What’s in the name of a football team? Throughout the NCAA football season, we constantly hear the names of various teams as we watch games, learn scores, and manage our college fantasy football teams. However, we rarely think about the origins of the names of various schools. Here are some of the fascinating stories about the names of some NCAA schools:
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
In NCAA football history, Alabama has become one of the most successful teams. However, have you ever wondered about the history of the team’s name? Newspapers originally referred to the football name as “Crimson White”. This alluded to the school colors. It later became the “Thin Red Line”. However, in a 1907 game between Alabama and Auburn, the two teams met in a sea of red mud. Thus, Alabama became the “crimson tide.”
2. Penn State Nittany Lions
We’re all familiar with mountain lions, but what is the significance of Penn State’s “Nittany” lions? It all started with a Penn State graduate named HD “Joe” Mason.
Mason was inspired after seeing a live Princeton tiger on his campus. Then a Penn State newspaper sponsored a search for Mason to choose a mascot for Penn State. The school ultimately chose a lion, and is very likely the first college to have a lion as a mascot. The “Nittany” refers to the school’s location at the base of Mount Nittany. According to local Native American legend, Nittany (also Nita-Nee) was an American Indian princess.
3. Arkansas Razorbacks
Before there were the Razorbacks, Arkansas was the Cardinals. The students selected the mascot because of the school’s cardinal and white colors. The name “Razorbacks” originated from a talk that Arkansas’s first paid football coach, Hugo Bezdek, gave to Arkansas students. Bezdek gave the talk after the school’s seventh win of the season. He noted that the team had played like a “wild gang of Razorback Hogs”. The rest, as they say, is history. Beginning in 1910, Arkansas had a new mascot: the Razorbacks.
4. Oklahoma Soon
Oklahoma has become famous for its game on the gridiron. However, have you ever wondered what exactly a Sooner is? Before the US government opened up regions in Indian Territory for settlement, the Sooners were actually people trespassing on the land. “Sooners” first referred to settlers in 1889 who moved into the Oklahoma Lands before 12:00 noon on April 22, 1889.
5. Tennessee Volunteers
We all know what volunteers are. However, what volunteers does the name Tennessee Volunteers refer to? During the early part of the War of 1812, Tennessee earned the nickname “The Volunteer State.” President James Madison ordered General Andrew Jackson to recruit 1,500 volunteer soldiers from Tennessee. The troops were supposed to fight against the Native Americans and the British, but never fought during the war. General Andrew Jackson would later become President of the United States.
Every fact we learn about NCAA football can help us appreciate it better. For example, learning the history of NCAA school names increases our appreciation for their games.