Preface

Trinity University is notorious for its excellence as an academic university and being a breeding ground for innovation, success, and change. Throughout the course of Trinity’s rich history, there have been monumental moments that have shifted the landscape of the university in terms of its impact scope, the perception amongst the community, and its reputation throughout the nation. The institution has hosted names like Alice Walton, John Cornyn, Chingo Bling, Henry T. Waskow, John Mackey, Dick Stockton, Michael McCaul, Brian Gottfried, and so much more. If any of these names are foreign, a brief search on the Internet would do great justice to familiarize themselves with these historical names. Nonetheless, Trinity University has incubated success ranging from the richest woman in America, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, senators, United States Representatives, professional athletes, world-renown musicians, and more. However, despite the insanely successful resume for the achievements associated with post-graduate success and academic landmarks, the sports aspect of Trinity’s history has been rather fragmented when looking at a historical horizon.  

There have been moments that asserted Trinity with the most elite program, moments of falling from the heights of success, and times of extended failure. However, this exhibit investigates the specific period of Trinity’s history surrounding the 1990s and their successful reign over the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (further known as “SCAC”). Furthermore, this exhibit will argue that the SCAC’s President Trophy served as an influential factor to Trinity University’s athletic success and propelled the university’s program in a multitude of areas that altered the perception on campus and abroad during the 1990s. This includes encouraging top-level athletes to further their education and athletic endeavors at Trinity. Not only did this impact serve the athletic department, but also the academic aspects of the institution. This is an element of Trinity’s history that has not yet been explicitly dissected and proves to be a central aspect of the turning of recent success and attaining the goals set forth by the administration.