The **Fordham Rams** are the athletic teams that represent the Jesuit, Catholic **Fordham University**, located in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Rams compete in the NCAA's Division I, primarily in the Northeast Conference (NECC). They are also members of the Eastern College Athletic Association (ECAC) for non-NECC sports.
**History**
Fordham University's athletic programs date back to the 1860s, with the first recorded intercollegiate sporting event taking place in 1865. The Rams' early success in sports such as baseball, football, and track and field helped to establish the university as a prominent athletic institution. In 1903, the university adopted the nickname "Rams" for its sports teams, in reference to the university's coat of arms, which features a ram.
**NCAA Championships**
The Rams have a rich history of success in NCAA competition, having won a total of 10 national championships in various sports. These championships include:
* Men's Basketball: 1947, 1954
* Women's Basketball: 2002, 2003, 2004
* Men's Cross Country: 1942, 1943, 1944
* Men's Track and Field: 1942
* Women's Track and Field: 1943
**Other Championships**
In addition to their NCAA championships, the Rams have also won numerous other championships in various sports, including:
* Football: 13 Northeast Conference championships
* Men's Basketball: 20 Northeast Conference championships
* Women's Basketball: 20 Northeast Conference championships
* Men's Soccer: 10 Northeast Conference championships
* Women's Soccer: 10 Northeast Conference championships
* Men's Lacrosse: 10 Northeast Conference championships
* Women's Lacrosse: 10 Northeast Conference championships
* Baseball: 10 Northeast Conference championships
* Softball: 10 Northeast Conference championships
* Field Hockey: 10 Northeast Conference championships
* Women's Track and Field: 10 Northeast Conference championships
* Men's Cross Country: 10 Northeast Conference championships
**National Recognition**
The Rams have been ranked among the top 20 athletic programs in the United States by the National Association of College Athletics (NsimilarityAA) several times in recent years. In 2016, the Rams were ranked 14th in the nation for overall athletic excellence.
**Fordham Rams Athletics Today**
The Rams currently sponsor 20 sports teams, 10 each for men and women. The university's athletic department has a total of over 500 students- athletes participating in intercollegiate sports. The Rams are led by Athletic Director Nick Alioti, who was hired in 2021.
The Rams' home games are played at the **Rose Hill Campus** in the Bronx, with some sports also playing at off-campus locations. The university's main athletic facilities include the Edward H. _____"Hap"_____ Reilly Center, which is home to the Rams' basketball, volleyball, and track and field teams. The Rams' football team plays its home games at the **Gabler Field**.
The Rams have a strong tradition of academic success, with many of their athletes also excelling in the classroom. The university offers a variety of academic programs that are designed to help its athletes succeed both in the classroom and in their chosen sport.
The Rams are a proud and storied athletic program with a rich history of success both on and off the field. The university is committed to providing its athletes with the best possible experience, both academically and athletically.