 | This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. (October 2009) |
| Marquette Golden Eagles | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Marquette University |
| Conference | Big East |
| NCAA | Division I |
| Athletic director | Bill Scholl |
| Location | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Varsity teams | 14 |
| Basketball arena | Fiserv Forum (men) Al McGuire Center (women) |
| Soccer stadium | Valley Fields |
| Other venues | Hart Park Stadium |
| Mascot | Iggy the Golden Eagle[1] |
| Nickname | Golden Eagles |
| Fight song | "Ring Out Ahoya" |
| Colors | Blue and gold[2] |
| Website | gomarquette |
The Marquette Golden Eagles, formerly known as the Marquette Warriors, Blue and Gold, Gold, Hilltoppers, and Golden Avalanche (football only), are the athletic teams representing Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They compete as a member of the NCAA Division I level (non-football sub-level), primarily competing in the Big East Conference for all sports since its establishment in 2013. The Golden Eagles are a founding member of the current Big East, having been one of the seven members of the original Big East that broke away to form a basketball-focused league. They had joined the original Big East in 2005, having previously competed in Conference USA (C-USA) from 1995–96 to 2004–05, the Great Midwest Conference from 1991–92 to 1994–95, and the Horizon League from 1988–89 to 1990–91. They also competed as an independent from 1916–17 to 1987–88. Men's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and track & field, while women's sports include basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track & field and volleyball.
The men's basketball team won the NCAA national championship in 1977, was a finalist in 1974, won the Big East Tournament in 2023, and was a semi-finalist in 2003. The 1970 team won the National Invitation Tournament; the NCAA tournament in 1970 included just 25 teams, and the NIT had 16.
The nickname change to "Golden Eagles" came in May 1994 to address the school's Native American name controversy, despite another Jesuit school—Boston College—already being called the "Eagles."[3] In May 2005, the university changed the nickname to "Gold" (in the same manner as Syracuse's "Orange"),[4][5] but the decision was reversed after public backlash.[6][7]
On December 15, 2012, Marquette and the other six Catholic, non-FBS Big East schools (the Catholic 7) announced that they were departing the Big East for a new conference.[8] In March 2013, it was confirmed that the Catholic 7, along with three other schools, would begin operations that July as a new Big East Conference.[9][10]
- ^ "Marquette Athletics Introduces "Iggy" As Mascot Name". GoMarquette.com. August 3, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Marquette Athletics Quick Facts". GoMarquette.com. May 21, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Marquette becomes the Golden Eagles". Gadsden (AL) Times. Associated Press. May 3, 1994. p. D4.
- ^ Walker, Don (May 6, 2005). "It's Gold. Period". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 1A.
- ^ Stingl, Jim (May 6, 2005). "Little sparkle in choice of nickname". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 1B.
- ^ Wolfley, Bob (May 12, 2005). "MU board's latest decision as good as Gold". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 2C.
- ^ Stapleton, Arnie (May 18, 2005). "Marquette clumsily grapples with its nickname". Southeast Missourian. Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Associated Press. p. 4B.
- ^ "Seven schools leaving Big East". ESPN.com. December 15, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
- ^ Clark, Liz (March 19, 2013). "'New' Big East prepared to make its formal introduction". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
- ^ Staff (March 20, 2013). "New Big East adds Butler, 2 others". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 20, 2013.