What's in a name?

[pc72687]

South Carolina adopted their mascot name the "gamecocks" not because of a fighting chicken but for more historical purposes. Thomas Sumter was a Revolutionary War general whom the movie "The Patriot" was based upon. His nickname was "the gamecock" because he wore roster or gamecock feathers on his hat.

Does your school have any historical ties or interesting tidbits about their mascot?

[Foxman]

Tennessee Volunteers got their name from the many volunteers from our state during the Spanish-American war.

[rebeldude]

South Carolina adopted their mascot name the "gamecocks" not because of a fighting chicken but for more historical purposes. Thomas Sumter was a Revolutionary War general whom the movie "The Patriot" was based upon. His nickname was "the gamecock" because he wore roster or gamecock feathers on his hat.

Does your school have any historical ties or interesting tidbits about their mascot?

We don't have one!! :mad:

[Noah.Dreams]

Tennessee Volunteers got their name from the many volunteers from our state during the Spanish-American war.

I thought it originated from Andrew Jackson's army in the War of 1812.

[SilverBritches]

We are the Bulldogs because the guy who started our football program came from Yale, which is also nicknamed the bulldogs.

[Jordan]

The Elephant Story (from rolltide.com (http://www.rolltide.com/Traditions/5457.asp))

Elephant Head LogoThe story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team.

On October 8, 1930, sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story of the Alabama-Mississippi game he had witnessed in Tuscaloosa four days earlier. Strupper wrote, "That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical Wade machine, powerful, big, tough, fast, aggressive, well-schooled in fundamentals, and the best blocking team for this early in the season that I have ever seen. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes.

"Coach Wade started his second team that was plenty big and they went right to their knitting scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against one of the best fighting small lines that I have seen. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground.

"At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity.

"It was the first time that I had seen it and the size of the entire eleven nearly knocked me cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size."

Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys.

The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions.

How the Crimson Tide Got its Name (from rolltide.com (http://www.rolltide.com/Traditions/5456.asp))

1900 Offensive formationIn early newspaper accounts of Alabama football, the team was simply listed as the "varsity" or the "Crimson White" after the school colors.

The first nickname to become popular and used by headline writers was the "Thin Red Line." The nickname was used until 1906.

The name "Crimson Tide" is supposed to have first been used by Hugh Roberts, former sports editor of the Birmingham Age-Herald. He used "Crimson Tide" in describing an Alabama-Auburn game played in Birmingham in 1907, the last football contest between the two schools until 1948 when the series was resumed. The game was played in a sea of mud and Auburn was a heavy favorite to win.

But, evidently, the "Thin Red Line" played a great game in the red mud and held Auburn to a 6-6 tie, thus gaining the name "Crimson Tide." Zipp Newman, former sports editor of the Birmingham News, probably popularized the name more than any other writer.

[pc72687]

Interesting. It is interesting to me how these schools pick their mascots.

[Volnooga]

I thought it originated from Andrew Jackson's army in the War of 1812.

Yep..
Tennessee acquired its name "The Volunteer State" in the early days of the nineteenth century in the War of 1812. At the request of President James Madison, Gen. Andrew Jackson, later President, mustered 1500 from his home state to fight the Indians and later the British at the Battle of New Orleans.

The name became even more prominent in the Mexican War when Gov. Aaron V. Brown issued a call for 2800 men to battle Santa Ana and some 30,000 Tennesseans volunteered. The dragoon uniform worn by Tennessee regulars during that conflict is still seen adorning the color guard at UT athletic events.

The term "Volunteer State," as noted through these two events, recognizes the long-standing tendency of Tennesseans to go above and beyond the call of duty when their country calls. The name "Volunteers" is frequently shortened to "Vols" in describing Tennessee's athletic teams.

[Volnooga]

Oh yea, I just want to say, you can keep your gator, your tiger, your dawg...

I'll be a volunteer til the day I die..

[Noah.Dreams]

The orange and white colors of Tennessee were taken from the daisies that grow on campus.

[Volnooga]

The orange and white colors of Tennessee were taken from the daisies that grow on campus.


Correct again... I'm impressed...

[Noah.Dreams]

Correct again... I'm impressed...

As a born and bred Tennessean, I know Tennessee history like the back of my hand.

[Volnooga]

Traitor.... :D

[Noah.Dreams]

Traitor.... :D

Funny thing... the county I was raised in borders Alabama. Before the war of northern aggression, Franklin Countians were so frustrated with Tennessee's delay in seceding from the Union, they petitioned the state of Alabama for membership. Before it was approved, Tennessee joined the Confederancy and Franklin County remained in Tennessee.

[pc72687]

Before the war of northern aggression.

I have been saying that for years. Also this "A superior culture beat by superior firepower."

[rolltide83]

The Elephant Story

Elephant Head LogoThe story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team.

On October 8, 1930, sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story of the Alabama-Mississippi game he had witnessed in Tuscaloosa four days earlier. Strupper wrote, "That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical Wade machine, powerful, big, tough, fast, aggressive, well-schooled in fundamentals, and the best blocking team for this early in the season that I have ever seen. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes.

"Coach Wade started his second team that was plenty big and they went right to their knitting scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against one of the best fighting small lines that I have seen. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground.

"At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity.

"It was the first time that I had seen it and the size of the entire eleven nearly knocked me cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size."

Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys.

The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions.

How the Crimson Tide Got its Name

1900 Offensive formationIn early newspaper accounts of Alabama football, the team was simply listed as the "varsity" or the "Crimson White" after the school colors.

The first nickname to become popular and used by headline writers was the "Thin Red Line." The nickname was used until 1906.

The name "Crimson Tide" is supposed to have first been used by Hugh Roberts, former sports editor of the Birmingham Age-Herald. He used "Crimson Tide" in describing an Alabama-Auburn game played in Birmingham in 1907, the last football contest between the two schools until 1948 when the series was resumed. The game was played in a sea of mud and Auburn was a heavy favorite to win.

But, evidently, the "Thin Red Line" played a great game in the red mud and held Auburn to a 6-6 tie, thus gaining the name "Crimson Tide." Zipp Newman, former sports editor of the Birmingham News, probably popularized the name more than any other writer.


Wow... you're a freaking genius... or maybe you just ripped that entire post word for word from a book that I read last year about the Tide... can't even remember the name, but I believe it was published at the end or near the end of Bear's career here.. the least you could have done was acknowledge the authors, instead of trying to make yourself look like you're the end all of Alabama knowledge.

[pc72687]

I like your signature rolltide83.

[nooneLT]

Wow... you're a freaking genius... or maybe you just ripped that entire post word for word from a book that I read last year about the Tide... can't even remember the name, but I believe it was published at the end or near the end of Bear's career here.. the least you could have done was acknowledge the authors, instead of trying to make yourself look like you're the end all of Alabama knowledge.


uh...it's right out of rolltide.com

[rolltide83]

uh...it's right out of rolltide.com

Ok, so maybe not a book... :) Sorry.

[Jordan]

Wow... you're a freaking genius... or maybe you just ripped that entire post word for word from a book that I read last year about the Tide... can't even remember the name, but I believe it was published at the end or near the end of Bear's career here.. the least you could have done was acknowledge the authors, instead of trying to make yourself look like you're the end all of Alabama knowledge.
As much as I'd like to believe I'm a genius.... I copied it straight from rolltide.com.

I thought I stuck a note at the top of it, but apparently I missed it. Editing the original post now. :p

Just FYI, I wasn't trying to make myself look knowledgable. I've posted this a few times over the years, and noted the source in past threads. I just accidentally left it out this time.

[pc72687]

Your forgiven. Not that anyone really cared if you wrote it or someone else. It is still interesting anyways.