Grand Canyon Antelopes
| Grand Canyon Antelopes | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| University | Grand Canyon University |
| Conference | WAC |
| NCAA | Division I (transitioning) |
| Athletic director | Mike Vaught |
| Location | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Varsity teams | 22 |
| Basketball arena | GCU Arena (7,000) |
| Baseball stadium | Brazell Stadium (1,500) |
| Soccer stadium | GCU Soccer Stadium (6,000) |
| Other arenas | Antelope Gymnasium (2,000) |
| Mascot | Thunder the Antelope |
| Nickname | Lopes |
| Colors | Purple, White, and Black |
| Website | www |
The Grand Canyon Antelopes are the 21 athletic teams representing Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, more commonly referred to as the Lopes. Most of the university's athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division I level in the Western Athletic Conference. Men's volleyball competes in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA).
GCU was a member of the NAIA until the early 1990s when it transferred to NCAA Division II, in which it competed until 2013.
The university has undergone a transition from a small struggling non-profit liberal arts college to a large modern for-profit private university. Along with the general campus upgrades has come an increase in athletics and athletic facilities.
On November 27, 2012, Grand Canyon University announced that it had accepted an invitation to join Division I's Western Athletic Conference, effective July 1, 2013. This move made Grand Canyon the only for-profit institution with a Division I athletic program.
GCU's business model was at the center of an emerging controversy in college sports. In July 2013, the chief executives of all 12 members of the Pac-12 Conference sent a joint letter to the NCAA asking that the organization review whether for-profit institutions have a place in Division I sports. Within days, GCU CEO Brian Mueller accused Arizona State University president Michael Crow of being behind this move. The GCU / Pac-12 altercation appeared to die down with time, as the Lopes have played Pac-12 opponents or have them on the future schedule. Grand Canyon played the Washington Huskies in softball in 2015 and is scheduled to play the USC Trojans in women's basketball in 2015 and the Oregon State Beavers in baseball in 2016.
...
Wikipedia