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{{Short description|Intercollegiate sports teams of Bryant University}}
{{Infobox college athletics
| name            = Bryant Bulldogs
| logo            = Bryant Bulldogs logo.svg
| logo_width = 200px
| university      = Bryant University
| association     = NCAA
| director        = [[Bill Smith (athletic director)|Bill Smith]]
| conference      = [[America East Conference|America East]] (primary)<br>[[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|CAA Football]]<br>[[East Coast Conference|ECC]] (bowling)<br>[[Southland Conference|Southland]] (golf & tennis)
| division        = [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] ([[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|FCS]])
| location        = [[Smithfield, Rhode Island]]
| teams           = 25
| stadium         = [[Beirne Stadium]]
| basketballarena = [[Chace Athletic Center]] 
| baseballfield   = [[Conaty Park]]
| mascot          = [[Tupper the Bulldog|Tupper]]
| nickname        = Bulldogs
| pageurl         = https://bryantbulldogs.com
| altlogo = [[File:Bryant Bulldogs wordmark.png|200px]]
}}

The '''Bryant Bulldogs''' are the athletic teams representing [[Bryant University]] in [[North Smithfield, Rhode Island|Smithfield, Rhode Island]]. As of July 1, 2022, the Bulldogs compete in most [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] sports as members of the [[America East Conference]] (AmEast).<ref name=BryantAmEast>{{cite press release|url=https://americaeast.com/news/2022/3/29/general-bryant-university-to-join-america-east-conference-as-newest-member-institution.aspx |title=Bryant University to Join America East Conference as Newest Member Institution |publisher=America East Conference |date=March 29, 2022 |accessdate=March 30, 2022}}</ref> The move to the AmEast followed a 14-year tenure in the [[Northeast Conference]] (NEC), which it joined in 2008 when it began a transition from [[NCAA Division II]] to Division I. Bryant's largest rivalry during its Division II years was [[Bentley College]], both founders of the [[Northeast-10 Conference]] (NE-10) and both have prominent business programs. Bryant University athletics started out as a member of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA) before it transitioned into Division II. Bryant competed in the NE-10 from the conference's founding in 1980 until 2008 when the university began the transition to Division I.<ref name="NE10hist">{{cite web|work=[[Northeast-10 Conference]]|url=http://www.northeast10.org/information/about_ne10/timeline|title=The History of the Northeast-10 Conference|access-date=October 7, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723105648/http://www.northeast10.org/information/about_ne10/timeline|archive-date=July 23, 2014}}</ref> In 2012, Bryant became a full Division I member.

== History ==

=== The beginning: The Providence years ===
[[File:Bryantindians66.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Bryant playoff game during the 1966 season]]
Bryant University originally competed independently before the NCAA had classifications. The first teams were men's basketball and rowing, which started in 1896. The first women's team was women's basketball. When the NCAA began more strict classifications Bryant moved to the NAIA in 1963. During Bryant's tenure in the NAIA, it competed as an independent school. The university's tenure in the NAIA saw the men's basketball team record an undefeated regular season, going 22–0 before losing the final two games of the 1966-67 season in the District 32 Tournament.<ref name="bballrecords">{{cite web|work=Bryant University|url=http://static.psbin.com/2/t/2wcxp635jzwjnx/2006-07BryantMBKBGuide.pdf|title=2006-07 BryantMen's Basketball Media Guide |access-date=October 8, 2011}}</ref> The 22-2 overall record was the team's best during the NAIA years.<ref name="bballrecords"/> The move to Division II was partly because of the new campus, and the school's goals.

During their NAIA playing years, they were known as the Indians, and were located in [[Providence, Rhode Island]], near [[Brown University]]. The school's largest rivalry at the time was [[Salem State College]]. The school was still a small business school, who was still only known on a local level. In 1976 the college left the NAIA In 1977 the college exited the NAIA and became a member of the NCAA at the Division II level. From there they became a charter member of the Northeast-10 Conference when the conference formed in 1979 and began play in 1980.<ref name="NE10hist"/>

=== The Charter Years: Move to Division II ===
[[File:Bulldognation.jpg|thumb|150px|Student spirit group]]
In 1980 Bryant was one of the charter members of the [[Northeast-10]].<ref name="NE10hist"/> Bryant along with other [[New England]] schools helped create a Division II conference that could succeed on and off the playing field and create rivalries at the same time. With the conference affiliation Bryant was able to keep its closest present-day rival [[Bentley College|Bentley College Falcons]] close both academically and athletically.

The university used the Indians nickname and logos since the inception of the athletics program in 1896 until 1995.<ref>{{cite web|work=ColorWerx|url=http://www.ssur.org/research/CollegeColorsNicknames/FourYear/B/B.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022041137/http://www.ssur.org/research/CollegeColorsNicknames/FourYear/B/B.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2007|title=Four-Year Schools - B|access-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref>

Entering the 2000s (decade) the university has won 40 conference championships; and the President's Cup 4 times in 2004, 2005, and 2007 and in their last season as a Division II member in 2008. They lost in 2006 by 1 point to [[Stonehill College]]. In their last year of competition in Division II and in the Northeast-10, Bryant won the President's Cup by over 30 points, and sent 19 out of the 22 teams into the NCAA playoffs. They also amassed a record of 292-65-6 throughout the entire year.

The 2000s (decade) also saw the injection of many new coaches at the university. Before the move to [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]] they had signed four former [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] coaches from [[Duke University]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Clemmons|first=Anna Katherine|publisher=[[ESPN]]|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=4980330|title=Pressler builds Bryant lacrosse |date=March 12, 2010|access-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref> [[Iowa State University]], [[Wagner College]], and [[UNLV]]. These moves have been noted as being one of the reasons that Bryant athletics have had such a successful run. This run has also brought on the exploratory commission to explore the move to Division I.

=== Move to Division I ===
On October 18, 2007, Bryant announced it would join the [[Northeast Conference]].<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Northeast Conference]]|url=http://northeastconference.org/News/general/2007/10/18/NEC-BryantAcceptance07.asp?path=general|title=Bryant University Accepts Invitation to Join Northeast Conference Northeast Conference - Bryant University Accepts Invitation to Join|date=October 18, 2007|access-date=October 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727131934/http://northeastconference.org/News/general/2007/10/18/NEC-BryantAcceptance07.asp?path=general|archive-date=2011-07-27|url-status=dead}}</ref> The move had Bryant participating as a Division I institution starting in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|last=AP Staff|work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E6DD1E3EF93AA25753C1A9619C8B63|title=Bryant Will Move To Division I|date=October 19, 2007|access-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref> The NCAA voted in 2012 to make the university a full member, which would allow Bryant to be eligible for NCAA Division I member postseason tournament play as well as have voting rights for its conference.<ref name="seekmove">{{cite news|last=McNamara|first=Kevin|newspaper=[[The Providence Journal]]|url=http://www.projo.com/college/content/sp_bryant25_09-25-07_L0736UF.31db95a.html|title=Success has led eek move to Div. I|date=September 25, 2007|access-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref>

=== Move to the America East ===
On March 29, 2022, Bryant was announced as a new member of the [[America East Conference]] (AmEast), effective that July 1.<ref name=BryantAmEast/> It is the only private school in the AmEast following the 2022 departure of [[University of Hartford|Hartford]], which started a transition from D-I to [[NCAA Division III|Division III]] in 2021 and left to spend one year as a [[NCAA Division I independent schools|D-I independent]] before joining the D-III Commonwealth Coast Conference, now known as the [[Conference of New England]], in 2023.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.cccathletics.com/sports/general/2021-22/Releases/UHart |title=CCC Grants Full Membership to University of Hartford, Beginning Competition in 2023-24 |publisher=Commonwealth Coast Conference |date=June 21, 2022 |access-date=June 21, 2022}}</ref>

Bryant fields seven varsity teams in sports that the AmEast does not sponsor. On the same day Bryant's arrival in the AmEast was announced, the [[Big South Conference]] announced that Bryant would become a football-only member of that conference effective with the 2022 season.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://bigsouthsports.com/news/2022/3/29/big-south-adds-bryant-university-as-associate-football-member.aspx |title=Big South Adds Bryant University as Associate Football Member |publisher=Big South Conference |date=March 29, 2022 |accessdate=March 30, 2022}}</ref> A month before Bryant was announced as a new Big South football member, that conference had announced that it would merge its football membership with that of the [[Ohio Valley Conference]] in 2023.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://bigsouthsports.com/news/2022/2/22/big-south-and-ohio-valley-conference-announce-football-agreement.aspx |title=Big South and Ohio Valley Conference Announce Football Agreement |publisher=Big South Conference |date=February 22, 2022 |accessdate=February 22, 2022}}</ref> The alliance was revealed as the [[Big South–OVC Football Association]] in summer 2023,<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://bigsouthovcfootball.com/news/2023/6/16/big-south-ovc-football-association-reveal-co-branded-logo.aspx |title=Big South-OVC Football Association Reveal Co-Branded Logo |publisher=Big South-OVC Football Association |date=June 7, 2023 |access-date=August 16, 2023}}</ref> Shortly before Bryant began what would prove to be its only season in the Big South–OVC alliance, it announced a move to [[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|CAA Football]], the technically separate football league operated by the [[Coastal Athletic Association]], for 2024 and beyond.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://caasports.com/news/2023/8/9/caa-football-welcomes-bryant-university-as-its-newest-member-in-2024.aspx |title=CAA Football Welcomes Bryant University As Its Newest Member In 2024 |publisher=CAA Football |date=August 10, 2023 |access-date=August 10, 2023}}</ref>

In June 2022, Bryant's five remaining varsity teams found conference homes. The [[Southland Conference]] brought the Bulldogs in as members in men's & women's golf and tennis.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.southland.org/news/2022/6/13/bryant-joins-southland-conference-as-affiliate-member-for-mens-womens-golf-and-tennis.aspx |title=Bryant Joins Southland Conference as Affiliate Member for Men's & Women's Golf and Tennis |publisher=Southland Conference |date=June 13, 2022 |access-date=June 18, 2022}}</ref> Bowling, a women-only sport added for 2022–23, joined the [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] [[East Coast Conference]], making it the only NCAA Division I member that competes in any sport as a member of a Division II conference.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://bryantbulldogs.com/sports/wbowl/2021-22/releases/20220629kbhitq |title=Women's Bowling set to join ECC as affiliate member |publisher=Bryant Bulldogs |date=June 29, 2022 |access-date=July 7, 2022}}</ref> This arrangement is possible because the NCAA does not split that sport into divisions, currently holding [[NCAA bowling championship|a single championship event]] open to members of all three divisions. Also, scholarship limits in bowling are identical in Divisions I and II.

== Sports sponsored ==
A member of the America East Conference, Bryant University sponsors teams in 25 NCAA-sanctioned sports, 11 for men and 14 for women:<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Bryant University |title=Bryant Bulldogs.com |url=http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/ |access-date=July 7, 2022}}</ref>

[[File:America East logo in Bryant colors.svg|thumb|120px|America East Conference logo in Bryant's colors]]
{| class="wikitable" style=" "
|-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Bryant Bulldogs|Men's sports|Women's sports}}
|-
| [[Bryant Bulldogs baseball|Baseball]] || [[Bryant Bulldogs women's basketball|Basketball]]
|-
| [[Bryant Bulldogs men's basketball|Basketball]] || Bowling
|-
| Cross country || Cross country
|-
| [[Bryant Bulldogs football|Football]] || Field hockey
|-
| Golf || Golf
|-
| [[Bryant Bulldogs men's lacrosse|Lacrosse]] || Lacrosse
|-
| Soccer || Rowing
|-
| Swimming & diving || Soccer
|-
| Tennis || Softball
|-
| Track & field<sup>†</sup> || Swimming & diving 
|-
| || Tennis
|-
| || Track & field<sup>†</sup>
|-
| || Volleyball
|-
| colspan="2" style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Bryant Bulldogs }}" | {{small|† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.}}
|}

==Facilities==

=== Beirne Stadium ===
{{Main|Beirne Stadium}}
Bulldog Stadium was completed in 1999 and has a [[seating capacity]] of 5,500 with a 4,200-seat permanent structure and press box on the home side of the field and 1,300 additional seats on the visitor's side.<ref name="stad">{{cite web|work=Bryant University|url=http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/information/Facilities/Bulldog_Stadium|title=Bulldog Stadium|access-date=October 7, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929080045/http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/information/Facilities/Bulldog_Stadium|archive-date=September 29, 2011}}</ref> Bulldog Stadium was renamed Beirne Stadium September 24, 2016. In addition to serving as the home of Bryant Football, Beirne Stadium also serves as the home venue to the school's men's and women's lacrosse and men's and women's soccer teams. It has also been the host of Rhode Island's high school state championship games.<ref name="stad"/>

=== Conaty Park ===
{{Main|Conaty Park}}
Conaty Park, the home of Bryant's baseball program, is located in the northwest section of the campus near the other athletic facilities. The field has dimensions 330' down the left and right field lines, 385' to the right and left center field gaps and 400' to center field.<ref name="baseballcomplex">{{cite web |work=Bryant University |url=http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/bsb/Baseball_Stadium |title=The Bryant University Baseball Complex |access-date=October 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726005527/http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/bsb/Baseball_Stadium |archive-date=July 26, 2011 }}</ref> It is equipped with step down dug outs, each with a connected clubhouse space. It also has bullpens down each line with two mounds and a hitting cage down the left field line just outside of the fence next to the bullpen.<ref name="baseballcomplex"/> In addition to hosting several Northeast-10 Conference tournament games, the Bryant Baseball Complex hosted the 2004 NCAA Division II Baseball Northeast Regional Championship, won by the Bulldogs.<ref name="baseballcomplex"/>

=== Other facilities ===
The Chace Wellness Center is a {{convert|31000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} student recreation center that augments the current gymnasium and Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC). The center includes workout space, a {{convert|8000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} fitness center, and an [[Aerobic exercise|aerobic]] and [[martial arts]] studio.<ref>{{cite web|work=Bryant University |url=http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/information/Chace_Wellness/REDESIGN/Wellness_Center|title=Chace Wellness Center|access-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref> The Elizabeth & Malcolm Natatorium is an olympic-size pool originally constructed with the additions to the current Wellness and Athletic Center.<ref name="natatorium">{{cite web|work=Bryant University|url=http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/information/Facilities/Chace_Athletic_Center_Pool|title=Chace Athletic Center Pool|access-date=October 7, 2011}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The pool had only recreational use until the winter of 2005 when Bryant added men's and women's swim teams as a varsity sport. The [[natatorium]] features six lanes equipped with a scoreboard, seating area, and sound system.<ref name="natatorium"/>

The Bryant Track and Turf Complex was built in 2005 and is the home venue for the men's and women's track & field teams.<ref name="turfcomplex">{{cite web|work=Bryant University|url=http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/information/Facilities/Bryant_Track_and_Turf_Complex|title=Bryant Track and Turf Complex|access-date=October 8, 2011}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The facility also hosts soccer, field hockey and lacrosse games in addition to being used as the football practice field.<ref name="turfcomplex"/> The facility has a bleacher seating section with a capacity of 1,000 fans. Another valuable addition was the lights surrounding the track.<ref name="turfcomplex"/>

== Championships ==

=== Northeast Conference ===
Conference championships:
*Baseball: 2013, 2014, 2016
*Basketball (men's): 2022, 2025
*Lacrosse (men's): 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021
*Golf: 2014, 2017
*Lacrosse (women's): 2014, 2017
*Softball: 2014
*Tennis (men's): 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
*Swim and Dive (men’s): 2021, 2022
*Swim and Dive (women’s): 2018,2019,2020,2021,2022

=== Northeast-10 history ===
While competing as a charter member of the Northeast-10 conference from 1980 until 2008 the school won the President's Cup, awarded to the best overall athletic team in the NE-10, eight times.  Bryant also finished in second five times and third three times.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northeast10.org/information/presidents_cup/Year-By-Year |title=Northeast-10 Conference|access-date=November 28, 2011}}</ref> Considered to be one of the most successful teams in Northeast-10 History Bryant has won 93 conference championships. In the 2007-2008 school year, the university won 9 conference championships. During its Division II years, the university sponsored 22 of 23 sports that the Northeast-10 Conference offered.

{| class="wikitable sortable"; style= "text-align: center"
! width= 150px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Bryant Bulldogs |border=1|color= white }}"| Sport
! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Bryant Bulldogs |border=1|color= white }}"| {{abbr|Conf.<br>titles|Conference championships}}
! width= px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Bryant Bulldogs |border=1|color= white }}"| {{abbr|Last<br>title|Last championship}}
|-
|- 
| Golf
| 20
| 2005
|-
| Volleyball
| 10
| 2007
|- 
|Tennis (w)
|9
|2008
|-
|Baseball
|9
|2012
|-
|- 
|Tennis (m)
|6
|2008
|-
|Lacrosse (m)
|4
|2021
|-
|- 
|Cross Country
|4
|1996
|-
|-
|Softball
|3
|2006
|- 
|Basketball (w)
|3
|1989
|-
|-
|Field Hockey
|2
|2003
|- 
|Football
|2
|2007
|-
|Soccer (w)
|2
|2007
|-
|- 
|Soccer (m)
|1
|1988
|-
|- 
|Lacrosse (w)
|1
|1999
|-
|- 
|Track and Field
|1
| 1993
|-
|Basketball (m)
|0
| ----
|-
|- 
|Swimming & Diving
|2
| 2018, 2019
|}

== Mascot ==
The Bulldog logo became the official new logo and mascot of the university after a 1995 campus-wide vote. The school now has a living mascot and a costumed mascot to represent the bulldogs mascot and university athletics. Bryant has also used two bulldog logos as they did during the Indian years; first using a realistic bulldog's head inside a diamond design, followed by the current design in 2004.  The change came when Bryant went from being a college to a university.

Ironclad Tupper I, or Tupper for short, was an [[English bulldog]] purchased by former Bryant University President [[Ronald Machtley|Ron Machtley]] and his wife, Kati.<ref name="Tupper1">{{cite web|work=Bryant University|url=http://blogs.bryant.edu/newsroom/?p=507|title=Bryant's mascot Ironclad Tupper 1, aka Tupper|access-date=October 8, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719154324/http://blogs.bryant.edu/newsroom/?p=507|archive-date=July 19, 2011}}</ref> The Machtleys gave the dog to the school to honor the class of 2010's senior class gift campaign, which exceeded its goals and set two senior class gift records.<ref name="Tupper1"/> Tupper served as Bryant University's mascot and attended campus events, as well as performed community service as a [[therapy dog]].<ref name="Tupper1"/> He was the first live bulldog mascot in the university's history and received an honorary degree at 2010 commencement for "character and obedience."<ref name="Tupper1"/> Tupper died on December 6, 2017, of an apparent stroke during the Festival of Lights celebration.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nancy |last=Krause |url=http://wpri.com/2017/12/07/bryant-university-mourns-loss-of-mascot-ironclad-tupper/ |title=Bryant University mourns loss of mascot, Ironclad Tupper |date=December 7, 2017 |publisher=WPRI TV }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rhode-island/articles/2017-12-07/bulldog-mascot-collapses-dies-during-campus-festival |title=Bulldog Mascot Collapses, Dies During Campus Festival |website=US News Best States |publisher=U.S. News & World Report |agency=AP |date=December 7, 2017 }}</ref>

Tupper II was introduced to the university community on April 12, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-04-11|title=New bulldog mascot to debut in red carpet ceremony at Bryant|url=https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/new-bulldog-mascot-to-debut-in-red-carpet-ceremony-at-bryant/|access-date=2021-05-10|website=WPRI.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Tupper II, known as Tupper for short, serves as Bryant University's mascot and attends campus events. According to former President Ron Machtley, "he has all the qualities and traits of the best damn bulldog in the country.”<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-04-12|title=Bryant University debuts new mascot, Tupper II|url=https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/northwest/bryant-university-debuts-new-mascot-tupper-ii/|access-date=2021-05-10|website=WPRI.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons cat}}
* {{official website}}

{{Bryant University}}
{{navboxes
|titlestyle = {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Bryant Bulldogs|border=1|color= white }}
|list = 
{{America East Conference navbox}}
{{Big South Conference navbox}}<!--Football-->
{{East Coast Conference navbox}}<!--Bowling-->
{{Southland Conference navbox}}<!--Golf and tennis-->
{{Rugby Northeast}}
{{Rhode Island Sports}}
}}
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[[Category:Bryant Bulldogs| ]]