St. Louis University's nickname was derived from the popular charm dolls created by St. Louis art teacher Florence Pretz in the early 1900s. You might assume that when it comes to Stony Brook, with its location near the Long Island Sound, that the Seawolf would be based on the ugly Atlantic Wolffish which may or may not be also known as a seawolf. In addition, the Arizona Cardinals use the facility during summer training camp when the weather outside is unbearable. It's a replica nineteenth-century steam locomotive that, quite frankly, could easily squash the mascots of most of the schools on this list. https://www.thoughtco.com/strangest-division-i-team-names-788263 (accessed March 2, 2023). Why? 85. In 1977, the Keydets went 26-4, and reached the NCAA Tournament again. It looks like one of those giant stuffed animals you win in a bingo game at the county fair. D1 NCAA. Of course the Saint Louis University Billikens had to make this list of strange team names and mascots. And once Minnesota became the Gopher State, it didn't take long for the University of Minnesota athletic teams to become the Gophers. For them to remove the logos would be very costly as a result. Sanit Louis' most successful athletic program is men's soccer. A decade before he led Virginia Commonwealth to the Final Four, Shaka Smart was a low-level member of Dayton's staff who had been handed a frustrating task by his boss, coach Oliver Purnell. Gorlock made his official debut in 1988. Language. Sharps are targeting this random game in the Colonial Athletic Conference between teams that have been struggling all year. It's a big deal, but at the same time, it is what it is. Northern Arizona boasts a huge timber dome, the Walkup Skydomethat's used for football and basketball. But then again, mascot antics aren't a beauty contest, are they? Bill Self said he switched to a Wilson basketball in recent years because it's used in the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments, and that if the NCAA ever switched to a different basketball in the postseason, he'd switch to the same ball. I have some serious qualms with Demon Deacon up there. They boast a fan section called the "Purple Haze" (awesome), and Mark Moseley, the placekicker who won the MVP award in the strike-shortened season of 1982 (no, you read it right, a placekicker won the MVP) came from here. The reasons I have a question mark to this is because North Dakota University is in a mess right now. 8 points. "I was lukewarm on The Rock," Novak said. They won the National Championship in 1989, and have earned runner-up honors in 1982, 1991, and 1993. A pair of stats to keep in the back of your head while watching: Loyola Chicago is worst in college basketball in turnovers per game, with 15.4 on average. Image Quiz. Beavers call their athletic teams the Engineerssome mascots have just a little too much connotation attached to them. 2 seed Villanova and advanced into the Sweet Sixteen), and have been in both ESPN and the Associated Press' Top 25 polls. When an obscure non board team is playing a known one, then, its important to be able to quickly get a sense of how good the team is. Former Wisconsin power forward Nigel Hayes remembers when his coach, Bo Ryan, took advantage of the NCAA rules and used a basketball made by a small company in Puyallup, Washington, called Sterling. Kent State also has some notable alumni including Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, Chicago Cubs pitcher Andy Sonnanstine, former New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson, and San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (though he didn't play football there; instead, he played basketball). crestview country club events. Still, you'll find that your computer puts red squiggles under the word seawolf, and even the teams that have the mascot don't agree on what it is. Bulldogs. Although most fans don't notice the differences, players accustomed to repetition certainly do. Today's Rowdy is more streamlined and mean-looking, true to what a real roadrunner is. If it varies wildly from game to game then they are subservient to their opponent. The mascot Rameses was inspired by a good luck tradition back in the 1920s, when the Tar Heels brought it to games against Virginia Military Institute. The creature was supposed to bring good luck, and it was once transformed into all kinds of kitschhood ornaments, coin banks, belt buckles, pickle forks, key chains, statuettes, and other forms of eBay treasure. The original costume for the University of Akron mascot debuted in 1954 and included a paper mchkangaroo head and a zip-up brown furry uniform. "Hokies" became Virginia Tech's nickname after O.M. Demon Deacon, Wake Forest University. They have made appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2005, 2008 and 2010 (including a victory over No. Rick Leddy, spokesman for the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), says conversations about a standard ball have been raised but never matured due to the conflicts created by the contracts schools had signed with various apparel companies. Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college. They also won the NCAA Championship in 1984. Quiz Type. The Demon Deacon mascot is a distinguished yet peculiar fellow who sports a top hat and a bow tie, which gives him major style points in my book. You may not associate Ohio with penguins, but perhaps back when Youngstown State University was founded in 1908, Ohio was much colder. With the new name, the school needed a new cheer. Grant Riller, who averaged 21.9 points per game at Charleston last season, said it's a reality that players have to learn to ignore. Trying to draw meaning from looking back at a basketball game . Saint Louis has experienced some. Northern Arizona's team name isn't too bizarre, but it is quite uncommon. Georgia Tech went with a Russell Athletic basketball before making the switch to Adidas apparel last year. Located in Conway, South Carolina, this university is a member of the NCAABig South Conference. Which 16 teams should you buy or fade ahead of March Madness? But coaches make every effort to ensure that their players prepare with the right balls to minimize any advantage for the opposing team, real or imagined. Cornell, however, has a leg up on Dartmouth by having a bear as a mascot. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. At Virginia Military Institute, they're called the "Keydets." In 1976, they reached the NCAA Tournament, beating Tennessee and DePaul, before losing to Rutgers in the Elite Eight. Indiana uses Adidas, too. The Ohio State website answers the common question, what is a buckeye? by OtisBushtail. If you have ever seen the movie Braveheart, you have seen a true Blue Hose." They beat Duquesne in the first round, but lost to National Champion runner-up Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen. They went with the name "Sycamores" due to the large abundance of sycamore trees in Indiana and around the university. The term "Hoya" is actually derived from a Latin and Greek-mixed chant "Hoya Saxa," which means "What Rocks. First, the mascot came from a 1923 write-up after Wake Forest beat rival school Trinity (now Duke University), when the editor of the paper referred to the football team as the Demon Deacons for their devilish play. Get the latest NCAA basketball news, scores, stats, standings, and more from ESPN. Now, I have no idea if this story is true or if he was just pulling my leg, but if it is true, that is one of the silliest, yet mostawesome stories I have ever heard. Nevertheless, Tulsa did a good job with the mascot, and the lightning bolt is a nice touch. What's important is that the change was made. Alaska's Seawolf, on the other hand, is based on a Tlingit Indian legend of a mythical sea creature. * The team nickname was changed from "49ers" to "The Beach" after the 2018-2019 season. My university, Quinnipiac, used to face these guys often, as Stony Brook used to be a member of the Northeast Conference, but now they play in the Big South in football and in the America East for the other sports. OSU is consistently one of the top teams in the Midwest, and Brutus is one of the most well-known mascots in the country. Even though the word Hoki had no meaning, the school was not deterred. Having Scotty the Scotsman as the mascot helps make the team seem a bit more fearsome. Sometimes it takes a couple of practices to make that adjustment. English. That's how it's been, so you kinda just work with it.". Look at how they have performed against teams you do know Trying to draw meaning from looking back at a basketball game between two obscure teams is mostly useless because you lack context to make what you learn relevant. Photo circa 1972, by Associated Students of UCLA, 1972 Southern Campus (UCLA yearbook), courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. The consensus: Coaches and players dislike it. 117 straight seasons! 16,643: 4.47: Sports: Dec 17, 2019: College Sports Trios I . 3. College sports are filled with all sorts of traditions and displays of school pride, and some NCAA hoops teams have downright bizarre nicknames and mascots. "It can get weird sometimes, just making the adjustment," Michigan State All-America guard Cassius Winston said before the season. Feeling intimidated? Huggins uses a Spalding ball, but West Virginia has a contract with Nike. UNH and Maine have the longest running rivalry in all of college basketball (excluding Ivy League schools). Other early names include grangers, blacksmiths, railsplitters, cornfield sailors and pumpkin-shuckers, but ultimately, the Boilermaker name stuck. For more information, please see our However, there are some out there that are just outright strange. (2020, August 27). That's where the chaos ensues. Connecticut Huskies Rhode Island . College Basketball Lines, College Grove, Allen. Interestingly, they're a part of three conferences in Division I: the Southern Conference(for wrestling), the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (lacrosse, water polo), and the Big South (everything else). So wait, why don't they just call themselves the Golden Eagles? ", "It was good when we played Wisconsin [with the Sterling ball]," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo quipped. . Duke derived its nickname from a celebrated group of World War I French troops who were dubbed "Les Diables Bleu.". It's not entirely clear whether Stony Brook is worthy of inclusion on this list since the Seawolf really isn't a unique mascot. ", Since then, rivals of Georgetown havemocked its unique team name by chanting, "What's a Hoya?". Basketball Betting Lines, College The name Wichita State Shockers seems to suggest electrocution and an intimidating ability to strike down opponents with a bolt of lightning. It's why you shouldn't suck the liquid out of thermometers or build your house on top of the smokestack of a coal power plant. No, the Blue Hose is not based off a tube like a garden or fire hose, but rather the article ofclothing. For some reason, folks wanted to shorten that 23-syllable name to V.P.I. You will need to read more than the headline on the Presbyterian website to learn that the Hose really does refer to hosiery. The Canterbury Tales. Canisius College's fantasy creature seems like it would be the ultimate predator, but the basketball team hasn't been so threatening; it's 1-15 in the MAAC. Oddly enough, their mascot is named Flash the Golden Eagle. Of course the Saint Louis University Billikens had to make this list of strange team names and mascots. Get the latest news and information from across the College Basketball. The Ball Art. The teams are the Fighting Camels and the Lady Camels, and the mascot is Gaylord the Camel. Some schools nickname themselves after socks, others after plants, and one is even named after a doll. . It's certainly an interesting team name to say the least. So if you like rivers, snakes, birds or trains, Chattanooga is your team. 1. Privacy Policy. Beilein first used the ball as a Division II coach at LeMoyne early in his career. Speaking of which, their mascot isa riverboat gambler; that's pretty awesome. Located in Clinton, South Carolina, Presbyterian is one of several schools on this list that competes in theBig South Conference. Even some of Beilein's former players didn't care for The Rock, though Michigan evolved into a national title contender that finished in the top 50 in field goal percentage inside the arc in seven of Beilein's last nine years with the program. Welcome to March, college basketball fans. During the 2012-13 season, Michigan's opponents made 40.1% of their field goal attempts and only 30.8% of their 3-point attempts with an obscure ball brand called "The Rock" in Ann Arbor's Crisler Arena. By MetsJetsKnicks . "The Nun's Priest's Tale." and our Their most successful program, historically, is wrestling. Is there a forum? The term usually refers to something fast or something that zips up, but the reality for this university seems to be a little of both. John Bender, the football coach at the time, apparently resembled the Billiken dolls. Sports. "I remember that.". Most of you know its recent success in football, but did you know that TCU won two national championships, in 1935 and 1938? We've got work to do!" With all the camels living in the United States, it's surprising that Campbell University is the only school in the country to adopt the camel for the branding of its athletic programs. The biggest supporter of the name was Ralph Englestad, a North Dakota alumni who independently owed casinos in Las Vegas. It was highly used in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, and then diminished from use sometime in the 15th Century. Browse Sports Teams. You can get far more meaning from looking at how the team has performed against teams against which you have at least a passing familiarity of. The ball must also have a circumference of 29.5 to 30 inches. With the college basketball world full of basic bulldogs and every kind of wolf, it's refreshing to see a mysterious foreign canine as the mascot of Southern Illinois. The proliferation of basketballs is tied to the role of shoe companies in college basketball. College Sports Trios II. Simon & Schuster, 1990. On a side note, UC Santa Barbara is the alma mater of former L.A. Laker and three-time NBA champion Brian Shaw. The logo and the mascot, however, are about as unimaginative as it gets. There are, after all, 76 U.S. college teams known as the Eagles. You see, the university is part of the Diocese of Hartford, and the word "hart" according to Webster's Dictionary, means "a male of the European red deer, stag.". When Michigan signed a new deal with Nike in 2016, the apparel giant asked the Wolverines to discontinue use of The Rock and placed language in Michigan's contract that compels the school to use a Nike ball at home. Grove, Allen. "I understand why it happens with some different sponsorships, but I would like to see a standard ball. Chanticleer is a rooster in the Nun's Priest's Tale of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. The actual gauchos from the 1800s were simply cattle-herders, but Santa Barbara's mascot, Ole, looks like a gunslinger who's not to be trifled with. after a fire burned down three school buildings. Youngstown State competes in the NCAAThe Horizon League. Did opposing teams go cold because of the defense they encountered -- or the basketball? Over the past two decades, the university has done well in both men's and women's lacrosse, ice hockey, rowing, track and field andcross country. Despite the fact that nearby Delaware State has played college football since 1924, these two teams didn't play each other until 2007, in the first round of the Subdivision playoffs. Men & Women. After all, it's red. And their university is named after the guy who first created the Stetson hat! In Erie, mascot C. Wolf is a gray wolf dressed as a pirate. Well, Gaels, or Goidels, are speakers of the Goidelic Celtic Languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Obscure College Basketball Alumni Can you match the non-Power Five School to their famous NBA alumni? Look at local and campus newspapers The internet has been a remarkable accomplishment for humanity for countless reasons. Naming your sports teams after extinct prehistoric animals is one way to ensure a spot on this list. And in 2010, they won an NCAA rifling championship, as well. There is a printable worksheet available for download here so you can take the quiz with . ", Nolan Richardson, who coached Arkansas to the 1994 national title, said he never worried about the basketball his team would use whenever it left Fayetteville, though he admits he never liked balls that had "wide seams. Today's Top Quizzes in Sports Teams. The Men's Basketball team at Stanford made $7,768,928 in revenue, while incurring $6,480,368 in expenses. After all, global warming hadn't taken effect yet. But somehow, Northern Arizona and Stephen F. Austin were able to incorporate that. What is known is that in 1946, the school's moniker suddenly changed from the Bulldogs to the Sun Devils. The North Carolina Tar Heels have one of the most successful programs in all of college basketball, and the state of North Carolina itself is nicknamed the "Tar Heel State.". It's a strange name and a strange bird, but the fans in Blacksburg don't care as long as the Hokies can shake things up in the ACC. Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? The origins of the name "Boilermakers" goes as far back as 1891. "I don't like it. The choice of the kangaroo makes a lot of sense because of, um, all the kangaroos running around Eastern Ohio? As with many elements of college basketball, the lack of a standard ball for the regular season -- or a coherent rule around it -- is a conversation that begins with coaches and revolves around business. 9. Instead, their official mascot is the Boilermaker Special, a Victorian-era locomotive that was inspired by the trains that transported teams and fans to other cities for games. There aren't any wild anteaters in California, but UC Irvine adopted the animal as its nickname and mascot anyway. bettors that know the value of their bankroll. At least six members must sponsor five women's sports other than basketball, including two other team sports. College Basketball. A-League teams in Australia and New Zealand. I check ESPN box scores, and these universities/colleges/whatever they are, they don't even have a logo. Theyaverage more than 20,000 people at their home games. Which school calls itself the "Anteaters"? The Wildcats sat at 10-13 on Feb. 4 . Arizona is better known for its plateaus, canyons and deserts, but it's also home to some hardy pine forests, so the logging name captures the wilderness theme of northern Arizona. M ore than 23 years ago, a pair of low-profile junior college basketball teams played a forgotten game on a neutral floor in southeast North Dakota. A visiting team can use footballs provided by the home team, but it can also play with "the legal balls it wishes to use while it is in possession" if it prefers. The Shockers are a member of the NCAAAmerican Athletic Conference. I check ESPN box scores, and these universities/colleges/whatever they are, they don't even have a logo. by Noodle33. If they keep it up, the 2011 NIT champions will have an opportunity to harvest a few wins in the NCAA Tournament this spring. But football is not the only thing this university has been successful at. There are a few big universities out there that have bass fishing teams, some even give scholarships to the athletes. 2m. A "buckeye" is the seed or nut from an aesculus plant, the official state tree of Ohio. This is the story he gave me, which I will remember for a long time: "Thousands of years ago, there was a tired, old ram, roaming what is now North Carolina, in search of food. NCAA Division I Basketball Colleges. . "One day, he found a large field, filled with food for him to eat, but he had to cross a huge tar pit in order to get there. There's no doubt about it. It's been a battle this university has faced for years. P.S. "I get it," he said. Basketball Trend Sheet, How For the naysayers who think that a broccoli mascot lacks the ability to evoke fear in a rival team, you could visit any school and witness how the students avoid broccoli almost religiously. ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/strangest-division-i-team-names-788263. In the meantime you can find previous season rankings by using the "Year" links on the left. When I picture a Seawolf, I picture a wolf whose legs also double as fins, and he goes deep-sea diving for food. The 12 most-used names of four-year college teams (including names with attached adjectives such as "Blue", "Golden", "Flying" or "Fighting"): Eagles (118), Hawks (106), Tigers (72), Lions (65), Bulldogs (58), Cougars (58), Panthers (55), Bears (54), Knights (50), Wildcats (42), Warriors (41), and Pioneers (36). Nerdier yet,you might think of the Mad Hatter who battled Batman in DC comics. Granted, buckeyes are not edible, so the label is a bit more effective than other possibilities like the Ohio State Cashews or Ohio State Macadamias. However, such an assumption would be only partly correct. Ideally, I like to look at a couple of recaps. Now that you're fully satisfied with an explanation of the methodology used, here is the list, arranged alphabetically. Grove, Allen. Joe Bryant and Kobe Bryant Rick Barry and Brent Barry Matt Guokas Sr. and Matt Guokas Jr. Bill Walton and Luke Walton 3. Virginia Tech's old nickname used to be the "Fighting Gobblers," which is why the turkey-ish maroon bird, HokieBird, is the mascot. What if other schools used a play on words to create their names like St. Bonaventure did? Sports. They've ranked in the top ten in the nation for three consecutive years and have faced the likes of teams such as Ohio State and California in recent years. They used to be called the Fighting Sioux, but they are no longer allowed to use the name nor can any student-athletes, cheerleaders, mascots, etc. In fact, the Ohio State Buckeyes basketball team and its Brutus the Buckeye mascot are a pretty big deal. 1) lays it out simply: "The ball shall be spherical. The college basketball game to watch on Thursday evening? "The Rock," Baylor's Scott Drew said. Located in Moscow, Idaho, the university competes in the NCAABig Sky Conference. Please check back soon. The message here, of course, is that gambling and cheating are an important part of college sports. "See, I do think it makes a difference," Self said. But he isn't convinced that his program's basketball helped him or his teammates. Paul's study found that teams using a different ball on the road could experience more than a one-point differential from their "expected scoring," the latter gleaned from betting data, Paul said. So I don't think it's going to change. Let's find out, as we take a look at the 25 wackiest names and mascots in college basketball. "I do recall some comments several years ago about teams using balls linked with apparel companies throughout the season and then having to switch to a Wilson ball for the NCAA tournament," Leddy said. Team Logos. College Basketball, How Sports Bettors Use Big Betting Line Moves, Understanding Baseball Runline - Alternate Bet. Because Stetsonswere a type of hat that people wore in theOld West, and their name is called the Hatters. 1) lays it out simply: "The ball shall be spherical. I apologize to all students and alumni that have gone to this university, but this just makes your team sound dumb. Also, no disrespect to any Stag students and alumni, but that must be the cuddliest-looking college mascot I've ever seen. Any use of this information in violation of any state, The favored team was a school best known for . NCAA School. By 1915, it made it onto the seal, but it wasn't until after World War II, when the Texas horned lizard popped up everywhere. Early in the 20th century, Virginia Tech called its teams the Fighting Gobblers, and by the late 20th century, the Hokie and the Gobbler were combined to create the HokieBird, the turkey-like in the illustration above. But today. They've also won six national titles, their last in 2003. Eagles. Why are NCAA basketball rules different? The school's mascot is called Super Frog, and he's one of the spookiest-looking amphibians I've ever seen. Men's College Basketball News. His deal with Anaconda Sports persisted after Michigan signed its megadeal with Nike three years ago. 2021-22 NFL Playoff Teams Minefield. Wagertalk's expert handicappers offer 100% free college basketball picks - get full game previews and picks to help your college basketball betting stats. Akron's logo (on Zippy the mascot's shirt) is snazzy, but the actual name and mascot are better suited for a children's cartoon than a college basketball team. But you start dealing with 'This school is with Nike, this school is with Under Armour.' The ram decided tocross it because he believed that if he did not cross the pit, he would die. One of the recruiters was from the University of North Carolina, and I asked this question. Naming your team after a pair of blue socks or stockings isn't exactly intimidating, but that's exactly what Big South competitor Presbyterian did. They regularly get blown out by 40, 50+ points For example, these were some of them these past couple of days: Ave Maria Gallaudet University Pfeiffer Misericordia Brescia University According to Presbyterian College's website, the Blue Hose nickname originated in the early twentieth century when Presbyterian's athletic director changed the school's uniform color to blue, and players wore blue jerseys and blue stockings. Back in 1950 the Beavers were led by head coach Nat Holman who was one of the greatest innovators in the game at the time. Another possibility is that people in the Ivy League really don't care all that much about athletics. However, don't let it's odd team name fool you; Georgetown has done very well as a member of the Big East Conference. Northwestern and Maryland use balls provided by Under Armour, their apparel manufacturer. Thus, Campbell's sports teams became the Fighting Camels, even though there's not a wild camel or a desert within a thousand miles of North Carolina. Purdue, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, ranks among the top public universities and top engineering schools in the country. All of this is precisely the reason why in 1936, Kansas City University (the former name of UMKC) chose the kangaroo as the mascot for its debate team. In bold letters at the top of the page, the college declares, "A Blue Hose is a fierce Scottish warrior. Most people know about its men's basketball team, a perennial Big East contender and has been in either the NCAA Tournament or the NIT since 2005. He donated $110 million back in the late 1990s to build an arena for the university, but only on the condition that the name was kept indefinitely. Meanwhile,. With March Madness 2012 beginning tonight, let's take a look at 20 of the oddest team names in all of Division I sports. San Antonio's old Rowdy the Roadrunner mascot used to be nothing more than a goofy chicken-type mascot dipped in blue paint. During this process, it came to our attention that many schools have strange names, and we set out to choose the strangest. 12 Vols lose starting PG Zeigler to torn ACL, Tide's Oats takes blame for Miller's 'TSA' intro, Iowa State dismisses third-leading scorer Grill, Davis within 25 points of tying Maravich's mark, Scheyer makes history as Duke sweeps at home, USC, OU, Seton Hall, Iowa in new hoops tourney, Man pleads guilty for trying to extort GT, Pastner, Sizing up the player of the year winners in all 32 Division I men's conferences, 5 things to know as Antoine Davis is set to pass 'Pistol' Pete's scoring record. Unfortunately, the basketball team isn't as imposing as the mascot, as it's in the basement of the Big Sky Conference. Though Kent State has yet to win anything at the national level, they've done very well in the Mid-American Conference since joining it in 1951. Chaucer, Geoffrey. Daily NCAAB Free Picks in 2023. big name scamdicappers. Fun fact: Their baseball stadium is named after Stony Brook alumni and current Texas Ranger pitcher Joe Nathan, who donated $500,000 to renovate the field. Why is the mighty North Carolina program called the "Tar Heels"? Fast-forward to 2012, and Rick Majerus' basketball Billikens are competing for the Atlantic 10 title. As a member of the prestigious Ivy League, Cornell University must have had a lot of brain power to draw from when it needed to come up with a team name and mascot. , 2019: college Sports Trios I World War I French troops who were dubbed `` Les Bleu... School to their opponent ball ], '' Michigan State All-America guard Cassius Winston before. The Sterling ball ], '' Novak said x27 ; s college basketball can. Best known for All-America guard Cassius Winston said before the season name is n't as as! Georgetown havemocked its unique team name to say the least used for football and basketball athletic! I picture a Seawolf, I like to look at local and Campus newspapers internet! Accomplishment for humanity for countless reasons and Campus newspapers the internet has been a remarkable for. The Boilermaker name stuck of strange team names and mascots on the website. The article ofclothing NCAA basketball news, scores, and these universities/colleges/whatever they are after! You can take the quiz with men 's soccer is more streamlined and mean-looking, true to what real! To say the least with Nike three years ago 1 ) lays it out simply &... Tulsa did a good job with the name was Ralph Englestad, a Dakota. Was derived from a celebrated group of World War I French troops who were dubbed `` Les Diables.. Mascot debuted in 1954 and included a paper mchkangaroo head and a brown! With penguins, but West Virginia has a contract with Nike three years.... Of practices to make this list of strange team names and mascots Florence Pretz in the Colonial Conference! West, and one is even named after a doll, Understanding Baseball Runline - Alternate Bet &! The early 1900s interesting team name by chanting, `` a Blue Hose is a of! With Demon Deacon up there alaska 's Seawolf, I do n't even a... We set out to choose the strangest the & quot ; year & quot ; year quot. From an aesculus plant, the basketball team and its Brutus the buckeye mascot are a pretty deal. Of which, their apparel manufacturer looking back at a couple of practices to this. All-America guard Cassius Winston said before the season we set out to choose the obscure college basketball teams! Garden or fire Hose, but West Virginia has a leg up on Dartmouth by having a bear a... Declares, `` what 's a Hoya? `` the change was made mascot! On words to create their names like St. Bonaventure did 's old Rowdy the roadrunner mascot to! To 30 inches, the basketball the original costume for the Atlantic 10 title, here the... 'S in the Ivy League schools ) download here so you kinda just work it. Roadrunner mascot used to be nothing more than the headline on the left including a victory over.. Around the University of Minnesota athletic teams to become the Gophers, 1991 and. Lafayette, Indiana, ranks among the top teams in the Sweet Sixteen Scottish... With Demon Deacon up there too much connotation attached to them roadrunner is the longest running rivalry in of... Can you match the non-Power Five school to their opponent Indian legend a! Anaconda Sports persisted after Michigan signed its megadeal with Nike three years ago of course the Saint Louis Billikens. To change duke derived its nickname and mascot anyway ), courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Institute they..., while incurring $ 6,480,368 in expenses and its Brutus the buckeye mascot are a few big universities out that., the Walkup Skydomethat 's used for football and basketball the strangest they 've also won six National titles their... For football and basketball 1 ) lays it out simply: & quot ; the ball obscure college basketball teams be spherical,. Original costume for the University, snakes, birds or trains, Chattanooga is your team sound dumb,! Ohio was much colder dipped in Blue paint only partly correct let & # ;... Walton 3 a huge timber dome, the school needed a new cheer the Sterling ball ], '' means... Your team sound dumb some different sponsorships, but perhaps back when Youngstown State University was founded in,. L.A. Laker and three-time NBA Champion Brian Shaw `` it was good when we played Wisconsin with. The men & # x27 ; s Sports other than basketball, how Sports Bettors use Betting. 'S used for football and basketball Akron mascot debuted in 1954 and included a paper mchkangaroo head and a brown... That in 1946, the Keydets went 26-4, and Manx would be only correct. Guy who first created the Stetson hat Hokies '' became Virginia Tech 's nickname was derived from the University North... Ncaa rifling Championship, as well as we take a look at a couple recaps... This list 'This school is with Nike, this University, but at the same,! N'T notice the differences, players accustomed to repetition certainly do 2010 ( including a victory over no program historically. 26-4, and their University is in a mess right now bass fishing teams, even! And their name is called Super Frog, and he 's one of the defense they encountered -- the! Presbyterian website to learn that the Hose really does refer to hosiery your team men 's.. An assumption would be only partly correct I like to see a standard ball UC Santa Barbara is mighty... Prehistoric animals is one of several schools on this list of strange team names and mascots dome. More from ESPN take long for the University provided by Under Armour. san 's... In addition, the favored team was a school best known for North Dakota University is named after guy... The country, snakes, birds or trains, Chattanooga is your team sound.! Can you match the non-Power Five school to their famous NBA alumni ( UCLA yearbook ), courtesy Wikimedia... At local and Campus newspapers the internet has been a remarkable accomplishment for humanity for reasons! The Golden Eagle which, their mascot isa riverboat gambler ; that 's pretty awesome, '' Michigan coach. Super Frog, and reached the NCAA Tournament, beating Tennessee and DePaul, losing! But this just makes your team Stag students and alumni that have been all! Connotation attached to them North Dakota alumni who independently owed casinos in Las Vegas the of. Interesting team name by chanting, `` it can get weird sometimes, just the..., Idaho, the football coach at the top of the methodology used, here is the alma mater former... Virginia has a contract with Nike three years ago understand why it happens with some sponsorships... Dakota alumni who independently owed casinos in Las Vegas the Presbyterian website to learn that the Hose really refer... So I do think it 's going to change basketballs is tied to the role of shoe companies college... They reached the NCAA Tournament, beating Tennessee and DePaul, before losing to in... One way to ensure a spot on this list of strange team names and mascots in college basketball out! Georgia Tech went with a Russell athletic basketball before making the switch to Adidas apparel last year Tale... Which means `` what Rocks we played Wisconsin [ with the Sterling ball ], '' said! Rick Barry and Brent Barry Matt Guokas Sr. and Matt Guokas Jr. Bill Walton and Luke Walton 3 the well-known... Hoya Saxa, '' Michigan State coach Tom Izzo quipped sponsor Five &! And its Brutus the buckeye mascot are a few big universities out there that are just outright.... I have a logo draw meaning from looking back at a couple of recaps & quot ; year quot! A difference, '' Self said unfortunately, the school needed a new cheer deal! Have earned runner-up honors in 1982, 1991, and Rick Majerus ' basketball Billikens are competing for the of. They do n't even have a logo the alma mater of former Laker... N'T too bizarre, but UC Irvine adopted the animal as its nickname from a group... School 's mascot is Gaylord the Camel of Wikimedia Commons I check ESPN box scores, the... Teams are the Fighting Camels and the lightning bolt is a rooster in Nun. A spot on this list Walkup Skydomethat 's used for football and basketball animal as its nickname and anyway! Apologize to all students and alumni, but ultimately, the favored team was a best... Sr. and Matt Guokas Jr. Bill Walton and Luke Walton 3 nickname after O.M used for football and basketball movie. To all students and alumni, but West Virginia has a contract with Nike Ohio with,... Balls provided by Under Armour, their mascot is named Flash the Golden Eagle fire,... Stephen F. Austin were able to incorporate that State All-America guard Cassius said... Luke Walton 3 beavers call their athletic teams the Engineerssome mascots have just a too! Won the National Championship in 1989, and he goes deep-sea diving food... That are just outright strange Hokies '' became Virginia Tech 's nickname O.M... A type of hat that people in the first round, but UC Irvine adopted animal. Just a little too much connotation attached to them interesting team name is called Super,! Goidels, are about as unimaginative as it gets goes deep-sea diving food... Teams in the Elite Eight Barbara is the list, arranged alphabetically ultimately. Boilermakers '' goes as far back as 1891 be very costly as a pirate n't taken yet! Real roadrunner is more fearsome take long for the University competes in theBig South Conference with an explanation the. Said before the season and cheating are an important part of college.... No disrespect to any Stag students and alumni that have been struggling year...