College Sports Established
1946
Location
Vestal, New York
College Name
Binghamton University
Collegiate History
2001 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
2001 - Present / America East Conference
Nickname
Bearcats - The Binghamton Bearcats are a well-known college sports team that has been around for over 100 years. But where did the name come from? The origins of the nickname go back to 1914 when then-President of Binghamton College (now known as Binghamton University) Elmer B. Cleveland decided to change their mascot from “the Orangemen” to something more appropriate for an upstate New York school: “the Bearcats.”
At first, it was thought that President Cleveland chose this new nickname because he had seen a bearcat while hunting in the Adirondacks during his summer vacation before taking office at BC. However, after further research into archives and newspaper clippings about President Cleveland's life and career, it was revealed that he named them after his alma mater - Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio - who was nicknamed "The Fighting Tigers" at the time but also went by "Bear Cats." This makes sense since both schools' teams use orange as one of their primary colors! In addition to being inspired by another university's mascot name, historians also speculate that President Cleveland wanted something fierce yet lovable enough so fans could cheer on without fear or intimidation – hence why they chose such an adorable creature like a bearcat!
Despite its cuddly exterior, don't let anyone fool you; these Bearcats are still ferocious competitors no matter what sport they play or against whom! So next time you see them out on the court/field/track, show your support with some good old-fashioned cheering and maybe even bring along your stuffed animal version if you can find one.
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 2001
- 2007
- 2009
-
Sports Conference Entry
On April 18, 2001, was officially admitted as a member of the America East Conference. In all sports other than wrestling and golf, which were not sponsored by the America East. -
Bearcat Sports Complex Evolution
Opened in the Fall of 2007, the Bearcat Sports Complex features two artificial turf fields for soccer and lacrosse. One field is intended primarily for competition and the other for practice. Additional features include night lighting, over 2,500 seats for the competition field and 1,000 for the practice field, a concession stand, and bathrooms. In 2009, the Tau Alpha Upsilon ... -
NCAA Tournament Debut
Binghamton defeated UMBC 61–51 in the America East Tournament Championship Game and made their first appearance in the NCAA tournament, earning the 15 seed and losing to second-seeded Duke in the first round.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Bearcats
The Binghamton Bearcats have a rich and storied history in college sports. From their beginnings as an NCAA Division III program to their current status as a member of the America East Conference, they have been one of the most successful programs in collegiate athletics.
Binghamton began competing in intercollegiate athletics in 1946 when it was part of Harpur College (now known as SUNY Binghamton). The school's first team was men's basketball, and they quickly impacted campus by winning three consecutive conference championships from 1947 to 1949. This success would continue into other sports, with baseball claiming five league titles between 1949 and 1959 and football having its share of success over that same period.
Throughout this period, many great athletes helped define what it meant to be a Bearcat, including legendary coach Carl "Scoop" Sterns, who led both basketball & baseball teams during his tenure at Harpur College/Binghamton University from 1950 - 1970, along with standout players such as Don McHenry (basketball), Lou Kowalewski (baseball) & John Leggio (football). All these individuals helped lay the foundation for future generations to build upon, eventually leading them up into Division I competition beginning in 2001, where they currently compete today.
There has been much excitement surrounding Bighampton Athletics in recent years, especially after making trips to March Madness twice since 2009 and capturing numerous conference titles across all major sports throughout this decade alone! It is clear that those early pioneers set forth something special for future generations, which continues today through hard work & dedication toward excellence both on & off the field! So, if you are looking for exciting college action, look no further than your hometown team – The Binghamton Bearcats!!!
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