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Southern Utah University Athletics

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SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS
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SUU x WAC

Football Trevor Marbut - SUU Assistant Director for Athletic Communications

Southern Utah Officially Joins the WAC: Get to Know the Opponents

CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah University Athletic Department has officially made the transition to becoming a full-time member of the Western Athletic Conference. 14 out of the 15 Southern Utah sport teams will now be competing in the WAC; with the exception of SUU Gymnastics, which will remain a member of MRGC Conference.

SUU is one of two new members for the 2022-23 fiscal year, as the conference will now have 14 full-time members this upcoming year.

Below is a brief preview of each of Southern Utah's new conference foes:

Abilene Christian University:

  • Location: Abilene, Texas

  • Distance from Cedar City: 1,031.1 miles

  • Year founded: 1906

  • Enrollment: 5,334 students

  • Elevation: 1,719 ft. 

  • Number of sports teams: 15

  • First Year as a member of the WAC: 2021

  • Mascot: Wildcat

  • Primary Colors: Purple and White

  • Abbreviation: ACU

California Baptist University:

  • Location: Riverside, California

  • Distance from Cedar City: 404.4 miles

  • Year founded: 1950

  • Enrollment: 11,491

  • Elevation: 827 ft.

  • Number of sports teams: 19

  • First Year as a Member of the WAC: 2018

  • Mascot: Lancers

  • Primary Colors: Blue and Gold

  • Abbreviation: CBU

Grand Canyon University:

  • Location: Phoenix, Arizona

  • Distance from Cedar City: 433.9 miles

  • Year founded: 1949

  • Enrollment: 25,000

  • Elevation: 1,086 ft.

  • Number of sports teams: 19

  • First Year as a Member of the WAC: 2013

  • Mascot: Antelopes

  • Primary Colors: Purple, Black, and White

  • Abbreviation: GCU

Lamar University:

  • Location: Beaumont, Texas

  • Distance from Cedar City: 1,473.2 miles

  • Year founded: 1923

  • Enrollment: 16,191

  • Elevation: 16.4 ft.

  • Number of Sports Teams: 15

  • First Year as a Member of the WAC: 2021

  • Mascot: Cardinals & Lady Cardinals

  • Primary Colors: Red and White

  • Abbreviation: LU

New Mexico State University:

  • Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico

  • Distance from Cedar City: 746.5 miles

  • Year founded: 1888

  • Enrollment: 21,694

  • Elevation: 3,900 ft.

  • Number of sports teams: 16

  • First Year as a Member of the WAC: 2005

  • Mascot: Aggies

  • Primary Colors: Crimson and White

  • Abbreviation: NMSU

Sam Houston University:

  • Location: Huntsville, Texas

  • Distance from Cedar City: 1,358.9 miles

  • Year founded: 1879

  • Enrollment: 21,679

  • Elevation: 371 ft.

  • Number of sports teams: 15

  • First Year as a Member of the WAC: 2021

  • Mascot: Bearkats

  • Primary Colors: Orange and White

  • Abbreviation: SHSU

Seattle University:

  • Location: Seattle, Washington

  • Distance from Cedar City: 1,077.4 miles

  • Year founded: 1891

  • Enrollment: 7,755

  • Elevation: 174 ft.

  • Number of sports teams: 18

  • First Year as a Member of the WAC: 2012

  • Mascot: Redhawks

  • Primary Colors: Red and White

  • Abbreviation: SU

Stephen F. Austin State University:

  • Location: Nacogdoches, Texas

  • Distance from Cedar City: 1,355.8 miles

  • Year founded: 1923

  • Enrollment: 11,946

  • Elevation: 302 ft.

  • Number of sports teams: 16

  • First Year as a Member of the WAC: 2021

  • Mascot: Lumberjacks & Ladyjacks

  • Primary Colors: Purple and White

  • Abbreviation: SFA

Tarleton State University:

  • Location: Stephenville, Texas

  • Distance from Cedar City: 1,128 miles

  • Year founded: 1899

  • Enrollment: 11,946

  • Elevation: 1,273 ft.

  • Number of sports teams: 14

  • First Year as a Member of the WAC: 2020

  • Mascot: Texans

  • Primary Colors: Purple and White

  • Abbreviation: TSU

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley:

  • Location: Edinburg, Texas

  • Distance from Cedar City: 1,492.3 miles

  • Year founded: 2013

  • Enrollment: 32,419

  • Elevation: 95 ft.

  • Number of sports teams: 14

  • First Year as a Member of the WAC: 2013

  • Mascot: Vaqueros

  • Primary Colors: Orange, Gray, and White

  • Abbreviation: UTRGV

University of Texas at Arlington:

  • Location: Arlington, Texas

  • Distance from Cedar City: 1,179.9 miles

  • Year Founded: 1895

  • Enrollment: 42,863

  • Elevation: 604 ft.

  • Number of sports teams: 13

  • First Year as a Member of the WAC: 2022

  • Mascot: Mavericks

  • Primary Colors: Blue, White, and Orange

  • Abbreviation: UTA

Utah Tech University:

  • Location: St. George, Utah

  • Distance from Cedar City: 52.1 miles

  • Year founded: 1911

  • Enrollment: 12,650

  • Elevation: 2,700 ft.

  • Number of sports teams: 15

  • First Year as a Member of the WAC: 2020

  • Mascot: Trailblazers

  • Primary Colors: Red, White, and Blue

  • Abbreviation: UT

Utah Valley University:

  • Location: Orem, Utah

  • Distance from Cedar City: 215.3 miles

  • Year founded: 1941

  • Enrollment: 41,728

  • Elevation: 4,774 ft.

  • Number of sports teams: 14

  • First Year as a Member of the WAC: 2013

  • Mascot: Wolverines

  • Primary Colors: Green and White

  • Abbreviation: UVU

Southern Utah's Fall sport teams will be the first to compete in the Western Athletic Conference, as Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball, Men's and Women's Golf, and Football will begin competition this August. 

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