College Sports Established
1883
Location
Jacksonville, Alabama
College Name
Jacksonville State University
Collegiate History
1995 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
1996 - 2003, 2021 - Present / ASUN Conference
2003 - 2021 / Ohio Valley Conference
Nickname
Gamecocks - The Jacksonville State Gamecocks are an NCAA Division I college football program that competes in the Ohio Valley Conference. The team has a long and storied history, with their nickname having origins dating back to the early 1900s.
The story of how the Jacksonville State Gamecocks got their name begins with an alumnus named William “Bill” Ellis attending classes at what is now known as Jacksonville State University (JSU). During his time there, he noticed several roosters on campus, often referred to by students as “Game Cocks” due to their fighting spirit and tenacity in protecting themselves from predators or other animals. This inspired Bill Ellis, who wanted something unique for JSU's athletic teams, so he proposed using this nickname for them during a student body meeting in 1924. His proposal was met with overwhelming support, and thus began, JSU's association with its iconic mascot - The Fighting Gamecock!
Since then, The Fighting Gamecock has become synonymous with JSU and all collegiate sports across America, representing strength, courage, and perseverance no matter what obstacles may come your way - just like those intrepid roosters did so many years ago! So next time you hear someone refer to our beloved school mascot, remember its roots – they go much further than most people think!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1946
- 1986
- 2018
- 2019
- 2021
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Jacksonville State basketball team is established
In 1946, the Jacksonville State basketball team was established. The team was created as part of the athletic program at Jacksonville State Teachers College, which is now known as Jacksonville State University. The team’s early years were marked by a lack of resources and a small fan base, but they gradually grew in popularity over time. During the 1950s and ... -
Keith Mckeller
McKeller was quite the athlete, playing basketball for four years for the Gamecocks before playing just one year of football. He went on to a nice NFL career where he caught 124 passes for 1,464 yards and 11 TDs, while also serving as a key blocker in the no-huddle K-Gun offense (named after him) that led the Bills to four ... -
Jacksonville State wins its third Ohio Valley Conference baseball championship
In 2018: Jacksonville State wins its third Ohio Valley Conference baseball championship and makes it to the NCAA Division I tournament for the third time in program history. -
Gamecocks win their fifth Ohio Valley Conference women’s soccer championship
In 2019, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks women’s soccer team won their fifth Ohio Valley Conference championship. The team finished the regular season with a 9-7-3 overall record and a 7-2-1 record in conference play, which was enough to clinch the regular-season title. In the conference tournament, the Gamecocks defeated Eastern Kentucky 1-0 in the semifinals before facing off against Southeast ... -
Gamecocks finish the spring football season with a 10-3 record
In 2021: The Gamecocks finish the spring football season with a 10-3 record and make it to the second round of the FCS playoffs.
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 Gamecocks
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks have a long and storied history in NCAA sports. Founded in 1922, the school has been a member of the Ohio Valley Conference since 1992 and competes at the Division I level. The Gamecocks have won numerous conference championships, including four football and thirteen men's basketball titles.
In addition to their success on the field, Jacksonville State is known for its passionate fan base that supports all of its teams with enthusiasm no matter what sport they are playing or how successful they may be doing at any given time. This loyalty has helped make them one of college sports’ most beloved programs across America today – even more so than some major powerhouses like Alabama or Florida!
The most notable moment in Jaguars' athletics came when former quarterback Eli Jenkins led them to an FCS National Championship game appearance against North Dakota State back in the 2015-16 season, where unfortunately, they fell short by just three points despite putting up an incredible fight until late into fourth quarter playtime! However, this was still seen as a massive accomplishment for small school programs like theirs that had not made it far in post-season play before then; either way, making it something truly special fans will never forget anytime soon, if ever!
One thing is sure: wherever you go on campus you can feel excitement buzzing around JSU Athletics as students proudly wear gear from various sports teams while alumni come out show support during games too - whether home away matches alike showing true devotion towards alma mater which only adds further pride amongst everyone associated university itself making sure every single person knows about greatness achieved through years hard work dedication put forth both players coaches staff members alike over decades past present future times ahead us all here now enjoy togetherness shared between those involved organization wholeheartedly believe nothing impossible reach heights dreams desires set out achieve each day going forward continuing legacy created thus far along journey life everlasting memories forever cherish last lifetime beyond our wildest imaginations could've imagined possible start off with such humble beginnings yet dream big become reality once again someday soon enough time passes us by...