College Sports Established
1969
Location
Springfield, Missouri
College Name
Missouri State University
Collegiate History
1980 - Present / NCAA Division I–AA/FCS
1973 - 1980 / NCAA Division II
Conference History
1990 - Present / Missouri Valley Conference
1982 - 1990 / Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference
Nickname
Bears - Sports fans everywhere know that the Missouri State Bears have been a staple of college athletics for generations. But did you know that their nickname has an interesting origin story?
The Missouri State Bears moniker was adopted in 1925 when the school changed its name from Southwest Missouri State Teachers College to Southwest Missouri State College. A renewed commitment to athletic excellence accompanied the new name change, and so it made sense for them to adopt a mascot with some strength and power behind it – enter, the Bear!
While there are no official records as to why or how this particular animal came into being as part of their identity, one can assume that since bears were seen as symbols of strength and courage at the time (as they still are today!), they chose this powerful creature to convey those same values on-field during games. Since then, MSU’s beloved bear mascot has become synonymous with success on and off the field, representing physical prowess and academic achievement among students who proudly wear his colors daily!
In addition, while most schools had already chosen mascots before 1925 when MSU picked theirs up, what makes them unique is that rather than choosing something overly generic like “Tigers” or “Lions” - which other teams used - they decided instead on something more specific: A Bear! This shows how much thought went into creating an identity for themselves back then – one which continues even today through cheers such as "Go Bears!" whenever someone wears any clothing item featuring our beloved logo/mascot design across campus grounds & beyond…
So next time you see someone wearing maroon & white gear around town– whether it be apparel from your favorite store or maybe even homemade items created by alumni members – remember where these iconic colors come from: The proud legacy left behind by our very own Mississippi River Valley's original team...the mighty MISSOURI STATE BEARS!!!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1913
- 1996
- 2008
- 2016
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Missouri State Bears baseball first game
The 1913 Missouri State Bears baseball team played their inaugural game on April 11, 1913, against Drury College. The game was played in Springfield, Missouri, and the Bears emerged victorious with a score of 9-5. The game marked the beginning of the Bears’ baseball program, which has since become one of the most successful sports programs at the university. During ... -
Gateway Football Conference Championship Win
In 1996 Missouri State Bears football team wins their third Gateway Football Conference championship. -
Kyle Weems Basketball Era
2008-2012: Kyle Weems plays for the Missouri State Bears basketball team. 2011: Weems is named the MVC Player of the Year after averaging 16.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. 2012: Weems leads the Missouri State Bears to the MVC tournament championship game, but they lose to the Creighton Bluejays. 2012: Weems graduates from Missouri State as the school’s all-time ... -
Third MVC regular season championship Win
In 2016 Missouri State Bears soccer team wins their third MVC regular season championship and makes their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament, losing to the Denver Pioneers 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 Bears
In basketball alone, the Bears boast six conference titles since joining Division I in the 1982-83 season. They also made two trips to March Madness (the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament) during that period, most recently making it to the Sweet Sixteen round before falling short against eventual champion Duke University in the 2002-03 season. The following year they were able to make it into the post-season NIT tournament. Still, they lost early on by just 1 point against Ohio University Bobcats after leading for most of the game’s duration!
On top of that success on the court/field - this program has seen its share of field accomplishments, too: from producing players who went on to become professional athletes like NBA's Steve Stipanovich & NFL's Deion Sanders; or Hall Of Fame coaches such as Cuonzo Martin & Barry Hinson - there is no shortage when it comes showcasing what makes up this remarkable institution known as “Missouri State bears."
For any diehard fan looking for information about their beloved school – you can find out more online at www.missouristatebears.com, where you will be provided with detailed accounts about past achievements and current news regarding upcoming events related to this fantastic program! So if you love cheering your favorite teams or want some exciting facts about them, don't waste another minute– head over now and get ready to experience greatness firsthand through the eyes of one best universities in the country today!
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