From Tarpons to Islanders: The Evolution of the University's Athletics

Welcome

In 1947, this small institution with big aspirations started in repurposed buildings left over from World War II (The Island University Yearbook, 2007). At that time, few could have envisioned the growth and transformation it would undergo, both as a university and within its athletic department. Over the past seventy-seven years, mascots have changed, and the scope and focus of athletics have experienced their own peaks and valleys. This exhibit invites you on a journey through three distinct eras of Islander Athletics, weaving together stories and sentiments using school newspapers, yearbooks, and news articles to capture the spirit and atmosphere of each period.

Once the school was established and courses began, it did not take long for athletics to capture the attention of administrators. However, their focus was primarily on male sports. While female students were provided with physical education courses, the idea of women competing in national sports was not considered for many years. In the inaugural issue of The Campus Camera, the school newspaper reported plans to launch basketball and football programs as quickly as possible, stating, [insert quote here].

I also found it intriguing that a later article in the The Campus Camera highlighted students from distant locations who were drawn to the school. Among these were athletes recruited for the newly formed Tarpons football team. Although expanding the athletic program was not solely intended to attract students from outside the community, it became an unintended yet impactful outcome, boosting student engagement and expanding the institution’s reach.

The Island University Yearbook, 2007 pg. 38