By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Youngstown State competes in the NCAAThe Horizon League. Chanticleers are roosters, but as you can see from the logo, a Coastal Carolina Chanticleer is much more than that. Los Angeles Area. College Sports Trios II. 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. Elon vs. Drexel, of course. Since it's founding in 1869, the university has educated students with working-class backgrounds for utilitarian careers, a practice the school continues today with its many strengths in engineering and other professional fields. and our OSU is consistently one of the top teams in the Midwest, and Brutus is one of the most well-known mascots in the country. Kansas, for example, keeps a rack of 15 basketballs representing the five or six basketball brands the team will use throughout the season. Gorlock made his official debut in 1988. They all have multiple winners of the Naismith College Player of the Year Award, They have all also had NCAA football championship teams, All those school's women's basketball teams have also won basketball championships, Each team at some point in their history played a season without a coach, Hal Greer, Elgin Baylor, Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Paul Arizin, Bob Pettit, Clyde Drexler, Carmelo Anthony, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Elvin Hayes, Kevin Garnett, Dolph Schayes, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dwayne Wade, Kevin Durant, Adolph Rupp, Denny Crum, Branch McCracken, Jim Boeheim, Harold "Bud" Foster, John Wooden, Roy Williams, Ed Jucker, Phil Woolpert, Rick Pitino, Bobby Knight, Joe B. Located in Moscow, Idaho, the university competes in the NCAABig Sky Conference. Their mascot, YoUDee, is a two-time national mascot champion, having won it in 2002 and 2009. WuShock the mascot is one ugly-looking dude. They went with the name "Sycamores" due to the large abundance of sycamore trees in Indiana and around the university. They beat Duquesne in the first round, but lost to National Champion runner-up Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. As he continued to walk through the state, he left tar footprints in his wake, and that's where the name 'Tar Heel' comes from.". A Hoosier is a native of Indiana, so Indiana University's team name is fitting and distinct. 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. The school's basketball team played so fiercely that they were said to have "vandalized" their opponents, and soon the vandal moniker stuck. Honorable Mention 1 of 26 Western Illinois Leathernecks Virginia Military Keydets Arizona State Sun. It's a replica nineteenth-century steam locomotive that, quite frankly, could easily squash the mascots of most of the schools on this list. You must admit that the Dartmouth Broccoli has a nice ring to it. Even the coaches who doubt that there's much impact in using different basketballs admit that the superstitious or psychological, if not performative, effect is real for some players. The university dubbed its sports teams the Salukis in 1951 because the region of southern Illinois had been referred to as "Little Egypt" for years. Privacy Policy. Unlike many universities, however, Cornell does know where the unofficial Big Red name comes from. Drawing by Laura Reyome. The Stetson cowboy hat was originally manufactured by John B. Stetson, the first benefactor of Stetson University. But coaches can and do deviate from a university's brand. All the players on the team were from New York City. Sharps are targeting this random game in the Colonial Athletic Conference between teams that have been struggling all year. 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. Another interesting thing about this team is that Purdue Pete is not the official mascot of the university, even though he has existed since the 1940s. I highly doubt that such a creature exists, but Stony Brook did a good job of picking a cool-sounding name that triggered my imagination. Maddux Sports makes its money from repeat sports She portrayed her Billiken as a short, pudgy, smiling creature with pointed ears and a small knot of hair on the top of his otherwise bald head. 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. "But it seemingly was dismissed because of all the contracts and sponsorships in place. 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. They have made appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2005, 2008 and 2010 (including a victory over No. 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. Indiana uses Adidas, too. College Basketball Lines, College 2. Anyway, as for its athletic department, it's been decent over the past decade. San Antonio's old Rowdy the Roadrunner mascot used to be nothing more than a goofy chicken-type mascot dipped in blue paint. 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. Why have a normal-looking rooster, when you can have a teal-colored growling rooster that looks like it could fend off eagles and hawks? Look at local and campus newspapers The internet has been a remarkable accomplishment for humanity for countless reasons. There's a reason why the M.I.T. Yet that's exactly what the nickname is. What if other schools used a play on words to create their names like St. Bonaventure did? But even the most undignified rodent can be transformed into something admirable with a quick coat of gold paint. It's a difference, but at the same time, it's not a difference.". There are, after all, 76 U.S. college teams known as the Eagles. The Billiken, according to the SLU website, was made famous by illustrator Florence Pretz in the first decade of the 20th century. 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. Basketball Gambling, College Basketball Betting Lines, College Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/strangest-division-i-team-names-788263. Our Handicappers Bet The Same Games They Give Out. Grove, Allen. Alaska's Seawolf, on the other hand, is based on a Tlingit Indian legend of a mythical sea creature. Fast-forward to 2012, and Rick Majerus' basketball Billikens are competing for the Atlantic 10 title. If it's simply someone who makes boilers, well, that's a rather unglamorous team image. Up until the 1920s, they used to be called the Pioneers, until they changed it to Aces. Defensive efficiency tells you how they stand up in the face of challenges. College Basketball. (8-2, 0-0) 43. ", The basketball wars: The hidden disadvantage facing every road team, No. In fact, in men's basketball, during their 2007-2008 season, they played in 25 away games, including game against Ohio State, Clemson and Wake Forest. At the heart of Dartmouth's picture-perfect New England campus is a big town or village green (see it here). A "buckeye" is the seed or nut from an aesculus plant, the official state tree of Ohio. An interesting addition, their football team (which no longer exists) is known for throwing the first legal forward pass in college football history, back in 1906. However, such an assumption would be only partly correct. And while the Billiken fad was short-lived, the Billiken name has been with Saint Louis University's athletic teams for over 100 years now. Oddly enough, their mascot is named Flash the Golden Eagle. What's important is that the change was made. 1 CCNY Beavers - 1950 The Beavers are so obscure that they aren't even in D1 anymore and instead play at a DII level today. The Germanic Vandals are often connected to Vendel, a province in eastern Sweden, and this is why our artist's illustration of a Vandal looks like a Viking and why the mascot, Joe Vandal, also looks remarkably similar to a Viking. Virginia Tech's old nickname used to be the "Fighting Gobblers," which is why the turkey-ish maroon bird, HokieBird, is the mascot. UNH and Maine have the longest running rivalry in all of college basketball (excluding Ivy League schools). Some schools nickname themselves after socks, others after plants, and one is even named after a doll. What's the reason for it? No, the Blue Hose is not based off a tube like a garden or fire hose, but rather the article ofclothing. Some NCAA conferences are so obscure that the only time we hear about them each year is when the winner of the conference loses to a number one seed by 40. When you think of Texas and football, I don't think "horned frogs" are the first team name that comes to mind. I have some serious qualms with Demon Deacon up there. Internet forums are another great source of information just because a basketball team is obscure doesnt mean that it doesnt have a devoted fanbase that obsesses over ever detail of the team and their performance. No other major conference team used it, perhaps giving the Badgers a psychological edge. The fact that penguins live almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere shouldn't discourage this theory. Beavers call their athletic teams the Engineerssome mascots have just a little too much connotation attached to them. 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.". The railroad theme in the current logo refers to Chattanooga's history as a railroad center of commerce. If the ball is ever to be standardized in college, the discussion -- like so many issues in the game -- will have to begin with coaches. "I remember that.". Sometimes, though, those obscure teams can represent real betting value because though the public doesnt know a lot about them or care they are actually a solid team. 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. 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. What better way to intimidate your rivals than to name your team after a small, burrowing rodent. 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. With March Madness 2012 beginning tonight, let's take a look at 20 of the oddest team names in all of Division I sports. They are a more recent addition to Division I sports. Duke derived its nickname from a celebrated group of World War I French troops who were dubbed "Les Diables Bleu.". His deal with Anaconda Sports persisted after Michigan signed its megadeal with Nike three years ago. ", "It was good when we played Wisconsin [with the Sterling ball]," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo quipped. Dartmouth is a member of the Ivy League and boasts the lowest acceptance rate of any school on this list. And in 2010, they won an NCAA rifling championship, as well. 'The ball shall be spherical' The NCAA rulebook (Section 16. In short, it's the nut from an Ohio buckeye tree. This is why Ohio State made this list of strange team names. Is there a forum? At least six members must sponsor five women's sports other than basketball, including two other team sports. Basketball Spreads, College "It wasn't as soft hitting the rim as the Nike ball, but I liked the way the seams felt. The teams are the Fighting Camels and the Lady Camels, and the mascot is Gaylord the Camel. They also won the NCAA Championship in 1984.. 1 Les entraneurs de l'OM et du PSG au 21e sicle 2 2022 World Cup Stars 3 NBA Logic Puzzle 2.0 4 NFL 2020 Free Agency Chain Game . Located in Clinton, South Carolina, Presbyterian is one of several schools on this list that competes in theBig South Conference. As for Stephen F. Austin, in football, they won the Southland conference championship in 2010, their first since 1989. Who are these obscure teams that play college basketball? Preparing this ball "strategy" is a common assignment for basketball staffers around the country, and among the NCAA's highest-revenue sports, it's a scenario unique to men's basketball. Northern Arizona boasts a huge timber dome, the Walkup Skydomethat's used for football and basketball. The oddsmakers were right in line with the betting community on this one, as. The Ball Art. Meanwhile,. A [ edit] AB-AD [ edit] So in 1896, Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College changed its name to the much more concise and poetic Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute. 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. Luckily for Ohio State fans, the team's logo and mascot are more than just a simple seed. NCAA Division I Basketball Colleges. For resourceful sports handicappers one of the nicer benefits is that it has made virtually every local and campus newspaper in the country readily available. It was all in the spirit of coaching.". Cookie Notice Statistics can also be a great way of quickly painting a portrait of a basketball team, though. After all, a bulldog is a broad-shouldered, intimidating animal while a sun devil is a um ah what the heck is a Sun Devil? It may also have one of the most freaky, yet most intimidating mascots in Division 1, with WuShock. The Canterbury Tales. As one of the few universities with an equestrian program, they won a women's equestrian championship in 2008. When researching all Division I colleges and universities for other articles using afair, balanced, highly scientific, and entirely empirical system of evaluationstudying their retention rates, graduation rates, selectivity, and financial aidwe came up with an in-depth analysis containing lovely data, but that wasn't useful for this list. Grove, Allen. But football is not the only thing this university has been successful at. The Ball Art. Northern Arizona's team name isn't too bizarre, but it is quite uncommon. ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/strangest-division-i-team-names-788263. In baseball, they're the most winning baseball team over the last 31 years. Play Now. 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. Some NCAA conferences are so obscure that the only time we hear about them each year is when the winner of the conference loses to a number one seed by 40. . Top Public Universities in the United States, GPA, SAT and ACT Data for Top Virginia Colleges, Coastal Carolina University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics, Top Middle Atlantic Colleges and Universities, Dartmouth College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics, Ph.D., English, University of Pennsylvania, M.A., English, University of Pennsylvania, B.S., Materials Science & Engineering and Literature, MIT. That's where the chaos ensues. Once upon a time, they were the Zippers, but in 1953, the name got shortened to Zips, and the mascot turned into a kangaroo. St. Louis University's nickname was derived from the popular charm dolls created by St. Louis art teacher Florence Pretz in the early 1900s. 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. "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. The Horned Frog has actually been part of TCU as far back as 1897, when it appeared in the university's yearbook. In the NBA, I believe, there is a standard. If this team name and mascot isn't strange enough for you, then I don't know what is. While you might be picturing a group of ne'er-do-wells slashing tires and smashing windows when you hear this team name, the University of Idaho Vandals derive their name from a somewhat different usage of the word. The college basketball game to watch on Thursday evening? The name Wichita State Shockers seems to suggest electrocution and an intimidating ability to strike down opponents with a bolt of lightning. The constant change is difficult, according to Wisconsin's D'Mitrik Trice. Under Coach Joseph Begala, the winningest coach in collegiate wrestling history, the Golden Flashes went 307-69-5 from 1929-1942 and 1945-1971. "It was a rock.". In 1976, they reached the NCAA Tournament, beating Tennessee and DePaul, before losing to Rutgers in the Elite Eight. hide this ad. This is another case of a cool-looking mascot making up for a peculiar nickname. And broccoli, when steamed perfectly, is precisely the right shade of green for Dartmouth. If it varies wildly from game to game then they are subservient to their opponent. For Texas Christian University, the Horned Frog name and mascot date back to the 1800s. I had absolutely no idea what a Hoya was until I asked one of myroommates, whose brother goes to Georgetown. , and one is even named after a doll railroad theme in the Colonial Conference... And distinct 's the nut from an aesculus plant, the Walkup Skydomethat 's used for football basketball... Rowdy the Roadrunner mascot used to be nothing more than just a simple.... Just a simple seed believe, there is a standard in Division 1, with WuShock with Demon Deacon there. But football is not based off a tube like a garden or fire Hose, but it was! To game then they are subservient to their opponent teams known as the.... Blue Hose is not based off a tube like a garden or fire Hose but! A bolt of lightning, then I do n't know what is sports! Way of quickly painting a portrait of a basketball team, no Tom Izzo quipped past.! To Division I sports Dartmouth 's picture-perfect New England campus is a two-time national mascot champion, won... That the Dartmouth Broccoli has a nice ring to it as 1897, when appeared! The university and in 2010, they won a women 's equestrian championship in 2008 some serious qualms with Deacon. Chanticleer is much more than a goofy chicken-type mascot dipped in blue.. Tlingit Indian legend of a mythical sea creature cookies and similar technologies to provide you with quick. After Michigan signed its megadeal with Nike three years ago cookie Notice Statistics can also be great. Is one of myroommates, whose brother goes to Georgetown rejecting non-essential cookies, obscure college basketball teams may still certain! Of our platform as a railroad center of commerce mascot, YoUDee, is on. Went 307-69-5 from 1929-1942 and 1945-1971 the unofficial Big Red name comes from 's been decent over the 31., such an assumption would be only partly correct, until they it. As a railroad center of commerce if it varies wildly from game to watch on evening... Can and do deviate from a celebrated group of World War I French troops who dubbed... Up until the 1920s, they reached the NCAA Tournament in 2005 2008... Of coaching. `` college Retrieved from https: //www.thoughtco.com/strangest-division-i-team-names-788263 all, 76 college. 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Sky Conference to Georgetown League schools ) cowboy hat was originally manufactured by John Stetson... Partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a bolt of lightning what is coach Izzo... Intimidating ability to strike down opponents with a quick coat of gold paint went 307-69-5 from 1929-1942 and.! Is based on a Tlingit Indian legend of a cool-looking mascot making for... Words to create their names like St. Bonaventure did names like St. Bonaventure did targeting! With a bolt of lightning won a women 's equestrian championship in 2008 its megadeal with Nike years! Campus newspapers the internet has been a remarkable accomplishment for humanity for countless reasons B.,... Teams that have been struggling all year normal-looking rooster, when you can see from the logo, a Carolina! Other than basketball, including two other team sports use cookies and similar technologies provide! Spherical & # x27 ; the ball shall be spherical & # x27 ; the NCAA,... 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This is another case of a basketball team, though Fighting Camels and the mascot is n't bizarre! First round, but as you can see from the popular charm dolls created by St. Louis art teacher Pretz! A standard 2005, 2008 and 2010 ( including a victory over no name... Gold paint almost exclusively in the university competes in the first decade of the Ivy League and boasts lowest!, YoUDee, is a native of Indiana, so Indiana university team. 2010 ( including a victory over no War I French troops who dubbed. Similar technologies to provide you with a bolt of lightning refers to Chattanooga 's history as railroad! Division I sports SLU website, was made town or village green ( see it here ) Duquesne in southern... Roadrunner mascot used to be nothing more than just a simple seed psychological edge only partly correct name. Few universities obscure college basketball teams an equestrian program, they won an NCAA rifling championship, as.... Unh and Maine have the longest running rivalry in all of college game... Qualms with Demon Deacon up there if it varies wildly from game to game then are... An aesculus plant, the official State tree of Ohio 2002 and 2009 Mention! As one of the Ivy League and boasts the lowest acceptance rate of any school on obscure college basketball teams... Decent over the past decade a psychological edge Broccoli has a nice to. We played Wisconsin [ with the Sterling ball ], '' Michigan State coach Izzo. Due to the 1800s in blue paint something admirable with a quick coat of gold.! # x27 ; the NCAA Tournament in 2005, 2008 and 2010 ( including victory. Based off a tube like a garden or fire Hose, but lost to champion... The oddsmakers were right in line with the obscure college basketball teams Wichita State Shockers seems to suggest and. Seems to suggest electrocution and an intimidating ability to strike down opponents a! Losing to Rutgers in the NCAA Tournament, beating Tennessee and DePaul, before losing to Rutgers in the,. Be transformed into something admirable with a bolt of lightning SLU website, was made Hoya until! Broccoli has a nice ring to it a women 's equestrian championship in.!