List of college nickname changes in the United States

In the United States, most universities and colleges that sponsor athletics programs have adopted an official nickname for its associated teams. Often, these nicknames have changed for any number of reasons, which might include a change in the name of the school itself, a term becoming dated or otherwise changing meaning, or changes in racial perceptions and sensitivities. In the case of the latter, many schools have recently deprecated nicknames that some might consider offensive to American Indians, a group that has been a traditional inspiration for athletic teams.

Changes

• Adams State Grizzlies, formerly the "Indians"
• Akron Zips, called the "Zippers" from 1927 to 1950; this was changed when the term became most associated with the type of clothing fastener.^[1][2]
• Alaska Nanooks, changed from the "Polar Bears" to "Nanooks" (the Inupiaq word for polar bear) in 1963.^[3]
• Alabama–Huntsville Chargers, changed from "Uhlan Chargers" to "Chargers" over time^[4]
• Arizona State Sun Devils, formerly the "Owls",^[5] then the "Bulldogs" from 1922 to 1946^[6][7]
• Arkansas Razorbacks, changed from the "Cardinals" in 1909.^[8]
• Arkansas State Red Wolves, formerly the "Indians" (1931–2008), "Warriors" (1930–1931), "Gorillas" (1925–1930), and "Aggies" (1911–1925).^[9]
• Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys — Originally nicknamed "Aggies"; the term "Wonder Boys" was first attached to the school's football team in an Arkansas Gazette story on November 17, 1920, and was soon officially adopted. The women's nickname of "Golden Suns" was adopted once Tech added women's sports.^[10]
• Army Black Knights, the current nickname was derived from newspapers calling the team the "Black Knights of the Hudson" in the 1930s. It was changed from the "Cadets" in 1999. Cadets is still considered an acceptable use, however.^[11]
• Ball State Cardinals, changed from the "Hoosieroons" in 1929.^[12]
• Brooklyn Bridges, formerly the "Kingsmen"
• Baruch Bearcats, formerly the "Statesmen"
• Binghamton Bearcats, changed from "Colonials" in 2000. The school has had two previous nickname changes, but both coincided with changes of the school name. For those changes, see below.
• Bowling Green Falcons, changed from the "Normals" in 1927.^[13]
• Brewton–Parker Barons, formerly the "Wildcats"
• Brown Bears, Senator Theodore F. Green suggested the nickname "Bears" in 1904,^[14] but the unofficial nickname "Bruins" became more prevalent starting in the 1930s.^[15] It was formerly used interchangeably with the official nickname, although some media disused "Bruins" after a minor league hockey team, the Providence Bruins, was established nearby in 1992.^[16]
• Buffalo Bulls, formerly known as the "Bisons" (1915–1930), changed to distinguish from the city of Buffalo's identically named professional teams.^[17]
• Cal State Los Angeles Golden Eagles, changed from "Diablos" in January 1981^[18]
• Campbell Fighting Camels — Officially adopted near the start of 1934; originated from a misunderstood conversation early in the 20th century between university founder James Archibald Campbell and a visitor trying to encourage him after a fire destroyed almost all of the school's original buildings. Before the official adoption of "Camels" (with "Fighting" added later), "Hornets", "Campbells", and "Campbellites" were variously used.^[10]
• Carthage Red Men, reverted from "Redmen"
• Cedar Crest Falcons, formerly the "Classics"
• UCF Knights, reverted from "Golden Knights" from 1993 to 2007.
• Central Michigan Chippewas, formerly the "Bearcats" (1927–1942), "Dragons" (1925–1927), and the "Normalites" (until 1925). The current name was chosen in honor of the local Saginaw tribe, and has remained in use with the tribe's consent.^[19][20]
• Chowan Hawks, reverted from "Braves" in 2006
• Cincinnati Christian Eagles, formerly the "Golden Eagles"
• Colgate Raiders, changed from "Red Raiders" in 2001
• Colorado Buffaloes, changed from the "Silver and Gold" in 1934. They had also been known informally as the "Arapahoes", "Big Horns", "Frontiersmen", "Grizzlies", "Hornets", "Yellow Jackets", and (the football team) "Silver Helmets".^[21]
• Colorado State Rams, referred to as "Aggies" before 1957
• CSU–Pueblo ThunderWolves, changed from the "Indians" in 1995. The school name was changed from University of Southern Colorado in 2003.^[22]
• Connecticut Huskies, officially adopted as the nickname in 1934, they had previous been unofficially known as the "Aggies" and the "Statesmen".^[23]
• Crossroads Knights, formerly the "Royals"
• Cumberlands Patriots, changed from the Cumberland "Indians" (note the singular "Cumberland") in 2002, when the school was known as Cumberland College. The school adopted its current name of the University of the Cumberlands in 2005.
• Dartmouth Big Green, formerly "Indians" which was disused since the 1970s in favor of an existing nickname, "Big Green".
• Dean Bulldogs, formerly the "Red Devils"
• Dickinson State Blue Hawks, changed from "Savages" in 1972
• Dixie State Trailblazers, changed from "Red Storm" in 2016
• East Carolina Pirates, changed from the "Teachers" in 1934.^[24] The school was a teachers college until the 1940s.
• Eastern Michigan Eagles, changed from the "Hurons" (1929–1991) due to pressure from the Michigan Department of Civil Rights; the teams had previously been known as the "Normalites" and the "Men from Ypsi".^[25]
• Eastern Nazarene Lions, changed from the "Crusaders" in 2009
• Eastern Washington Eagles, formerly the "Savages"
• Elon Phoenix, formerly the "Fighting Christians"
• Endicott Gulls, formerly the "Power Gulls"
• FIU Panthers, changed from "Sunblazers" to "Golden Panthers" in 1987^[26] and "Panthers" in 2010.
• Fort Lewis Skyhawks, known first as the "Beavers", changed to "Aggies" in the early 1930s, changed to "Raiders" in 1963, and adopted current nickname in 1994
• George Washington Colonials, changed from "Hatchetites" in 1928
• Georgia Southern Eagles, formerly the Blue Tide (1924–1941) and Professors (1941–1959)
• Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, "Yellowjackets" (as one word) first came into use after it appeared in the Atlanta Constitution in 1905; other nicknames included "Techs" (discontinued c. 1910), "Engineers", "Blacksmiths" (1902–1904), and "Golden Tornado" (1917–1929)^[27]
• Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wahine, known as "Fighting Deans" before 1923; the school's nickname was "Rainbows" from 1923 through 2000,^[28] when the university allowed all of its athletic teams to adopt their own individual nicknames: the baseball team retained the "Rainbows" nickname; the men's basketball, swimming and diving, and tennis teams adopted "Rainbow Warriors"; the football, men's golf, and men's volleyball teams adopted "Warriors"; and all women's teams adopted the nickname "Rainbow Wahine". In 2013, the university announced that all men's teams would become "Rainbow Warriors" effective with the start of the 2013–14 school year.
• Hofstra Pride, formerly the "Flying Dutchmen"
• Husson Eagles, formerly the "Braves"
• Ithaca Bombers, formerly the "Blue Team", "Blues", "Blue and Gold", "Collegians" and "Seneca Streeters." The name was changed to the "Cayugas" by a student vote in 1937. The origin of the nickname "Bombers" is unclear, but the first known reference was in a December 17, 1938 issue of the Rochester Times-Union article on the basketball team. Some faculty have expressed reservations of the current nickname's martial connotations.^[29]
• IUP Crimson Hawks, changed from the "Indians" in 2006
• Iowa State Cyclones, changed from "Cardinals" in 1895^[30]
• IUPUI Jaguars, changed from the "Metros" in 1997 upon moving to NCAA Division I.
• Johnson Royals, changed from the "Preachers" and "Lady Evangels" to the "Royals" in 2013^[31]
• Kansas State Wildcats, changed from the "Aggies" and the "Farmers" in 1915, before reverting to the old nicknames that same year, when the school was known as the Kansas State Agricultural College. It was changed permanently in 1920.^[32] The school changed its name to Kansas State University later.
• Kent State Golden Flashes, changed from the "Silver Foxes" in 1927^[33]
• Lander Bearcats, formerly the "Senators"
• Lehigh Mountain Hawks, changed from the "Engineers" in 1995; also previously known as the "Brown and White"
• Lincoln Christian Red Lions, formerly "Preachers" (men) and "Angels" (women).
• Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns, changed from the "Bulldogs" to Raging Cajuns in the early 1960s. The "g" was dropped from the end of the first word later.^[34]
• Loyola Ramblers, changed from "Grandees" around 1926; the earlier nickname was selected in a contest held by the student newspaper but failed to catch on.^[35]
• Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks, changed from the "Indians" in 2006
• Marquette Golden Eagles, changed from the "Warriors" in 1994, which had been used at least since 1960. Earlier nicknames included "Hilltoppers" and "Avalanche".
• Marshall Thundering Herd, made official in the mid-1960s, although it was in unofficial use since the 1930s alongside the nickname the "Big Green".^[36]
• Maryland Terrapins, made official in 1932,^[37] although in unofficial use earlier;^[38] formerly the "Old Liners", and before that, the "Aggies" and "Farmers" when the school was known as Maryland Agricultural College.^[39]
• UMass Minutemen, changed from the "Redmen" and "Redwomen" in 1972. According to the university, the old nickname referred to the uniforms worn by the athletic teams, but it was changed nonetheless out of sensitivity to American Indians.
• MCLA Trailblazers, formerly the "Mohawks"
• Memphis Tigers, originally adopted in 1915 when the school was known as the West Tennessee State Normal School, but changed to "Teachers" and "Tutors" when the school name was changed to West Tennessee State Teachers College. In 1939, the Tigers nickname was reintroduced. The school later changed its name to Memphis State College and then the University of Memphis.
• Miami RedHawks, changed from the "Redskins" in 1997, the team had previously been known as the "Big Reds", the "Reds and Whites", the "Red-Skinned Warriors", and the "Miami Boys".^[40]
• Michigan State Spartans, changed from "Aggies" in 1925, which had been used contemporaneously with the unofficial nicknames of the "Fighting Farmers" and "Farmers".^[41]
• Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, adopted in 1934 to replace a "wide range of names"^[42]
• Midwestern State Mustangs, formerly the "Indians"
• Milwaukee Panthers, changed from "Cardinals" in 1964, when the school was branded athletically as "Wisconsin–Milwaukee". There was an earlier nickname change, but that coincided with a merger that resulted in a change of the school name. For that change, see below.
• Mississippi State Bulldogs, changed from "Maroons" in 1961, they were known as the "Aggies" under the school changed its name from Mississippi A&M in 1932.^[43]
• Multnomah Lions, formerly the "Ambassadors"
• Nebraska Cornhuskers, adopted in 1900, the teams had formerly been known as the "Antelopes", "Bugeaters", "Old Gold Knights", "Rattlesnake Boys", and "Treeplanters"
• Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves, formerly the "Plainsmen"
• Nevada Wolf Pack, adopted in 1923, they had previously been known as the "Sagebrushers" and "Sage Hens"^[44]
• Newberry Wolves, adopted in 2010 to replace "Indians", which had been dropped two years earlier. The teams had competed without a nickname in the interim.^[45]
• North Carolina State Wolfpack, adopted in 1922, previous nicknames had included the "Aggies", "Farmers", "Techs", and "Red Terrors"^[46]
• North Dakota Fighting Hawks – First known as the "Flickertails" until 1930, at which time "Fighting Sioux" was adopted.^[47] After major controversy over this nickname in the early 21st century, "Fighting Sioux" was retired in 2012. The school then went without a nickname for three years, as the state passed a law prohibiting the selection of a new nickname until 2015. In November of that year, following two rounds of fan voting, a new nickname of "Fighting Hawks" was chosen and immediately adopted.
• North Georgia Saints and Lady Saints — The first sports teams at what was then North Georgia College & State University were men's teams known as "Cadets", a nod to the school's status as a senior military college. When basketball became the first women's sport, that team was initially known as the "Golddiggers", referencing the school's location in the old gold-mining town of Dahlonega. By the late 1970s, the athletic program had settled on "Saints" and "Lady Saints". NGCSU no longer exists under that name, as it was merged into the University of North Georgia in 2013.
• North Greenville Crusaders, formerly the "Mounties"
• North Texas Mean Green, formerly known as the "Eagles" (1922–1966), there are conflicting accounts on the origin of the nickname.^[48][49]
• Northern Illinois Huskies, adopted in 1940, previous names had included "Cardinals", "Evansmen", "Northerners", "Profs", and "Teachers"^[50]
• Northwest Christian Beacons, formerly the "Crusaders"
• Northwestern Wildcats, changed from the "Purple" in 1924^[51]
• Notre Dame Fighting Irish, officially adopted in 1927, although it had been in use much earlier. Other nicknames included the "Catholics" in the 1880s and 1890s, and the "Ramblers" in the 1920s.^[52]
• Ohio Bobcats, replaced the "Green and White" in 1925^[53]
• Oklahoma Sooners, replaced the "Rough Riders" and "Boomers" in 1908^[54]
• Oklahoma City Stars, formerly the "Chiefs" and the "Goldbugs"
• Oklahoma State Cowboys and Cowgirls - Oklahoma A&M used the nickname of the "Agriculturalists" in the 1890s, which was shortened to "Aggies" and "Farmers". "Tigers" was briefly used as well, but proved unpopular. In 1924, the media began referring to the teams as the "Cowboys" and it was later officially adopted.^[55]
• Ole Miss Rebels, changed from the "Flood" in 1935 because of the negative association with natural disasters.^[56] The change came only eight years after much of the state was devastated by massive flooding.
• Omaha Mavericks, adopted in the summer of 1971, previously known as "Indians" from 1939 to 1971 and "Cardinals" before 1939.
• Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, formerly the "Titans"
• Oregon Ducks, formerly the "Webfoots." "Ducks" introduced in the 1940s and nicknames were used interchangeably until the 1970s; "Ducks" officially adopted in 1978.^[57][58]
• Oregon State Beavers, previously known as the "Aggies" and then the "Orangemen". The yearbook was named The Beaver in 1916, which later led to the athletics teams' adoption of the nickname.^[59]
• Pacific Lutheran Lutes, formerly the "Gladiators"
• Presbyterian Blue Hose — Officially changed from "Blue Stockings" c. 1954, though sportswriters had used "Hose" interchangeably with "Stockings" since the turn of the 20th century.^[60]
• Quinnipiac Bobcats, changed from the "Braves" in 2002
• RPI Engineers, formerly the "Bachelors" and the "Red Hawks"
• Richmond Spiders, changed from the "Colts" in 1894.^[61]
• Rio Grande RedStorm, changed from the "Redmen" and "Redwomen" in 2008.
• Ripon Red Hawks, changed from "Redmen"
• Rutgers Scarlet Knights, changed from the "Queensmen" in 1955^[62]
• St. Bonaventure Bonnies, changed from the "Brown Indians" and "Brown Squaws" in 1979
• St. John's Red Storm, changed from the "Redmen" in 1995 for gender and cultural considerations. The university claims the old name did not refer to American Indians, but to the school color, a bright cardinal red.
• Saint Leo Lions, formerly the "Monarchs"
• Saint Mary's Cardinals, changed from "Redmen" during the 1989–90 season
• San Diego State Aztecs, replaced the "Staters" and "Professors" in 1925^[63]
• San Jose State Spartans, adopted in 1925; prior nicknames included the "Daniels", the "Teachers", the "Pedagogues", the "Normals", and the "Normalites"
• Seton Hill Griffins, formerly the "Spirit"
• Simpson Storm, changed from the "Redmen and Lady Reds" in 1992
• Southeast Missouri State Redhawks, formerly the "Indians" and "Otahkians"
• Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm, changed from "Savages" in 2006
• Southeastern Fire, formerly the "Crusaders"
• South Florida Bulls, shortened from "Brahman Bulls" in the mid-1980s^[64]
• Southern Miss Golden Eagles, adopted in 1972, the school had several previous nicknames,^[65] including "Normalites", "Yellow Jackets", "Confederates", and "Southerners"
• Southwestern Christian Eagles, formerly the "Moundbuilders"
• Seattle Redhawks, formerly the "Chieftains"
• Southern Illinois Salukis, formerly known at the "Maroons" from 1913 to 1951^[66]
• Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm, formerly the "Redskins"
• Spalding Golden Eagles, formerly the "Pelicans"
• Springfield Pride, formerly the "Chiefs"
• Stanford Cardinal, adopted in 1981, formerly known as the "Indians" (1930–1972) and the plural "Cardinals" (1972–1981)^[67]
• Stonehill Skyhawks, changed from the "Chieftains"
• Stony Brook Seawolves, adopted in 1994; previously known as "Soundmen" or "Baymen" (1950s), Warriors (1960–1966), and "Patriots"/"Lady Patriots" (1966–1994)^[68]
• SUNY Canton Kangaroos, formerly the "Northmen" and "Northstars"
• Syracuse Orange, changed from the "Orangemen" and "Orangewomen" in 2004
• Texas Tech Red Raiders, changed from "Matadors" (1925–1932), which had been inspired by the campus's Spanish architecture.^[69]
• Toledo Rockets, adopted in 1923 by sportswriters who shortened it from "Skyrockets", coined by a student in the press box for a football game. Writers had previously called the football team the "Blue and Gold" and "Munies".^[70]
• Troy Trojans, reverted from "Red Wave" in 1973. Troy had been known as first the Bulldogs" and then the "Teachers" between 1909 and 1920, the "Trojans" from 1920 to 1931, and the "Red Wave" from 1931 to 1973.^[71]
• Tulane Green Wave, known as the "Olive and Blue" from 1893 to 1919, and referred to as the "Greenbacks" by the student-run The Tulane Weekly in 1919. Became known as the "Green Wave" from 1920 after the song "The Rolling Green Wave" published in the Tulane Hullabaloo.^[72]
• Tulsa Golden Hurricane, adopted in 1922, formerly known as the "Orange and Black", "Kendallites", "Presbyterians", "Tigers", "Tulsans", and "Yellow Jackets".^[73]
• UCLA Bruins, adopted in 1928, formerly known as the "Cubs" until 1923, in reference to the school's connection to the University of California Golden Bears. Known as the "Grizzlies" from 1923 until 1928, when UCLA joined the Pacific Coast Conference, which already included the Montana Grizzlies.^[74]
• UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs, changed in 1986 by student referendum from "Sea Lions", which had been used since the school began sponsoring NCAA athletics in 1981.^[75]
• USC Trojans, replaced the "Methodists" and "Wesleyans" in 1912^[76]
• USP Devils, formerly the "Red Devils"
• Utah Utes, formerly used "Redskins" nickname simultaneously with "Utes" nickname but discontinued using "Redskins" in 1972^[77]
• Virginia Tech Hokies, gradually transitioned from the original nickname of the "Fighting Gobblers"
• Washington Huskies, adopted February 3, 1922; formerly the "Sun Dodgers" (1919–1921) and very briefly the "Vikings" in December 1921^[78]
• Wayne State Warriors, known as the "Tartars" from 1927 to 1999
• Western Michigan Broncos, changed from "Hilltoppers" in 1939
• Westminster Griffins, formerly the "Parsons"
• William & Mary Tribe, formerly the "Indians" (1917–1977) and "Orange and White" (1893–1916)

Changes of women's team nicknames only

• Colorado Buffaloes — Women's teams were the "Lady Buffs" until 1993, when the school announced it would adopt the men's nickname for all teams.
• Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds — Women's teams were the "Zias" from the establishment of women's sports at the school in the 1970s until 2015, when the school announced it would adopt the men's nickname for all teams.
• Kentucky Wildcats — Women's teams, except for gymnastics, were the "Lady Kats" until 1995, when the school announced it would adopt the men's nickname for all teams. The gymnastics team continued to use its historic nickname of "Gym Kats" for a number of years before abandoning it in favor of Wildcats.
• New Mexico State Aggies — Women's athletic teams were known as the "Roadrunners" until 2000, following a vote by female athletes to adopt the same nickname as the men's teams.^[79]
• Tennessee Volunteers — In November 2014, the university announced that after the 2014–15 school year, only women's basketball would retain the Lady Volunteers nickname. At that time, all other women's teams became simply Volunteers.^[80]
• Washburn Ichabods — Women's teams were known as "Lady Blues" until 2013, when the school announced that women's teams would adopt the men's nickname.
• Western Illinois Leathernecks —Women's teams were known as "Westerwinds" until 2009, when they adopted the men's nickname of Leathernecks.
• A number of schools historically used the "Lady" prefix for all women's teams, but now have a policy of using "Lady" only in sports that have both men's and women's teams. Schools that have this policy include:
  • LSU Tigers and Lady Tigers
  • Texas Tech Red Raiders and Lady Raiders

As a result of a school name change or merger

• Binghamton Bearcats - Before adopting its current nickname in 2000, the school now legally known as the State University of New York at Binghamton and branded since 1992 as Binghamton University changed its nickname twice, each time corresponding with a change in the school's name:
  • Originally, the school was a satellite of Syracuse University known as Triple Cities College, and had no nickname. When it became independent from Syracuse in 1950, it adopted the name of Harpur College and the nickname "Donkeys".
  • When Harpur joined the State University of New York system in 1965 and adopted its current legal name, the school nickname changed to "Colonials".
• Case Western Reserve Spartans - Before the schools merged, Case Institute of Technology used the nicknames of the "Scientists" (1918–1938) and the "Rough Riders (1930–1971). Western Reserve was known as the "Pioneers" (1921–1928) and the "Red Cats" (1928–1971).^[81] While the schools merged in 1967, the undergraduate student bodies (and athletic departments) were separate until 1971, and during the transition, Western Reserve used the athletic identity of its undergraduate arm, Adelbert College.
• Cleveland State Vikings - Fenn College used the nickname of the "Foxes" until the school was renamed in 1965.
• Coastal Carolina Chanticleers - When Coastal was founded in 1954 as a junior college, the school's nickname was "Trojans". It adopted its current nickname shortly after becoming a part of the University of South Carolina in 1960, due to a desire for a nickname more compatible with the "Gamecocks" of its parent. The nickname remained even after Coastal became an independent institution in 1993.
• Colorado State Rams - Colorado A&M used the nickname of the "Aggies".^[82]
• Connecticut Huskies - Connecticut Agricultural College used the nickname "Aggies". The school was renamed Connecticut State College in 1933,^[83] and the following year, the "Huskies" nickname was adopted.
• Maryland Terrapins - Maryland Agricultural College used the nickname of the "Aggies" and the "Farmers". The school was renamed Maryland State College in 1916 and the University of Maryland in 1920.
• Michigan State Spartans - Michigan Agricultural College used the nickname of the "Aggies" alongside unofficial nicknames of the "Fighting Farmers" and "Farmers" until 1925.^[41]
• Milwaukee Panthers – The institution through which the current University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee traces its history, originally the Wisconsin State Normal School and after several name changes Wisconsin State College–Milwaukee, used "Green Gulls" as its nickname until 1956. At that time, it merged with the University of Wisconsin's graduate extension campus in Milwaukee to form UW–Milwaukee, with the nickname changing to "Cardinals".
• Mississippi State Bulldogs - Mississippi A&M changed its nickname from the "Aggies" to the "Maroons" when the school was renamed Mississippi State College in 1932. In 1961, the school was renamed Mississippi State University and the nickname was changed to the "Bulldogs".^[43]
• NC State Wolfpack - North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (North Carolina A&M) was known as the "Aggies" or "Farmers". The school changed its name to the current North Carolina State University in 1917.^[84]
• North Georgia Nighthawks — In January 2013, North Georgia College & State University, nicknamed "Saints" and "Lady Saints", was merged with Gainesville State College, a two-year technical school with no athletic program, to create the University of North Georgia. The new school adopted the nickname of "Nighthawks" for all teams.
• UMass Lowell River Hawks – The University of Lowell, itself the product of a 1971 merger between Lowell State College and the Lowell Technological Institute, used "Chiefs" as its nickname before it was absorbed into the University of Massachusetts system in 1991.
• UTRGV Vaqueros – In November 2014, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, which began full operation in July 2015 with the merger of the University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA) and University of Texas at Brownsville, announced that the nickname of the new school would be Vaqueros. The pre-merger UTPA Broncs became the UTRGV athletic program after the merger.^[85]

See also

• Native American mascot controversy

References