The Saint Peter's Peacocks are the sixteen
intercollegiate athletic teams that represent
Saint Peter's University, located in
. The Peacocks compete in the
NCAA Division I
NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest division of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major collegiate athlet ...
and are founding members of the
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). They previously competed in the
Metropolitan Collegiate Conference (MCC) from 1965 to 1969.
Nickname and mascot history
From 1918 to 1930, the then College, closed due to the impact of
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
and because Jesuit superiors wanted to concentrate their manpower in other colleges on the East Coast. As noted in the college yearbook, “The classrooms went empty. The faculty closed their markbooks, and left for the battlefields.”
In 1930, with Rev. Robert I. Gannon, S.J., as Dean, Saint Peter's re-opened on the fourth floor of the Chamber of Commerce Building in
Downtown Jersey City, and women were admitted to the Evening Session for the first time.
With the rebirth of Saint Peter's in 1930, Rev. Gannon named the
Peacock
Peafowl is a common name for two bird species of the genus '' Pavo'' and one species of the closely related genus '' Afropavo'' within the tribe Pavonini of the family Phasianidae (the pheasants and their allies). Male peafowl are referred t ...
the official mascot of the college, reflecting the spirit of “resurrection and eternal life.” The peacock also ties Saint Peter's to the settling of Jersey City, originally called “
Pavonia,” or “Land of the Peacock”.
The Saint Peter's University
mascot is Peter the Peacock. The updated mascot was introduced on April 20, 2016, on the first annual Peacock Pride Day to celebrate the legacy and birthday of the late Dean, Rev. Gannon, S.J. and “Founding Father” of the peacock being chosen as a symbol of Saint Peter's.
Teams
A member of the
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Saint Peter's sponsors teams in eight men's and eight women's NCAA sanctioned sports:
Discontinued teams
Football
The Peacocks football program ran from 1971 to 2006.
Tennis
The Peacocks men's and women's tennis team were discontinued in 2018.
Women's bowling
The Peacocks women's bowling team was discontinued following the 2017–18 season.
Facilities
The Peacocks play at two main athletic facilities.
Joseph J. Jaroschak Field in nearby Lincoln Park, is home to the baseball, softball, and men's and women's soccer teams. The
Victor R. Yanitelli, S.J. Recreational Life Center is located on campus and is home to the swimming and diving teams with the volleyball and men's and women's basketball teams playing their home games in Run Baby Run Arena. The Yanitelli Center is also home to a number of club and
intramural teams.
Prior to the opening of the Yanitelli Center on campus in 1975, Saint Peter's used the nearby
Jersey City Armory as the home arena for its men's and women's basketball teams and still occasionally use the venue for high-profile games.
References
External links
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Saint Peter's Peacocks
Saint Peter's University