College Sports Established
1873
Location
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
College Name
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division I
1923 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1936 - 1969, 1997 - Present / Southwestern Athletic Conference
1923–1935,1970–1972 / Independent
Nickname
Golden Lions - The Arkansas-PB Golden Lions have long been a beloved mascot in the NCAA, and their nickname has a rich history. The name “Golden Lions” was first used by students at the University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff (UAPB) in 1936. It was chosen to honor UAPB's founder, Dr. Joseph Carter Corbin, who had served as Arkansas's public instruction superintendent from 1874 until he died in 1910.
At that time, UAPB had recently become an all-black university after being founded as Branch Normal College for Colored Students four years prior in 1932; thus, this powerful animal should have been chosen to represent its student body and school spirit! Some believe that Dr. Corbin himself suggested using lions since he often referred to students at Branch Normal College as "lion cubs" because they were so eager to learn new things and achieve greatness despite having limited resources available during those problematic times before desegregation began taking place across America's educational system during mid-century decades later on down the line.
Today you can find numerous references throughout campus, such as statues depicting two golden lion cubs playfully interacting with one another, which is a symbolic representation meant both commemorate past alumni who've gone before them while also inspiring current generations to stay true to themselves even when faced with adversity—just like how these mighty creatures do each day out there wild! So next time you see or hear about our beloved Golden Lions, remember that they are fierce competitors and embody strength, courage, and perseverance, which makes us proud to call them ours here at University Arkansas–Pine Bluff!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 2002
- 2000
- 2009
- 2022
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Lions in Major League Baseball
Arkansas–Pine Bluff has had 6 Major League Baseball Draft selections since the draft began in 1965. Golden Lions in the Major League Baseball Draft 2002 Isiah Garner 31 Devil Rays 2009 Zachary Varnell 44 Diamondbacks 2011 Chretien Matz 44 Tigers 2014 Isias Alcantar 36 Rays 2015 Kevin Walsh 21 Phillies 2015 Byron Davis 8 Royals -
Golden Lions Simmons Bank Field Football Stadium
The Lions play their home games at Simmons Bank Field in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Simmons Bank Field is a 16,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Built at a cost of $14 million, it opened in 2000 and is home to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team. Originally called Golden Lion Stadium, it was renamed ... -
Golden Lions men’s basketball in Southwestern Athletic Conference
The Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions men’s basketball team is the men’s basketball team that represents the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States. The school’s team currently competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and led the conference in average home attendance for six consecutive years (2009–2015). -
Terron Armstead – Golden Lions Football Player in NFL
Armstead enrolled in the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where he played for the UAPB Golden Lions football team from 2009 to 2012. He was an All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) selection during his final three seasons at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Armstead was also on the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions track & field team, where he competed as a shot putter, ...
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History of the Golden Lions
The Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions have a long and proud history of success in NCAA sports. The team has been competing since the late 1800s, making them one of the oldest collegiate teams still playing today. Over the years, they have had many successful seasons and made several trips to postseason play.
In recent years, Arkansas–Pine Bluff has become known for its basketball program, which head coach George Ivory currently leads. Under his leadership, they won back-to-back Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championships in 2017 and 2018 and two NCAA Tournament appearances during that same period – something no other SWAC school can claim! They also recently made it to the Sweet 16 round of this year’s tournament before falling short against eventual champion Virginia Tech University.
Their football program is also on an upswing under new head coach Cedric Thomas who came on board last season after leading Grambling State University to multiple conference titles over four previous seasons. In 2019 he guided UAPB’s football team to their first winning record since 2008 with a 7-5 overall mark while earning them an invite into this year's FCS playoffs, where they eventually lost out in the second round after upsetting Jacksonville State earlier that week!
Overall, it's clear that UAPB athletics are trending upwards, thanks mainly due to some great coaching hires over these past few years combined with increased support from alumni & fans alike; so if you're looking for a college sporting experience full of tradition & excitement then look no further than Pine Bluff – Go Golden Lions!
Golden Lions Products
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