University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
What is the Name?
10/28/2011 12:25:00 AM | Athletics
A brief history of the University and its names
Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute
When the University first opened to students its doors on Wednesday, September 18, 1901, the name of the University was Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute (SLII). As far as is known, SLII was known as the Bulldogs at the time. Students had to complete the sixth grade to gain admission to the secondary school. These academic standards were gradually raised over the next few years. In 1916, SLII served as a combination senior high school and junir college. Later that year, SLII became a member of the newly formed Louisiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association with other state colleges. In 1918, the Student Army Training Corps required a high school diploma. This began the transition for SLII to become a college.
Southwestern Louisiana Institute
After two decades of being a secondary school, SLII became a college and began offering a four-year course. A year later, in 1921, the name was modified to Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI). SLI was still known as the Bulldogs but soon had new homes as a football stadium and a men's gymnasium were built in 1926, both of which were later replaced. Then in 1940, McNaspy Stadium and a women's gymnasium were built. Four years later, SLI became the largest state college. Two years after, Blackham Coliseum was opened. Then in 1957, permission was granted to offer master's degrees. This boosted the college's academic standing and positioned SLI to become a university.
University of Southwestern Louisiana
In 1960, the university's named was changed again to the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL). USL was still known as the Bulldogs, but that was about to change. In 1962, the longtime nickname of Bulldogs was changed to the Raging Cajuns. Not long after, this was shortened to Ragin' Cajuns. The Ragin' Cajuns athletics were on the rise.
Eight years later, Cajun Field was built replacing McNaspy Stadium as the home of the football team. This was the beginning of the move to the current athletic facilities. Shortly after, the baseball stadium had been built. In 1974, USL joined the NCAA Division I for all sports. By the late 1970's, USL was labeled as the fastest growing university in Louisiana.
For a few weeks in 1984, USL had managed to change the name to the University of Louisiana. This was quickly challenged. Ultimately, the courts ruled that the University of Louisiana had to revert to the University of Southwestern Louisiana. In fact, spring 1984 graduates had actually received two diplomas - from the University of Louisiana and University of Southwestern Louisiana. But USL did not give up its efforts to obtain a name to better reflect its stature as one of the leading universities in Louisiana.
Two years later, the cajundome opened it's doors as the new basketball arena for the Ragin' Cajuns.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Nothing could match the overall benefit of a new name. Then, in 1999, after more than 16 years of trying to shed its double-directional and regional name, the University of Southwestern Louisiana became the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. With as much success as the University and it's athletics have shown in recent years, it is for sure that the best is yet to come.
