Throughout the summer, GoMason.com will introduce the 12 other members of the Atlantic 10 Conference, in the order they joined the conference. We conclude with VCU.
VCU Rams
Location: Richmond, Va.
Enrollment: 31,752
Colors: Black & Gold
Fight Song: Ram Fight Song
Distance from Fairfax: 98 miles
Athletics Website: http://www.VCUathletics.com
Twitter Handle: @VCUathletics
Joined A-10: 2012
Mason Connection: VCU head baseball coach Shawn Stiffler graduated from Mason in 2001; VCU assistant baseball coach Jeff Palumbo graduated from Mason in 2004
Notable Alumni:
- Hunter “Patch” Adams – doctor, social activist and clown and subject of movie Patch Adams
- Gerald Henderson – former NBA player for Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Seattle SuperSonics and San Antonio Spurs and winner of four NBA Championships
- David Baldacci – author
- Debbie Matenopoulous, TV host
Fun Facts:
-VCU is the second largest four-year public university in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The largest four-year public university in the Commonwealth is George Mason University.
-Officially established through merger of Richmond Professional Institute (RPI) and Medical College of Virginia (MCV) in 1968; however, began in 1838 when Medical Department of Hampden-Sydney College opened in Richmond
-The original school colors were blue and grey until RPI merged with MCV and adopted the current color scheme.
-Rodney the Ram, the official mascot of VCU, was born in 1963 and replaced the early mascot known as the Green Devil. Rodney has had various companion mascots including Rhonda the Ewe and Air Rodney.
