History of the Bobcats
The Texas State Bobcats are the sports teams that represent Texas State University. They compete in the Sun Belt Conference in NCAA Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision for football). The Bobcat has been the mascot of Texas State University since 1921 when the university adopted the name from the recommendation of a committee formed to raise school spirit. Though considerably smaller than mountain lions, bobcats are known for their stubborn fierceness and great courage. The football squad used the bobcat for the first time in 1921 and went undefeated with a 7–0 season. Texas State had several officially recognized live bobcat mascots until the 1970s. In 1964, the Texas State Bobcat was given the official name of "Boko" by Beth Greenlees, a sophomore from Luling, Texas, who beat out about 100 other students in a "Name the Bobcat" contest. Her winning submission earned her a $5 prize and the honor of being the person who named the Texas State mascot. Boko has twice been named the “USA National Champion” mascot. Texas State had no official fight song until 1961 when Paul Yoder was commissioned to compose "Go Bobcats." The song is the rousing "call to arms" for all Texas State athletic games and competitions.
Dr. Larry Teis stepped down as athletic director of Texas State Athletics on August 31, 2021, with Mr. Don Coryell, Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Operations, assuming the role of interim Athletic Director beginning September 1, 2021.
Texas State joined the Sun Belt Conference on July 1, 2013.
College Sports Established
1899
Location
San Marcos, Texas
College Name
Texas State University
Collegiate History
1987 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
2013 - Present / Sun Belt Conference
1987 - 2013 / Southland Conference
Nickname
Bobcats - Before there were the Bobcats, there were the Gypsies, the Nymphs, the Topsies, the Sprites, the Wonders and the Goblins. Without an official mascot, teams at Southwest Texas Normal School were left with the task of choosing a name for each individual team.
The college had no athletic nickname or mascot in 1919, when athletic director Oscar Strahan arrived. Soon after his arrival, The Normal Star began a campaign to adopt a mascot in an attempt to "raise school spirit."
Shortly after Strahan's arrival a committee was formed by the student council and was headed up by C. Spurgeon Smith, biology department head to come up with a mascot for the school. Smith's personal choice was the bobcat because of its residency in Central Texas and its ability to fight with great courage.
The committee accepted Smith's suggestion, and the bobcat mascot was chosen as the official nickname to the athletic teams at Southwest Texas Normal School. Strahan accepted the new name given to his athletic teams.
"A Bobcat will fight you with everything he has - four claws, teeth, speed and brains," said Athletic Director Oscar Strahan in 1919. The unique mascot was a source of pride for the students. Texas State was the only college in the country to possess the name for its athletic teams until the late 20's, when Montana State University also adopted the mascot.
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
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