List of College Nickname Changes in The United States - Changes

Changes

• Adams State Grizzles, 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.
• Alaska Nanooks, changed from the "Polar Bears" to "Nanooks" (the Inupiaq word for polar bear) in 1963.
• Arizona State Sun Devils, formerly the "Owls", then the "Bulldogs" from 1922 to 1946
• Arkansas Razorbacks, changed from the "Cardinals" in 1909.
• Arkansas State Red Wolves, formerly the "Indians" (1931–2008), "Warriors" (1930–1931), "Gorillas" (1925–1930), and "Aggies" (1911–1925).
• 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.
• Ball State Cardinals, changed from the "Hoosieroons" in 1929.
• Brooklyn Bridges, formerly the "Kingsmen"
• Baruch Bearcats, formerly the "Statesmen"
• Bowling Green Falcons, changed from the "Normals" in 1927.
• Brewton–Parker Barons, formerly the "Wildcats"
• Brown Bears, Senator Theodore F. Green suggested the nickname "Bears" in 1904, but the unofficial nickname "Bruins" became more prevalent starting in the 1930s. 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.
• Buffalo Bulls, formerly known as the "Bisons" (1915–1930), changed to distinguish from the city of Buffalo's identically named professional teams.
• Carthage Red Men, reverted from "Redmen"
• Cedar Crest Falcons, formerly the "Classics"
• Central Florida 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.
• 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".
• 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.
• Connecticut Huskies, officially adopted as the nickname in 1934, they had previous been unofficially known as the "Aggies" and the "Statesmen".
• Crossroads Knights, formerly the "Royals"
• Cumberlands Patriots, formerly the Cumberland "Indians" (note the singular "Cumberland"); known as Cumberland College until 2005, when it became the University of the Cumberlands. The nickname change came earlier.
• 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
• East Carolina Pirates, changed from the "Teachers" in 1934. 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".
• 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"
• Florida International Golden Panthers, changed from "Sunblazers" in 1987
• 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 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)
• University of Hawaii at Manoa, known as "Fighting Deans" before 1923; the school's nickname was "Rainbows" from 1923 through 2000, 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"
• 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.
• IUP Crimson Hawks, changed from the "Indians" in 2006
• Iowa State Cyclones, changed from "Cardinals" in 1895
• IUPUI Jaguars, changed from the "Metros" in 1997 upon moving to NCAA Division I.
• 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. The school changed its name to Kansas State University later.
• Kent State Golden Flashes, changed from the "Silver Foxes" in 1927
• Lander Bearcats, formerly the "Senators"
• Lehigh Mountain Hawks, changed from the "Engineers" in 1995; also previously known as the "Brown and White"
• 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.
• 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.
• 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".
• Maryland Terrapins, made official in 1932, although in unofficial use earlier; formerly the "Old Liners", and before that, the "Aggies" and "Farmers" when the school was known as Maryland Agricultural College.
• 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".
• Michigan State Spartans, changed from "Aggies" in 1925, which had been used contemporaneously with the unofficial nicknames of the "Fighting Farmers" and "Farmers".
• Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, adopted in 1934 to replace a "wide range of names"
• Midwestern State Mustangs, formerly the "Indians"
• 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.
• 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"
• Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks, adopted in the summer of 1971, previously known as "Indians" from 1939 to 1971 and "Cardinals" before 1939
• Nevada Wolf Pack, adopted in 1923, they had previously been known as the "Sagebrushers" and "Sage Hens"
• 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.
• New Mexico State Aggies, the women's athletics teams were known as the "Roadrunners" until 2000, when they adopted the same nickname as the men's teams.
• North Carolina State Wolfpack, adopted in 1922, previous nicknames had included the "Aggies", "Farmers", "Techs", and "Red Terrors"
• North Dakota Fighting Sioux, known as the "Flickertails" until 1930.
• North Greenville Crusaders, formerly the "Mounties"
• North Texas Mean Green, formerly known as the "Eagles" (1922–1966), the teams were renamed in honor of "Mean" Joe Greene
• Northern Illinois Huskies, adopted in 1940, previous names had included "Cardinals", "Evansmen", "Northerners", "Profs", and "Teachers"
• Northwest Christian Beacons, formerly the "Crusaders"
• Northwestern Wildcats, changed from the "Purple" in 1924
• 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.
• Ohio Bobcats, replaced the "Green and White" in 1925
• Oklahoma Sooners, replaced the "Rough Riders" and "Boomers" in 1908
• Oklahoma City Stars, formerly the "Chiefs" and the "Goldbugs"
• Oklahoma State Cowboys - 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.
• Ole Miss Rebels, changed from the "Flood" in 1935 because of the negative association with natural disasters
• 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.
• 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.
• Pacific Lutheran Lutes, formerly the "Gladiators"
• Quinnipiac Bobcats, changed from the "Braves" in 2002
• Richmond Spiders, changed from the "Colts" in 1894.
• Rio Grande Red Storm, changed from the "Redmen" and "Redwomen" in 2008.
• Ripon Red Hawks, changed from "Redmen"
• Rutgers Scarlet Knights, changed from the "Queensmen" in 1955
• 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
• 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
• Southern Miss Golden Eagles, adopted in 1972, the school had several previous nicknames, 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
• Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm, formerly the "Redskins"
• Spalding Golden Eagles, formerly the "Pelicans"
• Springfield College Pride, formerly the "Chiefs"
• Stanford Cardinal, adopted in 1981, formerly known as the "Indians" (1930–1972) and the plural "Cardinals" (1972–1981)
• 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)
• 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.
• 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".
• 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.
• 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.
• Tulsa Golden Hurricanes, adopted in 1922, formerly known as the "Orange and Black", "Kendallites", "Presbyterians", "Tigers", "Tulsans", and "Yellow Jackets".
• 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.
• UCSC Banana Slugs, changed in 1986 by student referendum from "Sea Lions", which had been used since the school began sponsoring NCAA athletics in 1981
• USC Trojans, replaced the "Methodists" and "Wesleyans" in 1912
• USP Devils, formerly the "Red Devils"
• Utah Utes, formerly used "Redskins" nickname simultaneously with "Utes" nickname but discontinued using "Redskins" in 1972
• 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
• 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)