UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros football

Last updated
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros football
AmericanFootball current event.svg 2025 UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros football team
First season1927 (1927)
Last season1950 (1950) (returning in 2025)
Athletic director Chasse Conque
Head coach Travis Bush
1st season, 0–0 (–)
Stadium Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium
(capacity: 9,735)
Year built2017
Field surfaceGrass
Location Brownsville, Texas
Edinburg, Texas
NCAA division Division I FCS
Conference Southland Conference (starting 2025)
Past conferences
ColorsOrange and gray [1]
   
Website Official website

The UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros football team will represent the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in college football. A future member of the Southland Conference in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), they will begin play at that level in 2025, after an exhibition schedule in 2024. They are coached by Travis Bush.

Contents

The team traces its history to the Edinburg Broncs football team, which represented the University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA) – which merged with the University of Texas at Brownsville in 2015 to create UTRGV – at the junior college level from 1927 to 1930, and again from 1947 to 1950.

History

The 1927 Edinburg Broncs football team, with coach J. D. Foster at the top left 1927 Edinburg Broncs football team.png
The 1927 Edinburg Broncs football team, with coach J. D. Foster at the top left

Edinburg Broncs

The University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA), which was merged with the University of Texas at Brownsville in 2015 to form the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), had a football team when it was known as Edinburg College and was a junior college. [2] Edinburg began play in 1927 and the name "Broncs" was chosen out of a number of others submitted in a naming contest. [2] [3] With J. D. Foster as head coach, the Broncs (also referred to as the Broncos or Bronchos) compiled a record of 4–2–3, which included a tie in their debut against the reserve squad of the Southwest Texas State Bobcats – now the Texas State Bobcats. [2] [4] After four seasons, the program was shut down, having not won more than four games in a year. [2] [5] The team was revived in 1947 as a member of the South Texas Junior College Conference. [2]

The revived team hired Edinburg High School coach Bobby Cannon as head. [2] He utilized a single-wing offense with what was described as a "famed shot-punt football system", but the team had limited success and he was relieved of his duties after two seasons. [2] The Broncs played two seasons afterwards before the school board opted to discontinue it. [6]

UTRGV Vaqueros

There was talk of reviving the team as Edinburg became UTPA and a four-year school, and as it later merged to become UTRGV. [7] [8] On January 14, 2021, it was reported that UTRGV had explored to create a football program at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level by 2024. [9] At the time, it was believed that the program would compete as part of the newly reinstated football conference within the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). [9]

The WAC announced the intended creation of this conference on the same day, as well as the addition of five new members to the conference in all sports, including football. [10] The new members announced, effective July 1, 2022, include: Abilene Christian University, Lamar University, Sam Houston State University, and Stephen F. Austin State University, at that time all members of the Southland Conference (SLC), along with Southern Utah University, then of the Big Sky Conference (BSC). [10] Shortly after the four SLC members announced their departure, that league expelled them, leading the WAC to move their arrival forward to 2021. [11] [12] However, further conference realignment led the WAC to merge its football league with that of the ASUN Conference (since reverted to its past name of Atlantic Sun Conference), with which it had a football-only alliance in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. [13] The new league, known as the United Athletic Conference (UAC), started play in 2023, and UTRGV joined while being scheduled to first play at a later date. [13] [14] [15]

Travis Bush was hired as the first coach of the UTRGV football team on December 11, 2022. [16] UTRGV has since delayed the start of varsity football to the 2025 season, though it plans to play an exhibition schedule in 2024. [17] It plans to play home games in Brownsville and Edinburg, both home to UTRGV campuses that it inherited from its predecessor institutions (respectively UT Brownsville and UT Pan American). [18] The university has committed to establishing separate marching bands and spirit programs (cheerleading and dance) for the two campuses. [18] In 2024, it was announced that the University had purchased H-E-B Park (formerly the home of the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros) to be the primary home of the football team in 2025, which will host all but one home game, as Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville will host a game every year. [19] H-E-B Park was renamed to Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium on March 21, 2024, after two longtime UTRGV donors. [20] On March 25, announcement was made that UTRGV was moving to the Southland Conference, without ever having played a game in the UAC. [21]

Classifications

Conference affiliation

Future non-conference opponents

Announced non-conference opponents as of May 22, 2024. [22]

20272030
at Texas State at Texas State

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Texas–Pan American</span> Public University in Edinburg, Texas

The University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA) was a public university in Edinburg, Texas. Founded in 1927, it was a component institution of the University of Texas System. The university served the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas with baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. The Carnegie Foundation classified UTPA as a "doctoral research university". From the institution's founding until it was merged into the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), it grew from 200 students to over 20,000, making UTPA the 10th-largest university in Texas. The majority of these students were natives of the Rio Grande Valley. UTPA also operated an Upper Level Studies Center in Rio Grande City, Starr County, Texas. On August 15, 2014, Dr. Havidan Rodriguez was appointed interim President of UTPA, the institution's final leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Athletic Conference football</span>

The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) sponsored football and crowned a champion every year from 1962 to 2012. Once considered one of the best conferences in college football, steady attrition from 1999 to 2012 forced the WAC to drop football after fifty-one years.

The UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros men's basketball team, or UTRGV Vaqueros, represents the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas, United States. The school's team competed in the Western Athletic Conference through the 2023–24 season, and will move to the Southland Conference after that season. They play their home games at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. The Vaqueros are one of 45 Division I programs to have never appeared in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

The Texas–Pan American Broncs were the varsity athletic teams representing University of Texas–Pan American in Edinburg, Texas in intercollegiate athletics. The university sponsored 15 teams including men and women's basketball, cross country, golf, tennis, and track and field ; soccer and volleyball for women only; and baseball for men only. The last varsity sport to be established for the Broncs was women's soccer, added for the 2014 season, with men's soccer added in 2015, the year that the merger took place. The Broncs compete in the NCAA Division I and are currently members of the Western Athletic Conference.

The UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros baseball team, or the UTRGV Vaqueros, is the varsity intercollegiate baseball team of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, an NCAA Division I institution with several campuses in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, United States. UTRGV was formally founded in 2013 with the announced merger of the University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA), with its main campus in Edinburg, and the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB) in Brownsville, with the merged university beginning operation in the 2015–16 school year. The Vaqueros compete in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), play home games at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg, and are coached by Derek Matlock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Texas Rio Grande Valley</span> Public university in Texas, US

The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is a public research university with multiple campuses throughout the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas. It is the southernmost member of the University of Texas System. The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 after the consolidation of the University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College and the University of Texas–Pan American.

The 2014–15 Texas–Pan American Broncs men's basketball team represented the University of Texas–Pan American during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This were head coach Dan Hipsher's second season at UTPA. The Broncs played their home games at the UTPA Fieldhouse and were members of the Western Athletic Conference. They finished the season 10–21, 4–10 in WAC play to finish in a tie for seventh place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the WAC tournament to UMKC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros</span> Athletic teams representing University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros is a collegiate athletic program that represents the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). The Vaqueros inherited the NCAA Division I status of the Texas–Pan American Broncs and competed in the Western Athletic Conference. In March 2024, it was reported that the Vaqueros would leave the WAC for the Southland Conference, beginning in the 2024-25 academic year.

The 2015–16 Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros men's basketball team represented the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was head coach Dan Hipsher's third season with the UTRGV program, although his first under the "UTRGV" name. The Vaqueros played their home games at the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the university's campus in Edinburg, Texas and were members of the Western Athletic Conference. They finished the season 8–22, 4–10 in WAC play to finish in a tie for sixth place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the WAC tournament to Seattle.

The 2015–16 Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros women's basketball team represents the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. This was head coach Larry Tidwell's third season, but first under the UT-RGV label. The Vaqueros played their home games at the UTRGV Fieldhouse and were members of the Western Athletic Conference. This was the first season for UTRGV as an institution. Before the 2015–16 academic year, the University of Texas–Pan American and the University of Texas at Brownsville merged, forming the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. They finished the season 19–14 and 9–5 in WAC play to finish in second place. They advanced to the championship game of the WAC women's tournament where they lost to New Mexico State. They were invited to the Women's National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to TCU.

The UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros women's basketball team is the intercollegiate women's basketball program representing the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). The school competed in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), part of Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), through the 2023–24 season. In July 2024, UTRGV will leave the WAC for the Southland Conference. The Vaqueros play home basketball games at the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the university campus in Edinburg, Texas.

The 2019–20 Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros men's basketball team represented the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Vaqueros, led by fourth-year head coach Lew Hill, played their home games at the UTRGV Fieldhouse in Edinburg, Texas as members of the Western Athletic Conference. They finished the season 14–16, 9–7 in WAC play to finish in third place. They were set to be the No. 2 seed in the WAC tournament, however, the tournament was cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros men's basketball statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros men's basketball program in various categories, including points, three-pointers, assists, blocks, rebounds, and steals. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. As of the next college basketball season in 2024–25, the Vaqueros represent the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in the NCAA Division I Southland Conference.

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References

  1. ↑ "UTRGV Color Palette" . Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Silva II, Dennis (July 8, 2014). "College football once existed in Edinburg". The Monitor . p. 15, 17 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. ↑ "Meet The Broncs". The Brownsville Herald . September 28, 1927. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  4. ↑ "Bronc Eleven to Meet Reserves". McAllen Daily Press . September 28, 1927. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  5. ↑ Baker, Wade (November 3, 2002). "A walk through Time". The Monitor . p. 25, 28 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  6. ↑ "Small Deficit Causes ERC To Kill Football". The Monitor . May 9, 1951. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  7. ↑ Hinojosa, David (July 17, 1997). "Football a big step for UTPA". The Monitor . p. 9 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. ↑ Luca, Greg (July 8, 2014). "Reality check". The Monitor . p. 15, 17 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  9. 1 2 Jeyarajah, Shehan (January 14, 2021). "UTRGV exploring adding FCS football". Dave Campbell's Texas Football .
  10. 1 2 "WAC Announces Expansion, Plans to Reinstate Football". Western Athletic Conference. January 14, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-14 – via Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ Blum, Sam (January 14, 2021). "As WAC announces addition of 5 schools, Frisco-based Southland Conference left in no man's land" . The Dallas Morning News . Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  12. ↑ "WAC Announces Expediated Entrance for Four Texas Institutions". Western Athletic Conference. January 21, 2021 – via Wayback Machine.
  13. 1 2 "ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule". Western Athletic Conference. December 20, 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-12-20 – via Wayback Machine.
  14. ↑ "ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands As The United Athletic Conference". Atlantic Sun Conference. April 17, 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-04-17 – via Wayback Machine.
  15. ↑ Herder, Sam (March 21, 2024). "FCS Daily Dose: FCS Startup UTRGV To Join The Southland Conference". HERO Sports.
  16. ↑ "Travis Bush Named First Head Football Coach". UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros. December 12, 2022.
  17. ↑ Kelley, Kevin (October 27, 2023). "UTRGV schedules first FCS home-and-home football series". FBSchedules.com.
  18. 1 2 "UTRGV announces approval of football, women's aquatics, band, spirit programs". UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros. November 18, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Football team will play at UTRGV Stadium, formerly H-E-B Park in Edinburg". University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. February 28, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Enduring Legacy: UTRGV names stadium after Robert and Janet Vackar". UTRGV Vaqueros. March 21, 2024.
  21. ↑ "UTRGV Athletics Accepts Invitation to Join Southland Conference in 2024-25". UTRGV Vaqueros. March 25, 2024.
  22. ↑ "UTRGV Vaqueros Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
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