Native American Mascots/Nicknames in the BE

[dmac80]

My take has always been that the caricatured versions could be viewed as offensive (Redskins, Redmen, Cleveland Indians symbol) but that the historical based names (Seminoles, Illini, Chieftans, etc) are ok. But there are other examples of non Indian caricatures like the fighting Irish, showing a possibly drunken leprechaun ready to fight, that most people don't seem to take offense to. Most of my family is Irish and we could care less about the ND symbol, in fact I like it. The Friars have changed their mascot over the years a bunch of times, but a caricatured looking Friar is the current and I don't know anyone offended. Certain groups get offended more often than others, but if a group isn't into it I suppose a school ought to drop it and move on.

You usually don't name a team after something bad, its usually to honor some group. The UMASS minutemen are honoring the revolutionaries, etc.

[MUSeashells&Balloons]

The Redskins and Indians should change. Both are pretty bad. I can't believe Cleveland still has that Chief Wahoo hat. Cleveland was informally called the "Naps" after Nap Lajoie of Woonsocket, so they could return to that or go with the "Fellers" or similar.

Dartmouth for one made an easy switch to the "Big Green" from the Indians.
St John's could easily just go with "Johnnies". I think when they still had "Redmen" we would refer to them the "Johnnies" more often anyway. "Redmen" is pretty bad I think.
Curious about Marquette-- I figured they could go with "Blue and Gold" as a nickname, but someone here said they tried just "Gold" and it was hated. What about the "McGuires" or a reference to him in some way? Also, I never of Avalanche with Marquette... also, did the "Eagles" nickname have any historic reference to Marquette, or was it just picked all at once?

So I think the Dartmouth solution is the way to go. If "Friars" came under fire, I'd think the "Black and White" might be a nickname leader because informally it's used already by fans, like "Chukwu committed to the Black and White", or "the Black and White open vs Minnesota State on October 11th..."

Marquette Athletic teams have been known by 6 names(crazy right):
Blue and Gold(1892-1916)
Hilltoppers(1917-1954)- second longest used
Warriors(1954-1993)-longest used for 49 years
Gold(for like 6 days)
Golden Avalanche(mostly just football-1924-1937 after which football used hill toppers)
Golden eagles(1993-present)-students were given a vote between lightning and golden eagles, absolutely no write ins or previous names were allowed to be considered in the vote. This where a lot of the animosity begins.

In 2005, the university conducted a poll in which 92 percent of alumni respondents said they identified with the name “Warriors.” In the same poll, 62 percent of students also identified with “Warriors. The same survey listed the most common words used to describe “Golden Eagles” as boring (57%), weak (55%) and common (52%).

To me its so boring it is THE most used nickname in college sports(i think that includes all three divisions though). I would prefer a modern rendition of non-native american warriors as our nickname or as a second choice a return to the hilltoppers. Its not the native american part thats important to me its what a warrior(any type) represents it, they have honor & they fight for what they believe in and i think that would say a lot more about what we we want our students and student athletes to be, than a bird of prey. Both are far more interesting and have far more history than the golden eagles plus the current eagles logo is awful.

[FriarJ]

I'm a season ticket holder for Seattle U. and almost all the alumni and fans want Chieftains back instead of Redbirds which is not a real bird anyway.

[muwarrior69]

I wonder how "Fighting Irish" is perceived in Northern Ireland?

[marquette]

Warriors forever!!

my dream is the warrior name with the monogram. maybe if we need to a St joan of arc logo we do have the actual chapel she prayed at on campus.

This is one of the coolest things about the campus in my opinion. We have the only medieval building in the Americas that is still used for its original purpose, shipped over from France (right before the French government outlawed that kind of thing). The same chapel where Joan of Arc prayed. That is awesome. I'm not catholic, but I've been meaning to attend mass there (hell, I went to mass with the pope when I was in Italy, one more can't kill me). They also have medieval artifacts there that people are allowed to handle. That's the coolest thing ever. The fact that we also have J.R.R Tolkien's original manuscripts in our museum is also pretty cool.

Back on topic...
1. Warriors (minus Willie Wampum, obviously)
2. Hilltoppers.
3. Golden Avalanche
4. Golden Eagles
5. Blue and Gold

That's my preference. I don't care enough about it to actually be upset about Golden Eagles. It's bland and overused, but not a terrible mascot.

[marquette]

I wonder how "Fighting Irish" is perceived in Northern Ireland?

I think the Irish are pretty proud of both their drinking and fighting cultures. Irish boxers (hell, Ireland is the only place that still has bare-knuckle boxing, if I'm not mistaken) are well noted, and Irish pubs are the template on which most western countries base their bars. My grandma was Irish, and if she's any indication then the Irish don't take themselves too seriously. Of course, don't get them started on how their Catholicism is different from (and superior to) German Catholicism. I bet opa and oma are still arguing about that in their graves. Probably scares the crap out of the grounds keeper.

[GoldenBat]

I'd be fine with Marquette going back to the Warriors, but it is wrong to use a people group as a mascot. I could see something similar as the Golden State Warriors. I don't think this will happen though.

We should take full advantage of the Marquette Bat as our mascot. The Marquette Golden Bats, if you will. Unique and relevant. Golden Eagles is too commonplace in college athletics.

[Daffron24]

I'd be fine with Marquette going back to the Warriors, but it is wrong to use a people group as a mascot. I could see something similar as the Golden State Warriors. I don't think this will happen though.

We should take full advantage of the Marquette Bat as our mascot. The Marquette Golden Bats, if you will. Unique and relevant. Golden Eagles is too commonplace in college athletics.

I would love it if we could back to the Warriors. I understand the offensive meaning of the mascot and I'm fine with that, but MU could just be the warriors and have a warrior mascot that's not a Native American.

I'm just going to assume you are joking about the Bat scenario.

[aughnanure]

Gold > Golden Eagles.

Jumpin' Jesuits has a nice ring to it too.

[MUBoxer]

What if we did Golden Warriors?! Mind blowing!