title: CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves
text: # CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves
  
  The Colorado State University Pueblo ThunderWolves (shortened to CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves in their athletics context) are the athletic teams at Colorado State University Pueblo. The ThunderWolves are a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. They were previously known as the University of Southern Colorado Indians and then the University of Southern Colorado ThunderWolves. The program includes 7 men's sports: baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, tennis, and wrestling. The women's program has 8 sports: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball and track. Dropped following the 1984 season, football returned in 2008 and the team posted a 4–6 record. The ThunderWolves won the 2014 NCAA Division II Football National Championship, its first in football program history, by blanking previously undefeated Minnesota State University, Mankato 13–0.
  
  ## Conference affiliations
  
  * 1938–39 to 1962–63 – NJCAA Independent
  * 1963–64 to 1966–67 – NAIA Independent
  * 1967–68 to 1971–72 – Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference - Plains Division
  * 1972–73 to 1975–76 – Great Plains Athletic Conference
  * 1976–77 to 1989–90 – Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
  * 1990–91 to 1995–96 – Colorado Athletic Conference
  * 1996–97 to Present – Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
  
  ## History
  
  ### 1980s
  
  In 1984, the school ended its football and baseball programs due to budget cuts.
  
  ### 1990s
  
  In 1994, Dan DeRose, the athletic director, re-established the school's baseball program and had a new stadium complex built for baseball.
  
  ### 2000s
  
  CSU Pueblo saw the return of football in 2008 with the construction and completion of its new football stadium, the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl.
  
  ### 2010s to present
  
  CSU Pueblo announced further restoration of athletic programs under new president Lesley Di Mare.
  
  ## Mascot
  
  The ThunderWolves mascot is Wolfie.
  
  