La Salle Explorers

Infobox college athletics

logo_width = 125
name = La Salle Explorers
university = La Salle University
conference = A-10
association = NCAA
division = Division I
director = Thomas Brennan
city = Philadelphia
state = PA
stateabb = Pennsylvania
teams = 20
stadium = McCarthy Stadium
baseballfield = Hank DeVincent Field
soccerlacrossestadium = Finnesey Field
arena = Tom Gola Arena
mascot = The Explorer
nickname = "The Explorers"
fightsong = La Salle Alma Mater
color1 = Blue
color2 = Gold
hex1 = 00386B
hex2 = FFC700
pageurl = http://www.goexplorers.com
pagename = GOEXPLORERS.com

La Salle University's 23 varsity sports teams, known as the Explorers, compete in the NCAA's Division I and are a member of the Atlantic Ten Conference. The American football team previously played in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League and competed in the Division I-Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA). The men's and women's basketball teams are also part of the Philadelphia Big 5. The Explorers nickname derives from a famous mistake made by a local Philadelphia sportswriter. The writer thought the university was named after the French explorer Sieur de La Salle, when in fact it is named after St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle. However, the nickname caught on, and has remained ever since.La Salle's teams have won two national championships: The 1954 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the 1980 AIAW Field Hockey Championship. The school also won the 1952 National Invitation Tournament before the tournament became considered "second rate". La Salle's major historic rival has been the Hawks of the Saint Joseph's University, especially in men's basketball. Not only are both schools situated in Philadelphia, but they are also both Catholic, private institutions.

Despite La Salle's small undergraduate enrollment, the university has had quite a bit of success with its men's basketball program. The team has won eight City Championships (four were shared) and only Duke (7) has had more National Players of the Year than La Salle (3 - Lionel Simmons, Michael Brooks, and Tom Gola) Fact|date=July 2007. Tom Gola was listed on "ESPN's Countdown to the Greatest" College basketball players as #17. In addition to the National Championship and NIT Championship, La Salle was also a national finalist in the 1955 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and was named the 53rd "Greatest College Basketball Program of All-Time" by Street & Smith's in January 2005.

upported Sports

Professional Sports Alumni

External links

* [http://www.goexplorers.com Official Athletic Website]
* [http://www.atlantic10.org Atlantic 10 Conference Website]
* [http://www.philadelphiabig5.org Philadelphia Big 5 Website]
* [http://www.diamondfive.com Big 5 Baseball Website]
* [http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=philadelphiasoccer7 Philadelphia Soccer 7 Website]
* [http://www.explorershockey.org Ice Hockey Club Website]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/laslax/ Men's Lacrosse Club Website]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/lsurugby/index.htm Men's Rugby Club Website]
* [http://www.lasallewomensrugby.org Women's Rugby Club Website]