Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys
| Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys Golden Suns |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| University | Arkansas Tech |
| Conference |
Great American Conference (2011–present) Gulf South Conference (1995–2011) Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (1927–1995) |
| NCAA | Division II |
| Athletic director | Steve Mullins |
| Location | Russellville, Arkansas |
| Varsity teams | 10 |
| Football stadium | Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field |
| Basketball arena | Tucker Coliseum |
| Baseball stadium | Tech Field |
| Softball stadium | Chartwells Women's Sports Complex |
| Other arenas | Hull Building |
| Mascot | Jerry the Bulldog |
| Nickname | Wonder Boys (men) Golden Suns (women) |
| Colors | Green and Gold |
| Website | arkansastechsports |
The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys and Golden Suns are the athletic teams that represent Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas. They are a charter member of the Great American Conference of the NCAA Division II.
Arkansa Tech currently fields the following 10 sports at the NCAA Division II level:
John Tucker is ultimately responsible for the idiosyncratic nickname "Wonder Boys" for Arkansas Tech University. On November 15, 1919, Tucker, as a 17-year-old freshman, scored two touchdowns and kicked two extra points to lead the Second District Agricultural School Aggies to a 14–0 upset win over Jonesboro. In newspaper accounts following the game, Tucker and his teammates were referred to as "Wonder Boys," and the nickname remains to this day. Tucker was labeled as "The Original Wonder Boy" and was associated with the school for the rest of his life. He went on to play on the University of Alabama's Rose Bowl team in 1931 and served Arkansas Tech in a variety of roles – including coach, athletic director and chemistry professor – between 1925 and 1972. Two buildings on the Tech campus – Tucker Coliseum and Tucker Hall – are named in his honor.
Originally the Second District Agricultural School when formed in 1909, Arkansas Tech has made five appearances in football national playoffs (1971, 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2009). Led by All-American receiver Rick Thone, the 1971 Wonder Boys (12–1–0) made it to the national championship game of the NAIA playoffs, losing to Livingston State (now University of West Alabama) in the title game, 14–12, played in Birmingham, AL. In 1994, Tech lost in the first round of the NAIA playoffs to Langston (OK), 56-42, after capturing the final Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) football crown earlier that season. Firman W. Bynum, long-time Dean of Men at Tech, was the school's first All-American football player in 1939.
...
Wikipedia