| has gloss | eng: La Salle Universitys 23 varsity sports teams, known as the Explorers, compete in the NCAAs Division I and are a member of the Atlantic Ten Conference. The American football team previously played in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League and competed in the Division I-Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA). The mens and womens basketball teams are also part of the Philadelphia Big 5. The Explorers nickname derives from a famous mistake made by a local Philadelphia sportswriter. The writer thought the university was named after the French explorer Sieur de La Salle, when in fact it is named after St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle. However, the nickname caught on, and has remained ever since. La Salles teams have won two national championships: The 1954 NCAA Mens Division I Basketball Tournament and the 1980 AIAW Field Hockey Championship. The school also won the 1952 National Invitation Tournament before the tournament became considered "second rate". La Salles major historic rival has been the Hawks of the Saint Josephs University, especially in men's basketball. Not only are both schools situated in Philadelphia, but they are also both Catholic, private institutions. |
