College Sports Established
1957
Location
Rochester, Michigan
College Name
Oakland University
Collegiate History
1998 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
2013 - Present / Horizon League
1998 - 2013 / Summit League
Nickname
Golden Grizzlies - Regarding sports teams, nicknames are often as important as the players themselves. The Oakland Golden Grizzlies are no exception! This NCAA Division 1 school has a long and storied history, with its nickname dating back to the early 1970s.
This team's original name was "Golden Grizzlies," chosen by then-athletic director Bob Miller in 1971. He chose this moniker because of his love for grizzly bears and their ferocity on the field, symbolizing strength and courage - traits he wanted his team to embody.
But why did they choose “golden”? Well, there are two theories behind it: one being that gold is associated with royalty, and another being linked to Oakland University’s colors at the time (yellow/gold). Both theories make sense, given what we know about these brave animals – golden grizzlies represent power and dominance!
Over time, some aspects of their mascot have changed, but not its core meaning: strength through unity & determination in competition against all odds – something many sports fans can relate to! Today, you'll see them represented by Grizzly Bear wearing a crown or headdress while holding either an ax or spear - symbols of courage & leadership, respectively.
So whether you're an avid fan of college athletics or just curious about how teams get their names – now you know why Oakland Golden Grizzlies proudly wear theirs across fields today!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
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 Golden Grizzlies
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies have a long and storied history in college sports. From their days as an independent school to their current status as members of the Horizon League, they’ve been one of Michigan’s most successful athletic programs. Whether you’re a fan or just someone looking for interesting facts about this team, here is what you need to know about Oakland Golden Grizzlies' past and present sports teams!
Oakland University began its journey into collegiate athletics in 1959 when it became an independent school with no conference affiliation. 1969, they joined Division II before moving up to Division I-A (now known as FBS) two years later. During this period, they were known by several nicknames, such as The Pioneers and The Wildcats, before settling on The Golden Grizzlies in 1997 after much deliberation from students and alumni alike.
Since joining Division I-A/FBS Athletics at Oakland, he has seen many successes, including multiple NCAA Tournament appearances across various men's & women's basketball programs, along with other individual success stories throughout all levels of competition within both divisions that make up OU Athletics today (Division 1 & 2). With the addition of new head coaches for football & baseball last season, there is hope that these two significant sports will become more competitive soon, too! Additionally, several Olympic athletes have come out from competing under OU banners, including swimmer Ryan Lochte, who won gold medals during his time representing Team USA at both Beijing 2008 Olympics Games, where he was also named "Male Athlete Of Year" by Sports Illustrated magazine afterward - which speaks volumes about how well respected he was even then already!
As we move forward into 2021, we look towards another exciting year for our beloved golden grizzlies, whether through wins on the field or court - or simply watching them strive against adversity off it: Go Grizz!!