Sul Ross State University Sul Ross State University ( SRSU ) is a public university in Alpine , Texas , United States . Named for former Texas governor and Civil War general Lawrence Sullivan Ross , it was founded in 1917 as Sul Ross Normal College and was made a university in 1969 . Sul Ross State University offers certificate programs and associate , bachelor ' s , and master ' s degrees . The main campus is situated in the unique environment of the Big Bend region and is the primary institution of higher education serving a 19 - county area in far West Texas . SRSU has Rio Grande College branch campuses in Uvalde , Del Rio , and Eagle Pass . The university is governed by the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System , which guides seven universities in the state . History . Named for Lawrence Sullivan Ross , governor of Texas from 1887 to 1891 and president of A & M College of Texas from 1891 to 1898 , the institution was the successor to Alpine Summer Normal School . April 14 , 1914 , Governor James E . Ferguson signed the bill selecting Alpine as the site for a normal school provided the residents of the town would provide land , water , and utilities for the college and housing for the students . This condition was met swiftly , and following a delay occasioned by World War I , the Legislature in 1919 appropriated $ 200 , 000 for buildings and equipment . Construction proceeded , and under the presidency of Thomas J . Fletcher , Sul Ross State Normal College began operations in the present Dolph Briscoe Jr . Administration Building on June 14 , 1920 . The first Sul Ross students . Seventy - seven students enrolled in the summer of 1920 . They studied education and liberal arts subjects leading to teaching certificate s and junior college diplomas . In 1923 , the Legislature changed the name of the institution to Sul Ross State Teachers College , and advanced courses leading to baccalaureate degrees were added . The first baccalaureate degree was awarded in the summer of 1925 . In 1930 , course work at the graduate level was initiated , and the first master ' s degrees were awarded in 1933 . Early in its history , Sul Ross became the cultural and educational center for the mountainous , remote Big Bend region . The state - supported Museum of the Big Bend was established in the 1930s as a depository for materials which depict the multicultural society and history of the Big Bend region , and in 1976 , the Archives of the Big Bend in the Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library was organized to provide a permanent depository and research facility for regional manuscript collections . Under the leadership of President Horace W . Morelock from 1923 to 1945 , the curriculum was expanded , additional academic buildings and dormitories were constructed , the college was admitted into membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools , and enrollment increased to about 500 students . A decline in enrollment during World War II threatened the continued operation of the college , but was offset by the establishment of a successful U . S . Navy pilot training program and a Women ' s Army Corps Training School on campus , bringing more than 1 , 500 military trainees and officers to Sul Ross . Postwar expansion . Following the war , the return of veterans increased the annual enrollments and prompted the expansion of the curriculum . Richard M . Hawkins became president in 1945 , and the college was reorganized into divisions of Fine Arts , Language Arts , Science , Social Science , Teacher Education , and Vocations . Then in 1949 , in recognition of the broadened mission of the institution to prepare students for a variety of careers and occupations , the name was changed to Sul Ross State College . The enrollment grew to more than 1 , 000 in 1960 and to over 2 , 000 in 1970 . During the presidencies of Bryan Wildenthal and Norman L . McNeil between 1952 and 1974 , the academic programs continued to be strengthened ; new fine arts , physical education , science and range animal science buildings and a new library were constructed , and several new degree programs were begun . Sul Ross becomes a university . In 1969 , the Legislature again changed the name of the institution , this time signifying full state university status as Sul Ross State University . The 1970s were years of stable or declining enrollments caused by the opening of several new colleges in West Texas . The general education requirements were revised ; new degree programs were added in criminal justice , business administration , and geology ; an off - campus study center was established on the campus of Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde to provide opportunities for residents of the Uvalde , Del Rio , and Eagle Pass areas to pursue upper - level and graduate work in teacher education and business administration ; the Legislature appropriated more than $ 10 , 000 , 000 to renovate and modernize the academic buildings ; and personnel changes brought to the university a new generation of faculty , consisting , in 1985 , of around 100 persons of whom 74 % held a doctorate . By 1985 , 10 , 925 bachelor ' s degrees and 4 , 862 master ' s degrees had been conferred . Athletics . The school athletic teams are called the Lobos and Lady Lobos . They compete in the NCAA ' s Division III and are charter members of the American Southwest Conference . Sul Ross State University ' s Department of Athletics sponsors men ' s intercollegiate baseball , basketball , cross country , football , tennis , and track and field , along with women ' s softball , cross country , tennis , track and field , and volleyball . Women ' s soccer will be added in the fall of in 2015 . Volleyball In 1970 and 1971 , the women ' s volleyball team won the first two Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Volleyball National Championships . The AWAI governed women ' s sports prior to NCAA recognition . Sul Ross State defeated UCLA and Long Beach State , respectively , in the championship matches . In addition , Sul Ross won Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association Conference Championship in 1976 , 1977 , 1979 , 1980 , 1981 , 1982 , 1984 , 1985 , 1986 , and 1991 . Football In 2007 , it was announced that 59 - year - old Mike Flynt would be joining the Sul Ross football team . He had played college football when he was originally enrolled in college and his athletic eligibility had not expired . . Baseball The Lobos home park , Kokernot Field , was the host for the first ever NAIA Baseball World Series . " Texas Monthly " called Kokernot Field the Yankees Stadium of Texas . Men ' s Basketball Championships Women ' s Basketball Championships Tennis Championships Track and Field Championships Cross country Softball Sul Ross began playing softball in 1996 . Women ' s Soccer Sul Ross State University recently hired Don Koontz as its first Head Women ' s Soccer Coach . Men ' s Golf Sul Ross captured the 1985 TIAA Golf Championship , but has subsequently dropped the program . Intercollegiate Rodeo Sul Ross was a founding member of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association and has a long and successful history with seven national titles , placing in the top 10 at the College National Finals Rodeo 33 times , and having six all - around cowboys and cowgirls . Notable athletes and coaches Paul Pierce participated in football and basketball , and graduated in 1938 with his bachelor of science degree in chemistry . In 1946 , Pierce was hired at his alma mater to rebuild a football program that was discontinued during WWII . He guided the Lobos to 18 consecutive wins , four conference championships , and two bowl games , including the 1949 Tangerine Bowl . He returned to Sul Ross in 1968 as a professor of health and education and chairman of the physical education department . Although better known for his football teams , he had an outstanding record at Sul Ross as the women ' s volleyball coach . From 1971 - 75 , he directed them to the national tournament three times , won the national championship , and placed fifth in the nation twice . Norm Cash was selected All - Lone Star Conference in football and baseball . He was drafted by the Chicago Bears as a running back in 1955 , but declined to play pro football . Cash was a first baseman who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers . An outstanding power hitter , his 377 career home runs were the fourth - most by an AL left - handed hitter when he retired , behind Babe Ruth , Ted Williams , and Lou Gehrig ; his 373 home runs with the Tigers rank second in franchise history behind his teammate Al Kaline ( 399 ) . He also led the AL in assists three times and fielding percentage twice ; he ranked among the all - time leaders in assists ( fourth , 1317 ) and double plays ( 10th , 1347 ) upon his retirement , and was fifth in AL history in games at first base ( 1943 ) . Gene Alford ( football ) QB Portsmith Spartans NFL 1931 - 33 and Cincinnati / St . Louis 1934 Don Bingham ( football ) RB Chicago Bears 1956 , BC Lions 1958 John Hatley ( football ) OL / DL Chicago Bears 1953 - 1955 and Denver Broncos 1960 Alfredo Avila ( football ) DB Washington Redskins and San Antonio Toros , Little All - America in 1965 and 1966 , set a national record with five interceptions in a 1965 game against East Texas State , claimed 36 career interceptions , still a school record Randall Carroll ( football ) DB free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings 2014 Larry Jackson ( basketball ) ninth - round draft choice Atlanta Hawks 1970 Scott Kubosh ( baseball ) All - Conference shortstop 1999 , ASC Western Division Player of the year 1999 , Pittsburgh Pirates organization with the Johnstown Johnnies of the Frontier League 1999 - 2000 Dakota Dill ( baseball ) Atlanta Braves organization with Danville Braves of the Appalachian League 2013 Derrick Bernard ( baseball and football ) New York Mets organization with the Port St . Lucie Mets of the Gulf Coast League Dominique Carson ( football ) , 2014 CPIFL Rookie of the Year , RB Dodge City Law , during his final season with the Lobos , Carson led all NCAA Division III players with 2368 all purpose yards . He tied the NCAA record for touchdowns in a game when he scored eight times in a 70 - 65 victory at Texas Lutheran . Mychal Pinson ( basketball ) Soles de Mexicali in the Ligo Nacional de Baloncestro Profesional Mexico . Student housing . Student housing is located at Lobo Village . Lobo Village 1 ( LV1 ) and Lobo Village 2 ( LV2 ) are the permanent resident halls for students . Students under the age of 21 who have not lived on campus for four fall or spring semesters are required to live in these halls , unless they get exceptions from the Residential Living office . Fletcher Hall is a temporary overflow facility when all space at LV1 and LV2 is occupied . Students at Fletcher Hall are required to move to LV1 or LV2 when space becomes available in those areas . Single students may live in the Lobo Village efficiency apartments in Lobo Village 3 and Lobo Village 4 . To live in these apartments , students are required to be 21 or older . Family housing , for couples and students with dependent children , is located in Lobo Village 5 , Lobo Village 6 , and Lobo Village 7 . Residents of the family housing are zoned to the Alpine Independent School District , and are zoned to Alpine Elementary School , Alpine Middle School , and Alpine High School . Rio Grande College of Uvalde , Del Rio , and Eagle Pass . Sul Ross State University operates Rio Grande College on the campuses of Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde , Del Rio , and Eagle Pass . Rio Grande College offers a limited number of both undergraduate and graduate programs . Sul Ross Law Enforcement Academy . The academy provides training to rural and small - town law enforcement agencies .