City: Baton Rouge, LA

Category: Spectator Sports

Telephone: (225) 359-9328

Description: Southern University fans proudly wear the distinctive Columbia blue and gold colors. Teams at the historically black university are the Southern Jaguars. They participate in NCAA intercollegiate athletics and Division 1 of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Football season may last only 11 or 12 weeks, but avid fans stay true year-round. SU’s loyal fans follow the team on the road and have become known as the Jaguar Nation. Home games are a barbecue-and-tailgating family event, with reunions and a music festival throughout the afternoon. Part of the fun is seeing SU’s Jaguar Band, nicknamed the Human Jukebox. The band has appeared in TV commercials and participated in presidential inaugurations, the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California, and in Super Bowl halftime shows. Football games are played in Ace W. Mumford Stadium, a 29,000-seat facility. A new complex at the north end of the stadium features the latest technology and comforts, including additional seats, suites, weight rooms, meeting rooms for coaches and athletes, and new lockers for football and track athletes. SU’s football teams have produced numerous legends.The Jaguars track and field athletes also use Mumford Stadium. These outstanding athletes lately have been coached in track and field and cross country by SWAC Hall of Famer Johnny Thomas. World-class long jumper Brian Johnson is an assistant coach and still competes when his schedule allows. Also playing in the stadium are SU’s women’s soccer team and Southern Laboratory High School. The F. G. Clark Activity Center is the home of the Southern men’s and women’s basketball teams. Southern’s basketball greats include former point guard Avery Johnson, who helped lead the San Antonio Spurs to an NBA title and came close to another one while coaching the Dallas Mavericks. Today he works as an ESPN analyst. Bob Love was the Chicago Bulls’ all-time leading scorer until a player named Jordan came along. The lady Jaguars have more than held their own—Jacklyn Winfield, the SWAC Player of the Year in 2002, is the only SWAC player to have been drafted into the WNBA. Current SU women’s coach Sandy Pugh led the Jaguars to SWAC titles in 2002, 2004, and 2006.Baseball fans can watch the Jaguars play at Lee-Hinds field. The baseball improvement program includes an upgrade with a locker room/office facility beyond the left field wall. Current coach Roger Cador has won 13 of the school’s 25 conference baseball titles. Two emerging stars in the major leagues—San Francisco Giants outfielder Fred Lewis and Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks—played together in 2002 at Southern. The university’s other Jaguars teams include golf, tennis, volleyball, softball, and women’s bowling. Tickets to Southern University sports events are available at the ticket office, 7722 Scenic Hwy. (the old City National Bank Building). Call (225) 359-9328, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. They also are available game day from noon to halftime. You also may purchase tickets through Ticketmaster. For additional information on teams, event schedules, and more, visit the website, www.gojagsports.cstv.com.