The Broncos are various sports teams of Santa Clara University. The athletic program currently has 19 varsity sports, 9 men's sports and 10 women's. Additionally there are 18 club sports teams that compete intercollegiately. The school colors are red and white. The mascot is a bucking bronco and the fans are referred to as the "Ruff Riders".

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Athletics

Varsity Men	Varsity Women	Club Men	Club Women	Club Co-ed
Baseball	Softball	Ice hockey	Field hockey	Boxing
Basketball	Basketball	Lacrosse	Lacrosse	Cycling
Crew	Crew	Rugby	Rugby	Equestrian
Cross country	Cross country	Ultimate	Ultimate	Paintball
Golf	Golf	Volleyball	Volleyball	Sailing
Outdoor track	Outdoor track			Shotokan Karate
Soccer	Soccer			swimming
Tennis	Tennis			Triathlon
Water polo	Water polo
	Volleyball

University athletic memberships

• NCAA Division I
• West Coast Conference
• Western Water Polo Association
• Pacific Coast Collegiate Sailing Conference

Rivalries

Within the West Coast Conference, Santa Clara's bitterest rival is the University of San Francisco Dons. As comparably sized Jesuit schools within an hour's drive, these two schools have competed against each other for decades ^[1]

Additional conference rivals include the Saint Mary's Gaels, Gonzaga Bulldogs, and Loyola Marymount Lions.

Local non-conference rivals are the Stanford Cardinal and San José State Spartans.

Men's Basketball

The men's basketball has historically been a strong program within the West Coast Conference. The program has produced NBA stars Steve Nash and Kurt Rambis. The 1992-1993 Santa Clara team, led by future NBA MVP Steve Nash, was one of 4 #15 seeds to defeat a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

On February 12, 2007, the men's basketball team snapped Gonzaga's 50 gamehome winning streak. At the time, it was the longest ongoing home winning streak in the NCAA.

Women's Basketball

Men's Soccer

The men's soccer team has reached the championship match of the College Cup three times. In 1989, they faced the University of Virginia and played to a 1-1 tie that was called due to darkness after 2 overtimes, earning both Santa Clara and Virginia a share of the National Championship. In 1991 they again faced Virginia and again tied after regulation, this time 0-0, but lost to the Cavaliers on penalty kicks. In 1999, they lost to Indiana University, 0-1.

Women's Soccer

The women's soccer team is consistently ranked among the top ten or twenty teams nationally. The program won the national title in 2001 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship, beating The capstone of winning the One year after winning the national title in 2001, beating University of North Carolina 1-0. The team was mentioned several times in the filmBend It Like Beckham .

The team's most famous player is Brandi Chastain who took the Broncos to two NCAA Final Four appearances in 1989 and 1990. She would later be on the American Olympic team that won the gold medal in 1996 and the American World's Cup team that won in 1999. Her husband Jerry Smith is the coach of the Santa Clara women's team.

Club Sports

In 2008, the Santa Clara Men's rugby club made it to National playoffs which were held that year in Orem, Utah. They ousted a powerful Western Washington club before falling to eventual division champion Utah Valley State. The Santa Clara University Touring Side (SCUTS) have built upon that success and followed with a strong 2009 campaign. ^[2]

In 2008, the Santa Clara Paintball Team made it to the final rounds of the NCPA competition in Florida.

Former Football Program

On February 2, 1993, Santa Clara president Paul Locatelli, S.J. announced the discontinuation of football at the university, a move that stunned and saddened alumni and fans of the Bronco program. Since that day, a small group of alumni and friends of the program have sought the appropriate forum to make their case that football has a place at Santa Clara. The issue has been a constant source of controversy with many people related to the university.

Football holds a proud and distinguished place in the history and tradition of Santa Clara and Bay Area athletics. One cannot speak about Charley Graham and the Seals, the Forty-Niners, Lefty O'Doul, The Big Game, Slip Madigan or the Wow Boys and the Wonder Team without prominently mentioning Santa Clara football. As past generations of Santa Clarans are aware, it is the story of great games, players, and coaches, the legendary rivalry with Saint Mary's, major upsets, national rankings, and the three Sugar and Orange Bowl victories. It was tiny Santa Clara, the perennial underdog, overcoming all odds to compete with and defeat their college "betters" which embodied the Spirit of Santa Clara athletics and set an example for all to follow. Thirty-four years of the "modern era" (1959-1992) did not diminish this storied tradition. With few resources, scholarships, and little administration encouragement, Santa Clara continued to favorably compete on the field. Under Pat Malley, and later Terry Malley, Santa Clara became a small college football power with numerous national rankings, Little All Americans, and a post-season playoff appearance. Under Pat Malley's leadership the Little Big Game again became a markee contest for both colleges. Its student athletes were a credit to the program and Santa Clara's stated purpose of educating the student athlete.

Football has again been banished from campus. Now, as current generations of Santa Clarans pass through her doors without the benefit of intercollegiate football, its traditions and accomplishments become ever dimmer and, as hoped for by some, may soon be completely forgotten.

References

1. ESPN rivalry SCU v. USF
2. Santa Clara University - Current Club Sports