UCSB Gauchos

UCSB began its football in 1921 as the Roadrunners. In 1936, students voted to have the Gaucho as their mascot, based on a popular movie the coeds liked. The program lasted until 1971 when it tried to play as a major university. Without adequate funding, the coaches asked for a student vote to raise fees, which failed, and the program was dropped until 1983 when two students and some local alumni coaches started a club team. Eventually, they were able to get a $1.50 fee increase approved by a student vote and hire a coach. They did well for a decade, moving from club to DIII to DII without offering scholarships until the NCAA required them to join the other sports as a DI, expensive program. Another fee increase vote failed, and the program was dropped again in 1992.

DI 20 team sports Location- Goleta

Total students: 26,179 (fall 2020), undergraduate 23,196, graduate 2,983