College Sports Established
1881
Location
Des Moines, Iowa
College Name
Drake University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1921 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1907 - 1951, 1956 - Present / Missouri Valley Conference
1951 - 1955 / Independent
Nickname
Bulldogs - As a sports fan, you’ve probably heard of the Drake Bulldogs – one of the most iconic teams in NCAA history. But do you know where their nickname originated? The story behind it is an interesting one that dates back to 1921.
The original name for the team was “Bulldogs,” which was chosen by Dr. William Lacey as an homage to his alma mater, Yale University (whose mascot is also a bulldog). However, when Dr. Lacey became president of Des Moines College (which eventually became Drake University), he decided that “Bulldogs” wasn't entirely fitting enough and changed it to "Drake Bulldogs."
This new name paid tribute to his previous school and honored General Francis Marion Drake - who had donated land and money for Des Moines College's campus in 1881 - using his last name as part of its moniker. As such, since 1921, the university has been known simply as "Drake," more commonly referred to as "the Bulldog Nation."
This unique nickname represents tradition and loyalty at Drake University and symbolizes strength and courage – something every student strives towards while attending there! So next time someone asks why they're called ‘the Bulldogs,' now you know!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1904
- 1912
- 1948
- 1969
- 2008
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Dolph Pulliam Era
Dolph Pulliam was a standout basketball player for the Drake Bulldogs from 1948-1951. He is widely considered one of the greatest players in Drake basketball history. During his time at Drake, Pulliam led the team to two Missouri Valley Conference championships and was a two-time All-American. He finished his college career with 1,281 points, which was a school record at ... -
NCAA tournament first Appearence
In 1969 Drake basketball team reaches the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history, led by future NBA player Willie McCarter -
Basketball Team Wins Missouri Valley Conference
In 2008 Drake men’s basketball team wins the Missouri Valley Conference championship and reaches the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1971
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 Bulldogs
Drake first fielded a football team in 1895, making them one of the oldest programs in college sports history. Two years later, they won their first conference championship when they captured an Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) title with an undefeated record that season. Since then, Drake has gone on to win 11 more IIAC titles and three Pioneer Football League Championships since joining that league in the 2008-09 season.
The Bulldogs had some success at other levels too - most notably winning four Missouri Valley Conference Championships between 1945-1950 before moving back into Division I play for good, starting with its current stint as part of the Pioneer Football League beginning this past decade.
On top of all these successes on the field, Drake University is also home to some notable alumni who went on to great things after leaving Des Moines, including NFL Hall Of Famer Kurt Warner, NBA All-Star Kyle Korver, former Major League Baseball player Larry Hisle, and many others! These are just a few examples that show how much impact Bulldog Athletics can make on people’s lives, both during time spent at university or afterward!
So if you're looking for a school rich with tradition yet still pushing forward towards future success, look no further than Drakes Bulldogs Sports Team! Whether through cheering from stands or playing out there yourself, you will always find something special about being part of this proud program!
Sports Fan Products
