Southland Conference
Data
Established	1963
Members	12
Sports fielded	17 (8 men's, 9 women's)
Region	Southern United States
States	3 - Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas
Headquarters	Frisco, Texas
Locations

The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I Championship Subdivision for football and Division I for all other sports. The Southland sponsors 17 sports, nine for women and eight for men, and is governed by a presidential Board of Directors and an Advisory Council of athletic and academic administrators. Tom Burnett was named the Southland's sixth commissioner on Dec. 23, 2002. Image File history File links SouthlandConference_100. ... This article is 88 kilobytes or more in size. ... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,002 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 261 miles (420 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) de jure: none de facto: English & French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans [1] Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq mi (134,382 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 16  - Latitude 29°N to 33°N  - Longitude 89°W... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Location within the state of Texas County Collin County  - Mayor Mike Simpson Area    - City 181. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 552 pixelsFull resolution (841 × 580 pixel, file size: 27 KB, MIME type: image/png) (All user names refer to en. ... The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, often pronounced N-C-Double-A or N-C-Two-A ) is a voluntary association of about 1,200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States. ...

The Conference's offices are located in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas. Nickname: Motto: Live Large. ... Location within the state of Texas County Collin County  - Mayor Mike Simpson Area    - City 181. ...

Founded in 1963, the original members included Abilene Christian College (now departed), Arkansas State College (departed 1987), Arlington State College (now The University of Texas at Arlington), Lamar State College of Technology (now Lamar University), and Trinity University (Texas) (departed 1971). Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a private university located in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Churches of Christ. ... Arkansas State University student union, Jonesboro, Arkansas Arkansas State University (A-State) or (ASU) is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the states second largest college system. ... The University of Texas at Arlington, usually referred to as UT Arlington or UTA, is a nationally recognized comprehensive doctoral/research university classified by Carnegie as Research University - High Activity [2]. The university is located in Arlington, Texas, USA. UT Arlington has a student population of nearly 25,000 and... Lamar University is a four-year university located in Beaumont, Texas, and a member of the Texas State University System. ... Trinity University is an independent, primarily undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences university in San Antonio, Texas. ...

Southland Conference football ranks among the best Division I-AA leagues in the nation, and enjoys an annual expectation of competing for the national championship with multiple teams advancing to the NCAA playoffs each year. In 2002 and 2003, McNeese State finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation, and advanced to the 2002 national championship contest, the sixth such title game appearance since the league joined I-AA in 1982. All told, Southland teams have played in 84 Division I-AA playoff games in 23 years, winning 42 of the contests. Southland representatives have advanced to the national semifinals in each of the last two years.

Historically, the Southland's successful football heritage has sustained itself through numerous membership and classification changes. Originally an NAIA conference, the Southland joined the NCAA College Division in 1968. The College Division was re-named NCAA Division II in 1973, and the league played two seasons in that class. The Southland was an NCAA Division I league from 1975-81, before joining the ranks of I-AA (now known as the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, or FCS) in 1982, its home ever since.

During its tenure as a Division I conference from 1975-81, the Southland Conference was instrumental in the startup of the Independence Bowl in 1976. The Southland representative served as the host team of the bowl until 1980, compiling a 2-3 record in the contests. The Conference can lay claim to five national football championships, including College Division championships through former members Arkansas State (1970, UPI) and Louisiana Tech (1972, National Football Foundation). Louisiana Tech also won the first-ever NCAA-sanctioned national title, winning the Division II playoffs in 1973. Tech followed that with the UPI's Division II national championship in 1974. Louisiana-Monroe won the 1987 Division I-AA national title.

McNeese State, which has made 12 appearances in the national playoffs, also played in the 1997 I-AA national championship game, and Stephen F. Austin played in the 1989 title game, one of four playoff runs for the Lumberjacks. Northwestern State has played in six national playoffs, and advanced to the semifinals in 1998, while Sam Houston State has earned four trips to the postseason, including the semifinals in 2004, Nicholls State has participated twice, and Texas State once, advancing to the 2005 semifinals.

On four occasions, the Southland has placed three teams in the national 16-team playoffs. Six of the seven current football-playing members have qualified for the I-AA playoffs. In addition, Texas State won NCAA Division II titles in 1981 and 1982 before joining the Southland.

The Southland has produced 141 football All-Americans during its history, and has sent such talent to the professional ranks including Dallas' Keith Davis (SHSU), Arizona's Josh McCown (SHSU), Buffalo's Terrence McGee (Northwestern), Baltimore's B.J. Sams (McNeese), Chicago's Mike Green (Northwestern), Jacksonville's Kenny Wright (Northwestern), Houston's Chad Stanley (SFA), Philadelphia's Jeremiah Trotter (SFA), San Diego's Clinton Ballard (Texas State) and Chicago's Chris Thompson (Nicholls). In the 2002 NFL Draft alone, five Southland players were selected. Keith Davis (born December 30, 1978 in Dallas, Texas) is an American football safety for the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Sam Houston State University. ... Joshua McCown (born July 4, 1979 in Jacksonville, Texas) is an American football player in the National Football League at the quarterback position for the Detroit Lions. ... Terrence Dewayne McGee (born October 14, 1980 in Athens, Texas), is an American football cornerback who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills of the NFL. He was drafted by Buffalo in the 4th round in the 2003 NFL Draft out of Northwestern State University. ... Bradley Jamar Sams (born October 29, 1980 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL. He was an undrafted free agent out of McNeese State University in 2004. ... Michael Wayne Green(Born:December 6, 1976) is a National Football League safety/cornerback for the Chicago Bears. ... Kenneth D. Wright (born September 14, 1977 in Ruston, LA) is an American football player who currently plays cornerback for the Washington Redskins of the NFL. On April 3, 2006, the Washington Redskins signed Kenny Wright on a 1-year, $750,000 contract with a $40,000 signing bonus. ... Benjamin Chadwick Stanley (born January 29, 1976) is a National Football League punter for the Houston Texans. ... Jeremiah Trotter (born January 20, 1977) is an NFL defensive player. ... Link title:This article is about the English singer. ...

Former NFL stars from the Southland include Fred Dean, Bill Bergey, Stan Humphries, Fred Barnett, Roger Carr, Marvin Upshaw, Larry Centers, Kavika Pittman, Mike Barber, Bruce Collie, Tim McKyer, Pat Tilley, Jackie Harris, Eugene Seale, Bubby Brister, Billy Ryckman, Rafael Septien, Buford Jordan, Marcus Spears, Terrance Shaw and Ray Brown. Fred Dean is a defensive American football player acquired from San Diego, California to help the San Francisco 49ers win two Super Bowls in the 1980s. ... Bill Bergey, (born 9 February American football player. ... Stan Humphries (born April 14, 1965 in Shreveport, Louisiana) was a former American Football quarterback who played for the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers. ... Fred Barnett (b. ... Roger Dale Carr (born July 1, 1952 in Seminole, Oklahoma) is a former NFL wide receiver who played mainly for the Baltimore Colts. ... Marvin Upshaw was a defensive end who played nine seasons in the National Football League. ... Larry Eugene Centers, Sr. ... Template:NFL player j Kavika Pittman (born October 9, 1974) is a former American football defensive end who played eight seasons in the NFL. Categories: | | | | | | | ... Mike Barber was a tight end in the NFL.He was chosen in the first round of NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans). ... Bruce Collie (b. ... Timothy Bernard McKyer (born September 5, 1963 in Orlando, Florida), was a former American professional football player who was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 3rd round of the 1986 NFL Draft. ... Patrick Lee Tilley (born February 15, 1953 in Shreveport, Louisiana) is a former NFL wide receiver who played for the St. ... Jackie Harris (born 1/4/1968)is a former tight end in the NFL. Harris played for 4 teams in his 12 year NFL career which lasted from 1990-2001. ... Walter Andrew Bubby Brister, III (born August 15, 1962, in Monroe, Louisiana), is a former American football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, and Minnesota Vikings. ... Jose Rafael Septien (born December 12, 1953 in Mexico City, Mexico) was an American football placekicker for the Dallas Cowboys from 1978 through 1986. ... Buford Jordan (born June 26, 1962 in Lafayette, Indiana) is a former professional American football player who played running back for seven seasons for the New Orleans Saints. ... Marcus Spears is the name of two NFL football players Marcus D. Spears (b. ... Terrance Shaw (born January 11, 1973 in Marshall, Texas) is a cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings in the United States National Football League (NFL). ... Raymond Matthews (Ray) Brown (October 13, 1926 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania– July 2, 2002) was an American jazz bassist. ...

With its current alignment of 12 institutions in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, the Southland is at its largest membership configuration in its 43-year history.

Current members

The University of Central Arkansas is a state-run institution located in the city of Conway, the seat of Faulkner County, north of Little Rock. ... Conway is the largest city and county seat of Faulkner CountyGR6, Arkansas. ... Lamar University is a four-year university located in Beaumont, Texas, and a member of the Texas State University System. ... Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Jefferson County Government  - Mayor Guy Goodson Area  - City 222. ... McNeese State University, founded in 1939, is a university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. ... This article is about the City of Lake Charles, La. ... Nicholls State University, founded in 1948, is a public university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana. ... Thibodaux (pronounced TIB-uh-doe; IPA: ) is a small city located on the banks of Bayou Lafourche in northwestern Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. ... Northwestern State University, often called NSU or Northwestern, is a public four-year university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a nursing campus in Shreveport and general campuses in Leesville/Fort Polk and Alexandria. ... The city of Natchitoches (pronounced , or NAK-uh-tush) is the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Sam Houston State University, (known as SHSU and Sam, for short) founded in 1879, is a public university located in Huntsville, Texas. ... Huntsville is a city and also a newly designated micropolitan area located in the U.S. state of Texas within Walker County. ... Southeastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university that is located in the city of Hammond, Louisiana. ... Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. ... Stephen F. Austin State University (known to students as SFA or Stephen F) is a higher education institution that was founded as a teachers college in 1921. ... Nacogdoches (pronounced ) is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, in the United States. ... The University of Texas at Arlington, usually referred to as UT Arlington or UTA, is a nationally recognized comprehensive doctoral/research university classified by Carnegie as Research University - High Activity [2]. The university is located in Arlington, Texas, USA. UT Arlington has a student population of nearly 25,000 and... Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas (USA) within the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. ... UTSA is San Antonios largest university. ... Nickname: Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: , Counties Bexar County Government  - Mayor Phil Hardberger Area  - City  412. ... Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, often Texas A&M–CC, is one of the states fastest growing four-year universities and the only university in America located on its very own island. ... Nickname: Location in the state of Texas Counties Nueces County Government  - Mayor Henry Garrett Area  - City 1,192. ... Texas State University–San Marcos (often referred to as Texas State) is a doctoral granting university located in San Marcos, Texas, United States. ... Image:Marcos. ...

Conference facilities

Estes Stadium is a 8,035-seat multi-purpose stadium in Conway, Arkansas. ... The Farris Center is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Conway, Arkansas. ... Montagne Center is a 10,800-seat multi-purpose arena in Beaumont, Texas. ... Cowboy Stadium is a 17,410-seat multi-purpose stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana. ... Burton Coliseum is a 6,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Lake Charles, Louisiana. ... John L. Guidry Stadium is a 12,800-seat multi-purpose stadium in Thibodaux, Louisiana. ... Stopher Gym is a 3,800-seat multi-purpose arena in Thibodaux, Louisiana. ... Harry Turpin Stadium is a 15,971-seat multi-purpose stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Bowers Stadium is a 14,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Huntsville, Texas, in the United States. ... Bernard Johnson Coliseum is a 6,100-seat multi-purpose arena in Huntsville, Texas. ... Strawberry Stadium is a 7,408-seat multi-purpose stadium in Hammond, Louisiana. ... University Center is a 7,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Hammond, Louisiana. ... Homer Bryce Stadium,located in Nacogdoches, Texas, is the home of SFASUs Lumberjack football and Ladyjack and Lumberjack track and field events. ... William R. Johnson Coliseum is a 7,203-seat multi-purpose arena in Nacogdoches, Texas. ... Texas Hall on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington is a 76,000 square foot combination theater and special events center. ... Convocation Center is a 5,100-seat multi-purpose arena in San Antonio, Texas. ... The American Bank Center is a Convention Center and 8,156-seat multi-purpose arena in Corpus Christi, Texas. ... Bobcat Stadium is a 15,218-seat multi-purpose stadium in San Marcos, Texas. ... Strahan Coliseum is a 7,200-seat multi-purpose arena in San Marcos, Texas. ...

Championships

• Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament

Southland Conference: 1981: first round at campus sites; rest at McDonald Gym, Beaumont, TX - Lamar 1982: Blackham Coliseum, Lafayette, LA - Louisiana-Lafayette 1983: McDonald Gym - Lamar 1984: first round at campus sites; rest at McDonald Gym - Louisiana Tech 1985: first round at campus sites; rest at Thomas Assembly Center, Ruston...

External link

• Official site of the Southland Conference

The University of Central Arkansas is a state-run institution located in the city of Conway, the seat of Faulkner County, north of Little Rock. ... Lamar University is a four-year university located in Beaumont, Texas, and a member of the Texas State University System. ... McNeese State University, founded in 1939, is a university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. ... Nicholls State University, founded in 1948, is a public university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana. ... Northwestern State University, often called NSU or Northwestern, is a public four-year university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a nursing campus in Shreveport and general campuses in Leesville/Fort Polk and Alexandria. ... Sam Houston State University, (known as SHSU and Sam, for short) founded in 1879, is a public university located in Huntsville, Texas. ... Southeastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university that is located in the city of Hammond, Louisiana. ... Stephen F. Austin State University (known to students as SFA or Stephen F) is a higher education institution that was founded as a teachers college in 1921. ... The University of Texas at Arlington, usually referred to as UT Arlington or UTA, is a nationally recognized comprehensive doctoral/research university classified by Carnegie as Research University - High Activity [2]. The university is located in Arlington, Texas, USA. UT Arlington has a student population of nearly 25,000 and... UTSA is San Antonios largest university. ... Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, often Texas A&M–CC or TAMU-CC, is a state university located in Corpus Christi, Texas. ... Texas State University–San Marcos (often referred to as Texas State) is a doctoral granting university located in San Marcos, Texas, United States. ...