sports extra

There has been a lot of talk this year about changing many school's nicknames, especially if they were named after Indians or tribes. I just do not think it will happen. There are too many schools that are called the Braves, for starters. Then you have the Reds, Redskins, Indians, and Seminoles (FSU was approved by the Seminole Tribe). My high school team was called the Red Raiders, so you know what I think about the idea of change. What do you do with the ACC - with it's odd nicknames such as Blue Devils, Demon Deacons, Gamecocks (named after an illegal sport), Tarheels, Hokies, Hurricanes, Tigers, Cavaliers, Eagles and of course we all "Fear the Turtle" (the Terrapins)? Of course, these are all normal sounding nicknames to us in the Southeast. I found this list below that should inspire you if you are looking for a new nickname!

Some of the oddest nicknames from around the good old USA!

Names that strike fear into the opponents' hearts:

• Aardvarks - Kingswood High School, Portland, MI
• Angry Antelopes - Whiteface (TX) High School
• Sand Gnats - Savannah, GA, of the South Atlantic Baseball league
• Biscuits - Montgomery, AL, of the Southern Baseball League
• Banana Slugs - University of California, Santa Cruz
• Dinosaurs - University of Calgary in Alberta Canada

What were they thinking?

• Aliens - Hamilton College in Nebraska
• Blockbusters - Yeshiva High School in Olivette Block, MO
• Darkhorses - Clinton, NC, High School
• Dirtbags - Long Beach State, CA, baseball team

Very, very interesting:

• Wonder Boys - Arkansas Tech
• Burgers - Warrensburg, NY High School
• Cavemen - Cave City, AR, High School
• Criminals - Yuma, AZ, High School
• Hatters - Stetson University in FL - named after John B. Stetson, maker of Stetson hats
• Headless Horsemen - Sleepy Hollow, NY, High School
• Hot Dogs - Frankfort, IN, High School
• Lugnuts - Lansing, MI, of the Midwest baseball league
• Witches - Salem, MA, High School

And - the winner for the most unusual mascot goes to Delta State University in Mississippi - the Fighting Okra