Rowdy the Roadrunner

Last updated
Rowdy
Rowdy UTSA 2021 1.jpg
Rowdy the Roadrunner
UniversityUniversity of Texas at San Antonio
Conference Conference USA
DescriptionAnthropomorphic roadrunner
Origin of nameStudent election
First seen1977

Rowdy (officially Rowdy the Roadrunner) is the mascot of the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners. [1] He appears at athletic events, such as football and basketball games, and other university sponsored events. An anthropomorphic roadrunner, Rowdy is based upon the Greater Roadrunner.

History

The origin of Rowdy dates back to 1977, when the Student Representative Assembly (SRA, the forerunner to the modern Student Government Association) was openly debating the university's mascot. [2] An original vote, which favored "Armadillos" and "Stars" was declared null and void by the SRA, making way for a second campus-wide poll. [2] The second election was hotly contested between "Roadrunners" and "Armadillos"—with vigorous support on either side. [2] Supporters of "Roadrunner" made t-shirts depicting the cartoon road runner from Warner Bros. [3] After the final vote, the roadrunner was announced as the official mascot of UTSA at a bonfire celebration later that year. [2] [4]

The older version of Rowdy. TexasSanAntonioRoadrunners.png
The older version of Rowdy.

On March 1, 2008, UTSA unveiled the new Rowdy and UTSA logos at the homecoming men's basketball game vs. Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. Many students and administrators at UTSA thought the previous Rowdy bore too much resemblance to the Kansas Jayhawk. [5]

In 2013 UTSA unveiled a statue of Rowdy. [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Texas at San Antonio</span> Public university in San Antonio, Texas

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The Convocation Center is a 4,080-seat multi-purpose arena in San Antonio, Texas, USA, on the Main Campus of the University of Texas at San Antonio. It was built in 1975 and is home to the UTSA Roadrunners men's and women's basketball teams and women's volleyball team. It hosted the Southland Conference men's basketball tournament in 1992 and 2004. It has hosted many concerts, with acts like Bad Company, AC/DC and Black Sabbath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UTSA Roadrunners</span>

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", "Runners", “The Meep Meeps”, or simply “The Birds”, 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.

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The UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball team represents the University of Texas at San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas, US. Originally competing as an NCAA independent in 1981–82, the Roadrunners moved to the Trans-America Athletic Conference in 1986–87, then moved to the Southland Conference in 1991–92, then moved to the Western Athletic Conference in 2012–2013, then moved to Conference USA in 2013–2014 where they are currently a member. UTSA plays its home games at the on-campus Convocation Center, and is coached by former NBA player Steve Henson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 UTSA Roadrunners football team</span> American college football season

The 2011 UTSA Roadrunners football team represented the University of Texas at San Antonio in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was the first year of play for UTSA. The team was coached by veteran head football coach Larry Coker. The team played its home games at the Alamodome and competed as an independent in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. It was UTSA's only season as a Division I FCS team, as the Roadrunners moved to the Western Athletic Conference for the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Because UTSA was transitioning to the FBS, the NCAA declared the team ineligible for the FCS playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 UTSA Roadrunners football team</span> American college football season

The 2013 UTSA Roadrunners football team represented the University of Texas at San Antonio in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This was the third season for football at UTSA and their first as members of the Conference USA in the West Division. Larry Coker returned as the team's head coach for a third season. The Roadrunners played their home games at the Alamodome. A popular battle cry, "We'll go 99," surfaced after the New Mexico game in which UTSA drove the ball 99 yards to score a touchdown and seal the win.

The UTSA Roadrunners women's basketball team represents the University of Texas at San Antonio in women's basketball. The school competes in Conference USA in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Roadrunners play home basketball games at Convocation Center in San Antonio, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2014–15 UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball team represented the University of Texas at San Antonio during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Roadrunners, led by ninth year head coach Brooks Thompson, played their home games at the Convocation Center and were members of Conference USA. They finished the season 14–16, 8–10 in C-USA play in a 4 way tie for seventh place. They lost in the first round of the C-USA tournament to FIU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 UTSA Roadrunners women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2014–15 UTSA Roadrunners women's basketball team represents the University of Texas at San Antonio during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Roadrunners, led by second year head coach Lubomyr Lichonczak, play their home games at the Convocation Center and were second year members of Conference USA. They finished the season 16–15, 11–7 to finish in a three way tie for fourth place. They lost in the quarterfinals in the C-USA women's tournament to Old Dominion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 UTSA Roadrunners football team</span> American college football season

The 2015 UTSA Roadrunners football team represented the University of Texas at San Antonio in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. That was the fifth season for football at UTSA and their third as members of Conference USA in the West Division. Larry Coker returned as the team's head coach for a fifth season. The Roadrunners played their home games at the Alamodome. They finished the season 3–9, 3–5 in C-USA play to finish in a three way tie for third place in the West Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2015–16 UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball team represented the University of Texas at San Antonio during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Roadrunners, led by tenth-year head coach Brooks Thompson, played their home games at the Convocation Center and were members of Conference USA. They finished the season 5-27, 3-15 in C-USA play to finish in last place. They lost in the first round of the C-USA tournament to Florida Atlantic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 UTSA Roadrunners women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2015–16 UTSA Roadrunners women's basketball team represents the University of Texas at San Antonio during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Roadrunners, led by third year head coach Lubomyr Lichonczak, play their home games at the Convocation Center and were third year members of Conference USA. They finished the season 10–19, 6–12 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for eleventh place. They lost in the first round of the C-USA women's tournament to FIU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016–17 UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2016–17 UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball team represented the University of Texas at San Antonio during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Roadrunners, led by first-year head coach Steve Henson, played their home games at the Convocation Center and were members of Conference USA. They finished the season 14–19, 8–10 in C-USA play to finish in the ninth place. They defeated Western Kentucky in the first round of the C-USA tournament before losing to top-seeded Middle Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–18 UTSA Roadrunners women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2017–18 UTSA Roadrunners women's basketball team represents the University of Texas at San Antonio during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Roadrunners, led by first year head coach Kristen Holt, play their home games at the Convocation Center and were members of Conference USA. They finished the season 9–21, 6–10 in C-USA play to finish in a 3 way tie for tenth place. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the C-USA women's tournament where they lost to Western Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018–19 UTSA Roadrunners women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2018–19 UTSA Roadrunners women's basketball team represents the University of Texas at San Antonio during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Roadrunners, led by second year head coach Kristen Holt, play their home games at the Convocation Center and were members of Conference USA. They finished the season 7–21, 2–14 in Conference USA play to finish in a 3 way tie for twelfth place. Due to a tie breaker loss to Florida Atlantic and FIU they failed to qualify for the Conference USA women's tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 UTSA Roadrunners football team</span> American college football season

The 2019 UTSA Roadrunners football team represented the University of Texas at San Antonio during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Roadrunners played their home games at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (CUSA). They were led by fourth-year head coach Frank Wilson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019–20 UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2019–20 UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball team represent the University of Texas at San Antonio in the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Roadrunners, led by 4th-year head coach Steve Henson, play their home games at the Convocation Center in San Antonio, Texas as members of Conference USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 UTSA Roadrunners baseball team</span> Baseball team season

The 2021 UTSA Roadrunners baseball team represented the University of Texas at San Antonio in the sport of baseball for the 2021 college baseball season. The Roadrunners competed in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and in Conference USA West Division. They played their home games at Roadrunner Field in San Antonio, Texas. The team was coached by Patrick Hallmark, who was in his second season with the Roadrunners.

References

  1. "Bird Watching: You've Come a Long Way, Rowdy". The University of Texas at San Antonio . Sombrilla. Spring 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Peters, Anne (December 19, 2008). "Go…Dillos?: How UTSA's Mascot Became the Roadrunner". The Top Shelf. UTSA Libraries Special Collections. Archived from the original on 2013-01-21.
  3. Pinkard, James (December 21, 2005). "UTSA Uncovered: Folklore". UTSA . The History of Rowdy. Archived from the original on 2005-12-30.
  4. "Roadrunner Days: UTSA Roadrunner Spirit". UTSA . August 18, 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-08-23. The roadrunner, a bird representative of the Texas Hill Country and the Southwest, was voted the UTSA mascot in 1977.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. Stephens, Kyle (February 29, 2008). "UTSA Athletics unveils new logos, word marks". UTSA .
  6. "The Rowdy statue — a tradition yet to come". The Paisano . May 27, 2014.
  7. Davis, Vincent T. (September 27, 2013). "UTSA swift mascot statue took a while". mySA .