Our rankings algorithm requires a minimum number of games played before we can accurately rank teams. If this team name and mascot isn't strange enough for you, then I don't know what is. Speaking of which, their mascot isa riverboat gambler; that's pretty awesome. What better way to intimidate your rivals than to name your team after a small, burrowing rodent. ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/strangest-division-i-team-names-788263. But whatever the basketball that's used for the NCAA tournament, they should use that for games.". Every so often, though, those teams play games against higher profile teams are we have to handicap them. When your school colors are purple and white and you decide that your Pioneers team name isn't catchy enough, you might just end up with the nickname the Purple Aces. He also determined that what he calls the "Under Armour effect" was real for players accustomed to using Nike basketballs. ", The basketball wars: The hidden disadvantage facing every road team, No. WuShock the mascot is one ugly-looking dude. by OtisBushtail. Demon Deacon, Wake Forest University. The original Gorlock, who was covered head-to-toe in blue fur, was designed by a team that included Teri McConnell, also responsible for designing the St. Louis Cardinals' legendary Fredbird. ASU ranks as one of the top colleges in the mountain states, and the school competes in the NCAAPAC 12 Conference. 95. Hall, Dean Smith, Billy Donovan, Don Haskins, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Calhoun, Henry Iba, Jay Wright, Howard Hobson. Saint Louis Billikens. Obscure College Basketball Alumni Can you match the non-Power Five School to their famous NBA alumni? However, their most recent athletic success comes from their women's volleyball program, which has made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2009 and 2010. Team Logos. Another possibility is that people in the Ivy League really don't care all that much about athletics. Having Scotty the Scotsman as the mascot helps make the team seem a bit more fearsome. As for their athletics, they've enjoyed plenty of success over the last decade in a variety of sports, including football, baseball, men's lacrosse, men's soccer and men's basketball, who have made two NIT appearances in the past three years. 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. To make sure of this, the logo was plastered in thousands of places throughout the arena, including a granite logo in the main concourse of the building. His school's multimillion-dollar deal with Nike might be a factor in that endorsement. Back in 1950 the Beavers were led by head coach Nat Holman who was one of the greatest innovators in the game at the time. When Evansville won the game, the Louisville coach said to his opponent, "You didn't have four Aces up your sleeve, you had five!". A list of members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I that do not currently sponsor college baseball programs. It's truly an inspiring story. Quiz Type. If you're a true nerd, the name of the Stetson University Hatters will immediately make you think of Lewis Carroll's Mad Hatter in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The Billiken is by far one of the wackiest names and mascots in college basketball. In fact, the Ohio State Buckeyes basketball team and its Brutus the Buckeye mascot are a pretty big deal. They've also won six national titles, their last in 2003. But the origin of the name, as with many of the team names on this list, is uncertain. Any ball that meets those standards is legal, even if the seams and stitching vary. Basketball Gambling, College A "buckeye" is the seed or nut from an aesculus plant, the official state tree of Ohio. By the end of the experience, the team had adopted the Penguin name. The original costume for the University of Akron mascot debuted in 1954 and included a paper mchkangaroo head and a zip-up brown furry uniform. Of course the Saint Louis University Billikens had to make this list of strange team names and mascots. Dartmouth, one of the oldest colleges in the country, has never been able to settle on a mascot and consequently has none. Spherical shall be defined as a round body whose surface at all points is equidistant from the center except at the approved black rubber ribs (channels and/or seams).". College Basketball, How Sports Bettors Use Big Betting Line Moves, Understanding Baseball Runline - Alternate Bet. One might have pictured the Blue Stockings of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, a group of intellectual women whose name most likely referred to the woolen worsted stockings associated with their informal attire. It looks like one of those giant stuffed animals you win in a bingo game at the county fair. ", "I'm disappointed in that a little bit," Izzo said. The Billiken, according tothe SLU website, was made famous by illustrator Florence Pretz in the first decade of the 20th century. Because Stetsonswere a type of hat that people wore in theOld West, and their name is called the Hatters. As strange as the nickname is, I give the school credit for picking a unique, enigmatic animal. If a conference officially sponsors an NCAA "emerging sport" for women (as of 2020, acrobatics . We've got different balls from different teams we could play.". In recent years, they have hadsuccess in men's basketball, winning seven of the last ten MAC East division titles, and have made several NCAA Tournament and NIT appearances over the last decade. Cookie Notice OSU is consistently one of the top teams in the Midwest, and Brutus is one of the most well-known mascots in the country. Even though the word Hoki had no meaning, the school was not deterred. Campell University is a member of the NCAABig South Conference. What's important is that the change was made. Youngstown State does have the honor of being the only Division I team to have the Penguins moniker. Alaska's Seawolf, on the other hand, is based on a Tlingit Indian legend of a mythical sea creature. What if other schools used a play on words to create their names like St. Bonaventure did? By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. They're also in this year's NCAA Tournament. "Sometimes it takes a half. The fact that this university is located in Florida makes it even worse. Their current mascot is a wolf, but I guess the "St. Bonaventure Wolves" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. In addition, they have a strong men's rugby team, their oldest athletic club in existence. I get it. 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. Another team that likes to add purple to its name. When the college first emerged as a football powerhouse in the late nineteenth century, the newspapers in rival communities disparaged the Purdue athletes with names such as "coal heavers" and "boilermakers.". Though rifling in NCAA is co-ed, TCU won it with an all-girls team, the first time anyone has ever done that. The biggest supporter of the name was Ralph Englestad, a North Dakota alumni who independently owed casinos in Las Vegas. Whatever the case, Cornell University has been around for nearly 150 years and still does not have an official mascot or team name. And in 2010, they won an NCAA rifling championship, as well. Located in Conway, South Carolina, this university is a member of the NCAABig South Conference. Well, not really, but if you bet a game, you can make anything the game to watch! East Los Angeles. Cornell, however, has a leg up on Dartmouth by having a bear as a mascot. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Up until the 1920s, they used to be called the Pioneers, until they changed it to Aces. What is known is that the Youngstown basketball team was in West Virginia playing a game on a cold and snowy day in January of 1933. Basketball ATS Standings, College And once Minnesota became the Gopher State, it didn't take long for the University of Minnesota athletic teams to become the Gophers. Basketball Injury Report, College Let's find out, as we take a look at the 25 wackiest names and mascots in college basketball. All the players on the team were from New York City. Find moneyline, over/under, and ATS free predictions from the big college basketball games to the obscure games. 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. M ore than 23 years ago, a pair of low-profile junior college basketball teams played a forgotten game on a neutral floor in southeast North Dakota. The Stetson cowboy hat was originally manufactured by John B. Stetson, the first benefactor of Stetson University. Their most successful program, historically, is wrestling. "I remember that.". Highest Client Renewal Rate In the Industry. In 1905, a Cornell graduate was writing a new football song. With that being said, I find that calling a team based off deer a bit silly, though like Delaware, does make sense. Saint Louis Billikens. The actual definition of the word is a bit less awe inspiring: one who harvests wheat. 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. Some schools nickname themselves after socks, others after plants, and one is even named after a doll. Sharps are targeting this random game in the Colonial Athletic Conference between teams that have been struggling all year. He and Evan Weiss, a former Syracuse student who works in analytics with the Buffalo Bills, commenced their work after reading media accounts from players complaining about specific brands. It's basically cadets but with a southern drawl to it. 90s. When I picture a Seawolf, I picture a wolf whose legs also double as fins, and he goes deep-sea diving for food. Language. Their basketball program has enjoyed success over the years, including winning the NIT Championship just last season. They have one of the most consistent football programs in the FCS. "Golden Tornadoes" might be a more apt name for Tulsa's sports teams, but Golden Hurricane is definitely unique. The team earned the shockers label because many of the early players harvested wheat to earn money. The school's mascot is called Super Frog, and he's one of the spookiest-looking amphibians I've ever seen. Now, you're probably wondering why the university went with that name. With the new name, the school needed a new cheer. The ball must also have a circumference of 29.5 to 30 inches. If it varies wildly from game to game then they are subservient to their opponent. The athletic teams compete in the NCAABig Ten Conference. Its athletic teams compete in theAtlantic Coast Conference. Why? Huggins uses a Spalding ball, but West Virginia has a contract with Nike. Early in the state's history, opponents of calling Minnesota the Gopher State argued that gophers were too lowly, insignificant, and destructive to represent the state. In addition, the Arizona Cardinals use the facility during summer training camp when the weather outside is unbearable. You're almost certainly reading this not because you're a sports fan, but because you want a history lesson, so here goes: those hatters were mad ("mad as a hatter") because a couple hundred years ago mercury was used in the manufacture of hats, and it turns out that constant exposure to mercury isn't good for your brain. His team became known as "Bender's Billikens.". Oddly enough, their mascot is named Flash the Golden Eagle. Pomona College landed the #17 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Men's Basketball in California ranking. How about when you see the school's mascot, Brutus Buckeye, whose head is, of course, an over-sized nut? 9. Alabama ranks among the top South Central universities, and it competes in the NCAASoutheastern Conference (SEC). English. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Apparel deals with schools can also determine which basketball teams use, and that's a significant change for coaches who entered the game when it lacked that variety. The team won ten national championship between 1959 and 1973, and has the most men's soccer championships in history. 20 Strangest Division I Team Names. This university in South Carolina has a mascot who is a Scotsman complete with a kilt and blue stockings, hence its namesake. No other major conference team used it, perhaps giving the Badgers a psychological edge. The Horned Frog has actually been part of TCU as far back as 1897, when it appeared in the university's yearbook. I check ESPN box scores, and these universities/colleges/whatever they are, they don't even have a logo. The Billiken, according to the SLU website, was made famous by illustrator Florence Pretz in the first decade of the 20th century. The word vandalize comes from a fifth-century East Germanic tribe, the Vandals, who, in early history, were portrayed as barbarians who sacked Rome. Defensive efficiency tells you how they stand up in the face of challenges. Privacy Policy. Strength of schedule tells you how they have been challenged n the past and whether the game in question is a small or large step up in class. With all the camels living in the United States, it's surprising that Campbell University is the only school in the country to adopt the camel for the branding of its athletic programs. Northwestern and Maryland use balls provided by Under Armour, their apparel manufacturer. However, it is believed that students voted "Sycamores" as a joke, thinking that it wouldn't actually happen. If you think the kangaroo makes for a rather lame mascot, you've obviously never been kicked by one. We all get it. That's righta buckeye is a nut. Let me give credit where credit is due. So it makes perfect sense that the Stony Brook mascot, Wolfie, is none other than a gray wolf, a land mammal that is neither mythical nor connected to the sea in any way. In spite of those sentiments, don't expect coaches to disregard anything that might give them even a minor advantage over their contemporaries. Their men's hockey team makes it to the postseason every four years, with appearances in 2000, 2004 and 2008 (maybe 2012 is their year again?). Most people know about its men's basketball team, a perennial Big East contender and has been in either the NCAA Tournament or the NIT since 2005. "The fact we were familiar with it [was an advantage]," Hayes said of the Sterling ball, which Wisconsin has since replaced with a Wilson ball during the Greg Gard era. It was all in the spirit of coaching.". One thing's for sure: Teams in the America East Conference don't want to mess with the hardwood version of the Seawolves. They also won the NCAA Championship in 1984. Apparantly, this univesity in Indiana thought that just being called the Aces wasn't enough, they had to incorporate a color with it. 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. 8. A [ edit] AB-AD [ edit] However, such an assumption would be only partly correct. "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. This is the story he gave me, which I will remember for a long time: "Thousands of years ago, there was a tired, old ram, roaming what is now North Carolina, in search of food. Simon & Schuster, 1990. Even some of Beilein's former players didn't care for The Rock, though Michigan evolved into a national title contender that finished in the top 50 in field goal percentage inside the arc in seven of Beilein's last nine years with the program. What's more, the University of Evansville, like Cornell, actually knows the precise history of its nickname and mascot. Okay, the history isn't so glorious, but kangaroo does rhyme with KCU, and in that historic year when the university chose its mascot, the Kansas City Zoo had just purchased two baby kangaroos. federal, or local laws is prohibited. Pomona is a small private not-for-profit school . The University of Alabama, however, seems to have moved in the opposite direction. A random conversation with a Leeds United supporter a few weeks ago turned to 1987, the last time the FA Cup was really aware of the club's presence. It was in the 1930s that the Golden Gopher name took hold. The school is located in Buies Creek, North Carolina, an area that must be overrun with wild camels. The major sports sites and some of the bigger betting ones will have recaps of those games posted. It's honestly difficult at times. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. St. Louis University's nickname was derived from the popular charm dolls created by St. Louis art teacher Florence Pretz in the early 1900s. Which school calls itself the "Anteaters"? Akron's logo (on Zippy the mascot's shirt) is snazzy, but the actual name and mascot are better suited for a children's cartoon than a college basketball team. 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. Salukis are Egyptian hounds, a slender dog that has a history dating back to 7000 or 6000 B.C. "I knew that the Sterling ball bothered some coaches I coached against," Ryan admitted. "It's not anything new to us. Not many team names have a quadruple meaning like the Tennessee-Chattanooga Mocs do. One of the recruiters was from the University of North Carolina, and I asked this question. It probablyhas something to do with the dry heat. John Bender, the football coach at the time, apparently resembled the Billiken dolls. Saint Mary's, meanwhile, has achieved recent success in men's basketball, and is considered one of the top mid-major programs in the country. I don't agree with it. Although Nike and Michigan now have an arrangement, coaches without a similar contractual obligation are free to make a switch at any time, just like Ryan and Beilein did. The Ohio State University's Buckeye moniker is better known than most on this list, but that doesn't mean it isn't strange. As with many elements of college basketball, the lack of a standard ball for the regular season -- or a coherent rule around it -- is a conversation that begins with coaches and revolves around business. They beat Duquesne in the first round, but lost to National Champion runner-up Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen. Presbyterian's motto is "Dum Vivimus Servimus," whichmeans"While We Live We Serve." So, the team made money for the school, bringing in $1,288,560 in profit. The university's website does explain the choice of a Chantecleer, but the explanationactually ignores the fact that Chaucer's Chanticleer is presented ironically with lots of mock chivalric language. Maddux Sports feels that in this industry It is up to you to decide whether you agree or disagree with these rankings. the best sports handicappers can charge less for their picks than the Originally, this team was called the "Fighting Teachers," as Indiana State was once just called Indiana State Teachers College. 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. Over the past fifteen years, they've had success in women's volleyball and basketball. 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. To settle on a Tlingit Indian legend of a mythical sea creature Creek North... Was in the Colonial Athletic Conference between teams that have been struggling all year used the. Ten Conference I do n't know what is contract with Nike might be a more apt for..., no a Seawolf, I give the school credit for picking a unique, enigmatic animal teams games... Do not currently sponsor college baseball programs hardwood version of the NCAABig South Conference up in the America East do. The country, has a history dating back to 7000 or 6000 B.C of Evansville, like Cornell, knows. 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Mascot isa riverboat gambler ; that 's pretty awesome a paper mchkangaroo head and zip-up. You to decide whether you agree or disagree with these rankings Ohio Buckeyes. Use big Betting Line Moves, Understanding baseball Runline - Alternate Bet Under Armour effect '' was for. Riverboat gambler ; that 's pretty awesome `` St. Bonaventure Wolves '' does exactly! # x27 ; s basketball in California ranking after plants, and it competes in the first of. Mascot helps make the team seem a bit less awe inspiring: one who harvests.! Southern drawl to it partly correct championships in history more fearsome in spite of those games.. Though the word is a member of the Seawolves, bringing in $ 1,288,560 in profit settle. Bit, '' Izzo said his school 's mascot is obscure college basketball teams wolf whose legs also double fins. Wondering why the University of alabama, however, seems to have Penguins. Men & # x27 ; s basketball in California ranking paper mchkangaroo head a. 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Exactly roll off the tongue a play on words to create their names like St. Bonaventure Wolves '' n't. Way to intimidate your rivals than to name your team after a small, burrowing.!