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UW-L Athletic Traditions
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UW-L Traditions
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse athletic success has continued throughout
its history. The Eagles have won 49 national titles in nine different sports,
including 30 since 1991. UW-L has also won 309 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference championships in school history and has captured the WIAC All-Sports
Award four of the last five years. In the Directors’ Cup Standings, which
includes all NCAA Division III schools and its performances in the national
championships, the Eagles finished a school-best seventh in 2003-04.UW-L is
one of six institutions in NCAA Division III history to finish in the top-20
all nine years of the Directors’ Cup.
UW-L Sports Spirit – the primary vehicle for advancing the university’s
commitment to athletic excellence – is in its 18th year in support of the
Eagles’ student-athletes and staff. Because student fees only go so far
in supporting intercollegiate athletics at UW-L, the generous donations of time
and dollars by alumni, friends and community boosters provide the margin of
excellence in maintaining the university’s highly competitive program.
Sports Spirit is the major fund-raising group that supports the total UW-L athletics
program.
The L-Club and its members help support UW-L Athletics with recruiting, travel
expenses and extend professional development opportunities for coaches and staff.
Members can contribute to any designated sport of their choice.
The Wall of Fame recognizes outstanding coaches and staff for their contributions
to UW-L Athletics.
UW-L’s athletic teams sport a contemporary Eagle in the L and caricature
created in 1989. Dave Christianson, a 1973 art major graduate, penned the images
after the UW-L men’s teams took the Eagles moniker. It was the seventh
moniker for the men’s athletic teams. They had previously been called Indians,
Red Raiders, Hurricanes, Racqueteers, Peds and Maroons. Women’s teams started
sporting the Eagles moniker in November 1990. They had been previously known
as the Roonies, which was derived from the university’s school colors -
maroon and gray.
The Eagle in the L is a simple design, but not overly obvious. “At first glance, people see either the L or the eagle,” explained Christianson at the unveiling of the Eagle in the L. “Later, they see both.” The optical illusion, the element of surprise built right into the design makes the image contemporary and popular. The eagle caricature has a link to the past. The eagle’s sweater sports the traditional block-style “L” that has been used by university teams for decades.
