warrior. The team name comes from the socks worn by the football team in the early days of the twentieth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Greenville Trailblazers</span>

The North Greenville Trailblazers are the athletic teams representing North Greenville University, located in Tigerville, South Carolina, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the Conference Carolinas since the 2011–12 academic year. They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the South Region of the Division I level. The Trailblazers previously competed as a member of the Mid-South Conference (MSC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1995–96 to 2000–01.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SIU Edwardsville Cougars</span>

The SIU Edwardsville Cougars are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), located in Edwardsville, Illinois, United States. The Cougars' athletic program is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and competes at the NCAA Division I level. The SIUE mascot is Eddie the Cougar #57, and the school colors are red and white. Cougar teams have won seventeen NCAA national championships in five sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wingate Bulldogs</span>

The Wingate Bulldogs are the athletic teams that represent Wingate University, located in Wingate, North Carolina, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Bulldogs compete as members of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) for all 22 varsity sports. Wingate has been a member of the SAC since 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Baptist Bison</span>

The Oklahoma Baptist Bison are the athletic teams that represent Oklahoma Baptist University, located in Shawnee, Oklahoma, in intercollegiate athletics as a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the Great American Conference (GAC) since the 2015–16 academic year. They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the Central Region of the Division I level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carson–Newman Eagles</span> Athletic teams for Carson-Newman University

The Carson-Newman Eagles are the athletic teams that represent Carson–Newman University, located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Eagles compete as members of the South Atlantic Conference for all 21 varsity sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Marion Patriots</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Francis Marion University

The Francis Marion Patriots are the athletic teams that represent Francis Marion University, located in Florence, South Carolina, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in Conference Carolinas since the 2021–22 academic year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anderson Trojans</span>

The Anderson Trojans are the athletic teams that represent Anderson University, located in Anderson, South Carolina, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Trojans have primarily competed in the South Atlantic Conference since the 2010–11 academic year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limestone Saints</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Limestone University, South Carolina, US

The Limestone Saints are the athletic teams that represent Limestone University, located in Gaffney, South Carolina, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sporting competitions. The Saints compete as members of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) for most sports, having joined that league in July 2020 after 22 years in Conference Carolinas (CC). Limestone maintains CC membership in two sports, specifically men's wrestling and women's acrobatics & tumbling. Men's wrestling is one of two sports in which the SAC and CC operate as a single league, the other being women's field hockey. The SAC operates the field hockey championship, while CC operates the wrestling championship. The men's volleyball team competes as an independent. The swim team competed in the Bluegrass Mountain Conference before being dropped in 2018; the field hockey and wrestling teams were members of the ECAC–Division II before 2018, when the SAC and CC established their alliance in those two sports. The football team had been independent, but entered into a scheduling agreement with the SAC in 2015. This agreement was replaced in 2017 by formal affiliate membership, which continued until the Saints joined the SAC full-time in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queens Royals</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Queens University of Charlotte

The Queens Royals are the athletic teams that represent Queens University of Charlotte, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, in NCAA intercollegiate sporting competitions. On July 1, 2022, the Royals began a four-year transition from NCAA Division II to Division I as new members of the ASUN Conference. Before then, Queens had competed in the South Atlantic Conference for 20 of their varsity sports; the men's and women's swimming and diving teams competed in the Bluegrass Mountain Conference and the men's volleyball team competed in the Independent Volleyball Association, a scheduling alliance among schools that are independents in that sport's National Collegiate division. Queens had been a member of the SAC since 2013, when it moved from Conference Carolinas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Christian Eagles and Lady Eagles</span>

The Oklahoma Christian Eagles and Lady Eagles are the athletic teams that represent Oklahoma Christian University, located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) since the 2019–20 academic year. They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the Central Region of the Division I level from 2012–13 to 2018–19. The Eagles and Lady Eagles previously competed in the D-II Heartland Conference from 2012–13 to 2018–19; and in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1978–79 to 2011–12; and in the Texoma Athletic Conference from 1973–74 to 1977–78.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Andrews Knights</span>

The St. Andrews Knights are the athletic teams that represent St. Andrews University, located in Laurinburg, North Carolina, in intercollegiate sports in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Knights have primarily competed in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) since the 2012–13 academic year. The Knights previously competed in Conference Carolinas at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from 1988–89 to 2011–12. The university transitioned to the NAIA after 23 years in the NCAA at the end of the 2011–12 academic year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Tornado</span>

The King Tornado are the athletic teams that represent King University, located in Bristol, Tennessee, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the Conference Carolinas (CC) since the 2011–12 academic year. They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the Mid-East Region of the Division I level. The Tornado previously competed as an NCAA D-II Independent from 2009–10 to 2010–11; and in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 2001–02 to 2008–09.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union University Bulldogs</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Union University

The Union University Bulldogs are the athletic teams that represent the Union University, located in Jackson, Tennessee, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Bulldogs have primarily competed in the Gulf South Conference since the 2012–13 academic year.

References

  1. "LMU Style Guide and Logos" . Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  2. "Lincoln Memorial University to Add Field Hockey and Men's and Women's Wrestling" (Press release). Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters. September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  3. "Bowling Programs Joining Conference Carolinas in 2021-22 Academic Year". Conference Carolinas. Retrieved January 25, 2022.