Rolando V. de la Rosa, who was appointed in 1991 recalled in a speech to the school's administrators and faculty members during his 2007 Rector's Report on how UST's present Growling Tigers moniker came to be.

A “fat Dominican friar” who was carrying bags of gold had come out with the other mascots and drew a lot of laughter from the crowd in attendance.

[4] Mrs. Felicitas Francisco, directress of the PE department, suggested the tiger as the new mascot due to its gold and white colors.

[5] The High School boys' team followed suit by changing their name from the "Golden Nuggets" to the "Tiger Cubs".

[6] The names of the University of Santo Tomas collegiate varsity teams that participate in the 15 UAAP sporting events are shown in the table below.

[7] In 1993 the Growling Tigers finished the double-round eliminations with a rare 14–0 sweep and were declared automatic champions of the UAAP Season 56 men's tournament.

The Tigers faced and defeated the De La Salle Green Archers for three consecutive finals series.

UST also won double championships in Seasons 58 and 69 with the Growling Tigers and the Tigresses winning both their division titles in both years.

The UST Tigress Cubs girls' basketball team were declared co-champions with Adamson in Season 82's inaugural exhibition tournament after the deciding Game three of their finals series was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[12] In its second year, the UST Growling Tigers ended up tied with the UP Fighting Maroons and the De La Salle Green Archers at 3 wins and 3 losses behind the undefeated Ateneo Blue Eagles.

The women's team of Sai Larosa, Tantoy Ferrer, Lon Rivera and Carol Sangalang also tied UE and Adamson's 4–3 record behind the undefeated and defending champions, the NU Lady Bulldogs.

[18] The men's team were back-to-back UNIGAMES champions in 2016[19] and 2017, while the Tigresses have a total of six volleyball championships, beginning in 2009 and capped by a three-peat from 2016 until 2018.

The Lady Spikers made history by winning their fourth-straight UAAP beach volleyball championship in Season 82.

[27] The UST Lady Booters won their first UAAP title in 2009, 14 years after women's football became an official sport in the league.

UST's off-season training includes participation in the UNIGAMES, Ang Liga, the PFF Women's League, the Pinas Cup, and the Metro Manila Girls Football Association.

[29] The official Pep Squad and Drumline, the UST Yellow Jackets, and the official dance troupe, the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe have won the UAAP Cheerdance Competition a league-leading eight times and holds the record for the longest championship run for five consecutive years (2002 to 2006).

Their closest rival is the UP Pep Squad, which has been a consistent runner-up until 2007 when they snatched the title by a very thin margin from the Salinggawi Dance Troupe, which finished second.