College Sports Established
1841
Location
Bronx, New York
College Name
Fordham University
Collegiate History
1995 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
1995 - Present / Atlantic 10 Conference
Nickname
Rams - The Fordham Rams have been a staple of the NCAA for decades, and their iconic nickname has become synonymous with excellence in collegiate sports. But where did this unique moniker come from?
The story of the Fordham Rams dates back to 1912, when football coach Frank Gargan was looking for a mascot to represent his team. He chose two rams grazing on campus at Rose Hill, now part of the Bronx Zoo. The two rams were named Jack and Bill after famous vaudeville actors Jack Donahue and William Collier Sr., who happened to be visiting campus at the time.
Since then, these majestic animals have continued to serve as an inspiration for athletes across all sports teams at Fordham University—from football players taking hits on Saturdays during fall semester games, basketball stars dribbling through defenders in winter season tournaments, or baseball pitchers throwing strikes during spring training matches. The Ram’s fierce determination has made them one of college sports' most recognizable mascots!
Fordham’s athletic teams proudly carry this legacy today by representing their school with honor on and off-field every year; they are proud ambassadors for their university and its rich history behind such an iconic nickname –the “Rams."
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1902
- 1941
- 1971
- 1973
- 2014
-
Fordham University forms its first football team
In 1902, Fordham University formed its first football team. The team played a schedule of six games that season, with their first game taking place on October 11th against St. Francis Xavier College. The game ended in a scoreless tie. Fordham’s team consisted of 15 players, with the team’s captain being James F. Smith. The team played their home games ... -
Alex Wojciechowicz graduates from Fordham
In 1941 – Fordham football player, and future NFL player, Alex Wojciechowicz graduates from Fordham. Wojciechowicz would go on to become a two-time NFL champion and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. -
Fordham’s basketball team makes its first NCAA Tournament appearance
In the 1970-71 season, Fordham men’s basketball team, coached by Digger Phelps, had an impressive season with a record of 26-3. Led by star player and All-American guard, Charlie Yelverton, the team finished second in the Southern Conference and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. In the first round of the tournament, Fordham faced off against fifth-ranked Villanova, ... -
Fordham’s men’s soccer team wins the NCAA Division II championship.
In 1973, Fordham’s men’s soccer team, coached by George Kinnear, won the NCAA Division II championship. The Rams had a remarkable season, finishing with a record of 16-1-1 and outscoring their opponents 47-9. Led by All-American forward Tommy Johnston and All-American midfielder Rich Bader, the team dominated its opponents throughout the season. In the NCAA tournament, the Rams faced a ... -
Fordham’s men’s basketball team wins the Atlantic 10 Conference regular season championship
In the 2013-2014 season, Fordham’s men’s basketball team, coached by Tom Pecora, had an impressive regular season with a record of 25-8 and finished at the top of the Atlantic 10 Conference standings. The team was led by senior guard Branden Frazier, who averaged 18.2 points per game and was named to the All-Conference First Team. Fordham’s success that season ...
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History of the Rams
Fordham began competing in intercollegiate athletics in 1882 when it joined what was then known as The Intercollegiate Football Association (IFA). Since then, they’ve won numerous championships at home and away, including two National Championships (1941 & 1942) under legendary coach Jimmy Crowley. They also won six conference titles during this period, with three coming from The Metropolitan Intercollegiate Conference (MIC), which later became part of today's Patriot League.
In addition to their success on the gridiron, Fordham has also seen great success over its basketball program throughout its existence earning multiple trips to post-season play, including two appearances each for both men's and women's teams since 2010 alone! Their most recent achievements include an appearance by their men’s team in last season’s Atlantic 10 tournament championship game, where they ultimately lost out after a hard-fought battle against VCU but still managed some national recognition for being such strong contenders all year long!
Aside from these accomplishments, though, perhaps one of Fordham University Athletics' most significant claims is that it has produced some incredible athletes over time who have gone on to achieve greatness at various levels; such names include NFL Hall Of Famer Vince Lombardi who played quarterback there before moving onto coaching fame with Green Bay Packers or NBA All-Star Bob Lanier who starred for them while he attended the school too! These are just a few examples that prove how talented this institution is when it comes down to producing quality talent across different sports disciplines - something we can be proud of here at Sports Fan HQ!!
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