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If you’re a fan, it’s time to get excited.

If you’re an athlete, it’s time to get ready.

If you’re an opponent, it’s time to get worried.

Onto the field, the court, the track, the diamond

And the national stage, Here Come the Texans.

New Look. New Era.

Tarleton State University announces the launch of a new athletics brand campaign. Here Come the Texans was created exclusively for Tarleton athletics to provide a cohesive look deserving of an NCAA Division I athletics program.

“With the rebrand ‘Here Come the Texans’, the message is clear as Tarleton transitions to Division I – it’s a new era and we want to let the world know the Texans are here and ready to compete athletically and academically, not only regionally but on a national platform,” said Tarleton President Dr. James Hurley. “The university and athletic department’s mission are to get fans, students, alumni and the Tarleton community excited about this monumental moment in the university’s history.”

Here Come the Texans delivers a solid, united brand identity for the athletics department. In partnership with Belmont Icehouse, the new creative direction for Tarleton athletics features a modern, crisp look – something you would associate with a university on the move. Fans will see the new look incorporated into all athletics collateral such as posters, schedule cards, season ticket books and beyond.

TARLETON JOINED NCAA DIVISION I AND THE WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (WAC) ON JULY 1, 2020

The WAC was formed in 1962 and crowns team and individual champions in 19 sports — eight men's, 11 women's. Headquarters is in the Denver metropolitan area. Members of the WAC include New Mexico State, Grand Canyon, Cal Baptist, Chicago State, Seattle University, UT Rio Grande Valley, Utah Valley, Dixie State and Tarleton.

Ronnell Wilson

Football

#4 | Linebacker | Abilene, TX | Kinesiology

“Being recruited out of high school, everybody wants to go D-I. You feel like D-I is the pinnacle of college football. Now you get to say, ‘I’m a D-I football player.’ ”

Lauren Kersey

Women's Volleyball

#11 | Right Side Hitter | Norman, OK | Biology

“It’s really cool to be able to say you’re a Division I athlete,” she said. “It’s also a little nerve-racking because it’s a new level of play. We’ve been a high Division II team, so I’m sure we’ll fit right in D-I and the WAC.”

KEVIN BAEZ

Men's Cross Country

Vanderbilt, TX | Mechanical Engineering

“I wanted to choose a college that’s similar to my background and what I like to do. Tarleton really fit that. There’s rural living, farm life. That’s how I was raised. So that’s where that came from. I really love it.”

JENNA BRAZEAL

Women's Cross Country

Little River, TX | Business

“I’m not completely satisfied unless I feel like I’ve done my best. And there’s all the work I put in before all the practices. That’s a contributing factor to what drives me. Also, my support system and my family. Knowing they are behind me always helps me to push myself to my limits.”

ISAIAH RANGE

Men's BASKETBALL

#24 | Guard | Cedar Hill, TX | Kinesiology

“I am motivated by the fact there’s always something new I can learn. There’s always something in my game that can improve. I’m going into workouts with the mindset of ‘what am I going to get better at today?’ ”

LUCY BENSON

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

#1 | Forward | Kennedale, TX | Management

“It’s a dream come true for any athlete to compete at the Division I level. The competition will be better, and that means we have to be better. I can’t wait for the season to start.”

BLAKE BURNS

BASEBALL

#21 | Infield | Keller, TX | General Business

"I know there were a lot of players before us who didn’t get the chance to do what we’re going to do. Moving into the Western Athletic Conference and Division I makes me want to step up my game."

GEORGIA CAPELL

SOFTBALL

#17 | Infield | Midlothian, TX | Kinesiology

“Moving into D-I, we will all have to be better. That’s an exciting thing. To win at a higher level, we’ll have to work even harder and bring our ‘A’ game every time.”

FAUSTINE PALATTE

Women's Tennis

Lyon, France | Business

“It will raise the value of our degrees and create more opportunity. It will be a different experience, and I can’t wait to see how Tarleton is about to change. I’m so excited that we decided to move into the next level. We will get to travel further and face a higher level of competition.”

JUNIE KHAW

WOMEN'S GOLF

Selangor, Malaysia | Computer Information Systems

“I was really excited when I heard that Tarleton was going to D-I. That means we get to compete in different places and at a higher level. Playing with and against better players will help every one of us improve our game.”

JASMINE MCQUIRTER

WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD

Teague, TX | Kinesiology

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without this team. My coaches and teammates push me every day to be a better person and a better athlete. I’ve enjoyed every step of this journey and I can’t wait to see what D1 has in store for me.”

CORNELIUS COLEMAN

MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD

Fresno, TX | Computer Information Systems

“This is a great opportunity for us, to be here to help build Tarleton’s D-I legacy,” he said. “There are a lot of things that motivate me. I feel like there is something in me that hungers to be great at something.”
William Jones (W.J.) Wisdom

A HISTORY OF TARLETON ATHLETICS

Fresh off its brand-new status as the founding member of The Texas A&M University System, JTAC began to flourish by offering two-year degrees, a preparatory program, and specialized study in agriculture, home economics, and military training.

Meanwhile, the tradition of excellence within Tarleton Athletics was just beginning.

Arthur B. Hayes was the school's first known athletic director and ushered JTAC into its Texas A&M University system era. He led Tarleton's intercollegiate sports – football, basketball, and baseball. Men's Track and Field was added the following year under the leadership of head coach P.G. Greenwood.

Hayes maintained his leadership until a new face emerged on the Tarleton campus. The new leader of athletics in Stephenville would take over in the fall of 1921 and begin a Hall of Fame career as one of the greatest coaches and leaders of Tarleton.

Enter, William Jones Wisdom.

Coach Wisdom made an immediate impact with the football team, leading the Junior Aggies to an 8-1-1 record in his debut season and going on to find success as the head coach of JTAC basketball and baseball.

In 1924, Wisdom made one of his many marks on Tarleton Athletics by bringing change to the school's mascot. According to Tarleton history, Wisdom became disenchanted with the name 'Junior Aggies' and held a school-wide contest to select a new mascot. The winner would receive $5 – equal to $69.78 in today's currency – and Wisdom would be the sole judge. During the contest, the name 'Plowboys' came to the third-year head coach so he won the contest, kept his $5, and the school adopted the new moniker.

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