College Basketball: Blue Devils, Hoyas and the 25 Oddest Team Names and Mascots
Blue Devils. Whether you love or hate Duke, that's a cool nickname for a sports team, you have to admit.
But, what exactly is a Blue Devil?
Or a Hoya? Outside of college basketball, have you ever heard of such a thing?
Hokies? Billikens? Catamounts? Salukis? The list goes on.
What's a Nittany, as in Nittany Lion? Where did they get that name Crimson Tide, anyway?
Here's the 25 most unusual, offbeat Division I College Basketball team nicknames and their origins. Along the way, take a look at each team's (often equally odd) mascot.
Texas A&M AGGIES
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To many, Aggies is not an unusual nickname for a college sports team, but ask many urbanites what an "Aggie" is and you may be met with a blank stare.
"Aggie" is a play on the word "agriculture." The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas was founded in 1876 and specialized in farming and military education. By 1963, the university had expanded well beyond its original focus and was renamed Texas A&M (the A&M a nod to the past).
Mascot: Reveille VIII. In 1931, school band members were returning from a party and accidentally hit a black and white mutt. They snuck the injured pooch back to the dorm, but their cover was blown when "Reveille" was trumpeted in the morning. The recovered pup would soon after lead the band onto the football field during half-time. From Reveille III on, the mascots have been Collies. All Reveilles are Cadet Generals and are female. When the time comes to go to dog heaven, Reveille, who also cheers on the basketball team, is buried in a cemetery just outside Kyle Field.
Saint Louis BILLIKENS
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What on earth is this?
It's a Billiken.
A "Billiken" is a lucky charm doll that visited St. Louis native Florence Pretz in a dream in the early 1900's. It has some similarities to kewpie troll dolls and cheerful Buddhas. Pretz patented the doll in 1908. If you rub its belly you get good luck.
Mascot: The Billiken was chosen in 1911 because it resembled football head coach John Bender.
Duke BLUE DEVILS
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I thought devils were red. What's this "Blue" Devil?
Blue Devils are dainty little flowering plants native to Australia that sport pretty blue and white flowers.
Kidding. Well, that is true, but that's not where Duke got its nickname. The "Blue Devils" or "les Diables Bleus" were a famous-at-the-time World War I French battalion that bravely fought in the Alps. They wore blue berets and capes.
Mascot: The Blue Devil. The team got its nickname back in 1924 when the school newspaper selected "Blue Devils" a year after a poorly-organized vote failed to come up with a winner.
* Honorable Mention: DePaul Blue Demons. In 1900, DePaul devised athletic uniforms with a big letter "D" on them. Subsequently players became known as "D-Men," which sounds like, and morphed into, "Demon." Blue is one of the school's official colors. The mascot is DIBS (Demon In a Blue Suit).
Vermont CATAMOUNTS
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A Catamount sounds like some sort of mechanical contraption or seafaring vehicle, but it's a lot simpler than that: it's a cat.
More precisely, "catamount," refers to medium-sized wildcats like the cougar or lynx. Decades ago mountain lions inhabited Vermont and the cat was chosen as mascot due to its fierce reputation.
Mascot: Rally (Rally Cat) was introduced in 2004 when the University of Vermont retired long-time mascots Charlie and Kitty Catamount.
Coastal Carolina CHANTICLEERS
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Chanticleer is a fancy way of saying "rooster." I guess in this case, an odd aqua-green one with a mohawk.
There's a little more history than that, though. "Chauntecleer," a strutting rooster, is the main character in The Nun's Priest's Tale of the Cock and the Hen from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, a fable about talking animals.
Coastal Carolina teams were originally called the Trojans, but they changed their name after affiliating with the University of South Carolina in 1960 to something more similar to USC's mascot, the Gamecocks. CC has since split from USC, but has kept the mascot.
Mascot: Chauncey the Chanticleer
Alabama CRIMSON TIDE
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Crimson Tide? Sounds biblical, like one of the plagues or something.
But the Alabama football team acquired the name for the school after a hard-fought, muddy Alabama-Auburn game.
The team's original nicknames, "Crimson White" and the "Thin Red Line," gave way to "Crimson Tide" following the 1907 contest. Hugh Roberts, sports editor of the Birmingham Age-Herald, coined the phrase after Alabama held favorite Auburn to a tie in the red mud.
Mascot: Big Al. What the? It's an elephant. In 1930, as the Alabama football team rumbled onto the field a spectator shouted, "...the elephants are coming!" Soon after, the sports press referred to the team as "the red elephants." Big Al was named by a student vote in 1979.
Wake Forest DEMON DEACONS
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"Demon" and "Deacon" - not exactly chocolate and peanut butter.
Wake Forest was founded as a Baptist college. In the late 1800's Wake Forest College's mascot was the tiger. But in 1923, Mayon Parker, editor of the school newspaper began calling them the "Demon Deacons" thanks to their "devilish" play.
Mascot: The Demon Deacon made his first appearance in 1941, when Jack Baldwin and some fraternity brothers put together a homemade get-up.
Santa Barbara GAUCHOS
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"Gaucho" is a term used to describe South American cowboys of the 19th century, similar to American cowboys.
In 2009, UCSB rebranded their athletic teams under one name: "Gauchos"
Mascot: Ole' made his debut in '09 as well. Unofficially, Santa Barbara has another mascot, the Fantom of the Thunderdome.
Canisius GOLDEN GRIFFINS
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A griffin is an ancient mythical beast with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.
A Golden Griffin is the cheerfully yellow mascot of Canisius University. Got the tail and everything. It became the school's nickname in 1932 (or 1933) after Charles Brady wrote about LaSalle's ship "Le Griffon" in an article celebrating Buffalo's 100th Anniversary.
Mascot: The Golden Griffin
Virginia Tech HOKIES
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I wouldn't wear this outfit close to Thanksgiving, that's for sure.
"Hokie," by definition, is an emotional cheer, like "Yeah!" or "Hooray!"
In 1896, a contest was held to come up with a spirit yell for the school. This was the winner:
Hoki, Hoki, Hoki, Hy.
Techs, Techs, V.P.I.
Sola-Rex, Sola-Rah.
Polytechs - Vir-gin-ia.
Rae, Ri, V.P.I.
Mascot: Hokie Bird made its first appearance in the 1960's. Originally, the Virgina Tech mascot was the turkey, and they were known as the "Fighting Gobblers." Even though the nickname changed to "Hokie," the school kept the turkey connection. For more on the Hokie Bird and a look at the costumed mascot, click here.
Indiana HOOSIERS
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Everyone knows that "Hoosier" is synonymous with Indiana, but why?
This is what residents of Indiana call themselves. They are not "Indianians" (a la "New Yorkers" or "Texans").
There are multiple theories as to where this word originated and how it came to be associated with Indiana. If you have the time, read Indiana University's Jeffrey Graf's superb essay on the origin of the word "Hoosier."
Mascot: None. Perhaps one day there will be a fuzzy red animal patrolling the court, hopefully not.
Georgetown HOYAS
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Q: What's a Hoya?
A: Yes.
If Abbot and Costello had done a college basketball team routine instead of baseball, the Hoyas would feature. Back in the 1870's Georgetown sports teams were known as the "Stonewalls." A short time later, in the 1890's, students came up with the clever Greek/Latin chant "Hoya Saxa," still in use today, which means roughly "What Rocks!" So, "Hoya" means "What."
In 1926, "Hoyas" became the official school nickname.
Mascot: Jack the Bulldog. As early as the late 1800's, Georgetown began having a dog as an unofficial mascot on-and-off, including some named "Hoya," though not all were bulldogs. The costumed fellow made his first appearance in 1977.
Manhattan JASPERS
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In the late 1800's Brother Jasper was the Prefect of Discipline and coach of the Manhattan College baseball team. They were called the "Jaspers."
Brother Jasper has another claim to fame. In 1882, during a close game on a hot day, he called a time-out in the seventh inning and asked the students and fans to stretch in one of the supposed origins of a great American tradition.
Mascot: None
Virginia Military Institute KEYDETS
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VMI's team nickname is the "Keydets," southern-drawl for "Cadets."
Mascot: Moe the Kangaroo. In 1947, two cheerleaders noted how unusual a mascot a kangaroo would be and went on to get a hold of a live one, who at first was named "TD Bound" by a school contest. Later the name was changed to "Moe." The costumed kangaroo made its first appearance in the 1970's.
North Texas MEAN GREEN
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A lot of college nicknames have colors: that's not so odd. But a "mean" color? That's different...and so is the connection to one of its most famous alumni.
North Texas' nickname used to be the "Eagles," but in 1966 the North Texas football team, in particular the defense, was so fierce the name "Mean Green" began to catch on.
And who played left tackle for the Mean Green that year? Yup, "Mean" Joe Greene - his nickname a derivation of his alma mater.
Mascot: Scrappy. In 1922, a school vote selected an eagle as mascot, beating out a dragon and lion. In the 1960's, the suited-up Scrappy flew onto the scene.
Chattanooga MOCS
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The "Mocs," originally "Moccasins" until 1996, is supposed to have gotten its name from the "Moccasin Bend" in the Tennessee river nearby. They have been represented by numerous mascots, including a moccasin snake, shoes for a time, a Cherokee tribesman, and finally the current mockingbird (Tennessee's state bird).
Mascot: Scrappy the Mocking Bird came along with the name change in 1996. He's dressed as a railroad engineer; Chattanooga was once a railroad hub. Scrappy is an homage to football coach A.C. "Scrappy" Moore.
Penn State NITTANY LIONS
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What's a "Nittany?" [Jeopardy music]. It's a mountain.
Nearby Mount Nittany lends its name to the Penn State mascot. Apparently, mountain lions used to prowl on the mountain.
In 1907, Penn State senior H.D. Mason dreamed up the Nittany Lion. He was inspired to come up with a school mascot after encountering the Princeton Tiger a few years earlier.
Mascot: The Nittany Lion has donned its gear since 1923.
Syracuse ORANGE
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Sure there are plenty of color references in team nicknames, but only one to "Orange" in Division I basketball.
In 1890, Syracuse adopted orange as it's official color and their teams became known as the "Orangemen" or "Orangewomen". In 2004, they changed the name to the more wieldy and gender-neutral "Orange."
Mascot: Otto the Orange. Syracuse has had numerous mascots over the years including the "Saltine Warrior" and a Roman Warrior, but finally settled on Otto in 1982 (unofficially) and officially by vote in 1995 (over a wolf and lion).
Furman PALADINS
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The Paladins were warriors of Charlemagne's court. In the 1930's Furman's basketball team was first referred to as "the Paladins" in the press.
Mascot: Pass (who rides Goliath) was introduced in 1961 when a student vote selected "Paladins" to be the official team name for all sports.
Southern Illinois SALUKIS
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Egad. What manner of beast is this?
Clyde Frazier will tell you it's a Saluki, a rather fascinating dog. One of the oldest breeds, its likeness appears on Egyptian tombs over 4,000 years old. For that reason, it is also called "The Royal Dog of Egypt."
The area known as "Southern Illinois" has been called "Little Egypt" since the 1830's, and in 1951 SIU chose "Salukis" to be their nickname.
Mascot: The Saluki Dog
Wichita State SHOCKERS
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This guy's using too much conditioner.
"Shocking" is a term for harvesting wheat. At the turn of the century, Wichita State football games were played on a recently shocked field that still had wheat stubs left over. Old school.
WSU's teams were originally called the "Wheatshockers," later shortened to "Shockers."
Mascot: WuShock. In 1948, WWII veteran Wilbur Elsea won a competition to come up with a mascot.
Oklahoma SOONERS
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What's a Sooner? It's a settler who entered the lands of what would eventually be called Oklahoma. More specifically, they entered the land before it was "legally" authorized by Congress to do so.
Oklahoma stuck with the name "Sooners," in 1908 after trying out "Rough Riders" and "Boomers" earlier in its history.
Mascot: Sooner (and Boomer). The Sooner Schooner, pulled by live horses Sooner and Boomer, have been a fixture of Oklahoma football games since 1964. In 2005, OU introduced the costumed mascots.
Arizona State SUN DEVILS
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A "Sun Devil" is a made-up character that was contrived by Connecticut sportswriter Ryan Drost.
In 1946, the Sun Devil was officially adopted as Arizona State's mascot. Sparky was designed by Bert Anthony, a former Disney cartoonist. Word is, he drew it to look a little like Walt himself. Hmm.
Mascot: Sparky
North Carolina TAR HEELS
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Tar Heel? Is that a sailor's shoe? No.
Similar to Indiana's "Hoosier," North Carolina residents refer to themselves as "Tar Heels." NC is also known as the "Tar Heel State." There's a long history why, including the fact that North Carolina was a big producer of tar in the 18th century - find out more here.
UNC was founded in 1795, right on the "heels" of NC's reputation as the biggest producer of tar.
Mascot: Rameses (the Ram). In 1924, UNC's football coach began bringing a live ram to games against the Virginia Military Institute for good luck. One of the Tar Heels' players, and the inspiration for the trick, was Jack "The Battering Ram" Merrit.
Akron ZIPS
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Zips? I hope they're not referring to the score.
In 1925, contest winner Margaret Hamlin's suggestion "Zippers" became Akron's nickname. A Zipper was a rubber overshoe made by BF Goodrich that was wildly popular at the time.
In 1950, the name was shortened to "Zips."
Mascot: Zippy the Kangaroo was chosen by a school committee in 1953. She is one of the few female mascots and won the 2007 Capital One Mascot of the Year challenge, going undefeated.
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