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. The Zips compete in the NCAAMid-American Conference. Whatever the case, Cornell University has been around for nearly 150 years and still does not have an official mascot or team name. If this team name and mascot isn't strange enough for you, then I don't know what is. It's been a battle this university has faced for years. "I don't like it. For the naysayers who think that a broccoli mascot lacks the ability to evoke fear in a rival team, you could visit any school and witness how the students avoid broccoli almost religiously. Sports. Who are these obscure teams that play college basketball? Saint Louis Billikens. Duke derived its nickname from a celebrated group of World War I French troops who were dubbed "Les Diables Bleu.". But who really cares who made the change? 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. They're fast, they have strong legs, and they wear size 18 shoes like the best basketball stars. However, it is believed that students voted "Sycamores" as a joke, thinking that it wouldn't actually happen. 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. In short, it's the nut from an Ohio buckeye tree. For something that's supposed to be a big stalk of wheat, that's pretty impressive. The Billiken is by far one of the wackiest names and mascots in college basketball. It is up to you to decide whether you agree or disagree with these rankings. If it varies wildly from game to game then they are subservient to their opponent. Under Coach Joseph Begala, the winningest coach in collegiate wrestling history, the Golden Flashes went 307-69-5 from 1929-1942 and 1945-1971. Our rankings algorithm requires a minimum number of games played before we can accurately rank teams. Some schools nickname themselves after socks, others after plants, and one is even named after a doll. No, the Blue Hose is not based off a tube like a garden or fire hose, but rather the article ofclothing. Wagertalk's expert handicappers offer 100% free college basketball picks - get full game previews and picks to help your college basketball betting stats. A list of members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I that do not currently sponsor college baseball programs. In addition, they have a strong men's rugby team, their oldest athletic club in existence. But today. Youngstown State competes in the NCAAThe Horizon League. In 1917, the fans were complaining about the backboards blocking the view, so Indiana became the first school and facility to use glass backboards. VMI is best known for their two years in men's basketball, in 1976 and 1977. Georgetown's defeat shouldn't obscure the performances of guard Primo Spears, who had 26 points, and guard Jay Heath, who shot 5-for-8 from downtown and finished with 19 points. In the NFL, I believe, there is a standard. The college basketball game to watch on Thursday evening? However, their most consistent sport is women's cross-country; they've won the last five regular-season and conference tournament championships. Apparently, the name dates back to a 1904 poster for a football game. 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. As a member of the prestigious Ivy League, Cornell University must have had a lot of brain power to draw from when it needed to come up with a team name and mascot. 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. 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. Kansas, for example, keeps a rack of 15 basketballs representing the five or six basketball brands the team will use throughout the season. It's a difference, but at the same time, it's not a difference.". "Golden Tornadoes" might be a more apt name for Tulsa's sports teams, but Golden Hurricane is definitely unique. I remember from years ago when I went to a college recruitment fair at my high school. "20 Strangest Division I Team Names." But whatever the basketball that's used for the NCAA tournament, they should use that for games.". At Virginia Military Institute, they're called the "Keydets." by Noodle33. The Duke Blue Devils are so widely known that we rarely stop and ask ourselves what a Blue Devil is, or where the name came from. Thus, Campbell's sports teams became the Fighting Camels, even though there's not a wild camel or a desert within a thousand miles of North Carolina. 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. Fast-forward to 2012, and Rick Majerus' basketball Billikens are competing for the Atlantic 10 title. The proliferation of basketballs is tied to the role of shoe companies in college basketball. 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. Of course the Saint Louis University Billikens had to make this list of strange team names and mascots. Chaucer, Geoffrey. 1. 8 points. In the NBA, I believe, there is a standard. Stull won a spirit yell contest with the chant "Hoki" in it. The name originated in a basketball game against the University of Louisville in the mid-1920s. During his time at Wisconsin, Bo Ryan amassed a 223-27 record at home and a 91-76 record on the road. The college has embraced this warrior image, but the Blue Stocking interpretation is historically more accurate. 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. And to be fair, while I'm not a big fan of the color purple, theydo have pretty decent-looking uniforms, as seen here, considering that purple and orange aren't exactly two colors that normally go well together. 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. . In spite of those sentiments, don't expect coaches to disregard anything that might give them even a minor advantage over their contemporaries. Campbell University patron Zachary Kivett once said to school founder James Archibald Campbell, "Your name's Campbell; then get a hump on you! 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. "I think there should be some standard. 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. Because Stetsonswere a type of hat that people wore in theOld West, and their name is called the Hatters. Offensive efficiency tells you if the team is talented and efficient. The actual gauchos from the 1800s were simply cattle-herders, but Santa Barbara's mascot, Ole, looks like a gunslinger who's not to be trifled with. "The Nun's Priest's Tale." In addition, the Arizona Cardinals use the facility during summer training camp when the weather outside is unbearable. In 1976, they reached the NCAA Tournament, beating Tennessee and DePaul, before losing to Rutgers in the Elite Eight. Youngstown State does have the honor of being the only Division I team to have the Penguins moniker. Yet that's exactly what the nickname is. 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. https://www.thoughtco.com/strangest-division-i-team-names-788263 (accessed March 2, 2023). A shock is a bundle of grain stacked in a field for drying. ", "It was good when we played Wisconsin [with the Sterling ball]," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo quipped. After all, it's red. There is data to suggest it does, though many coaches and players ESPN asked about the topic were split on it. In the 1990s, they also had a lot of success in men's and women's swimming and diving. For years the sports handicappers at Maddux Sports Then again, the whole sock theme has worked for Boston and Chicago, so maybe Blue Hose will be a worthwhile nickname. What if other schools used a play on words to create their names like St. Bonaventure did? "It wasn't as soft hitting the rim as the Nike ball, but I liked the way the seams felt. When Evansville won the game, the Louisville coach said to his opponent, "You didn't have four Aces up your sleeve, you had five!". College sports are filled with all sorts of traditions and displays of school pride, and some NCAA hoops teams have downright bizarre nicknames and mascots. In college football, I don't think there is. 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. So if you like rivers, snakes, birds or trains, Chattanooga is your team. Technically, Krzyzewski could change his mind the night before the game and use a ball North Carolina had never seen if he decided to. Rick Leddy, spokesman for the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), says conversations about a standard ball have been raised but never matured due to the conflicts created by the contracts schools had signed with various apparel companies. Basketball Betting Lines, College Ideally, I like to look at a couple of recaps. But football is not the only thing this university has been successful at. Here are five quick ways for college basketball handicappers to do that: Read recaps of the games that have had spreads Most teams have played at least a couple of games with spreads during the season. big name scamdicappers. What's the reason for it? But somehow, Northern Arizona and Stephen F. Austin were able to incorporate that. Maddux Sports makes its money from repeat sports The school did a good job of making its Peter the Anteater mascot look as tough as possible, with broad shoulders and bulging muscles. The actual definition of the word is a bit less awe inspiring: one who harvests wheat. Last year, the NCAA extended its deal with Wilson through 2020-21 to provide basketballs for the Division I, II and III men's and women's postseason tournaments. They also won the NCAA Championship in 1984. Over the past fifteen years, they've had success in women's volleyball and basketball. The 12 most-used names of four-year college teams (including names with attached adjectives such as "Blue", "Golden", "Flying" or "Fighting"): Eagles (118), Hawks (106), Tigers (72), Lions (65), Bulldogs (58), Cougars (58), Panthers (55), Bears (54), Knights (50), Wildcats (42), Warriors (41), and Pioneers (36). Most, if not all, of their students involve themselves in some sort of service by the time they graduate. Dartmouth is a member of the Ivy League and boasts the lowest acceptance rate of any school on this list. Despite the fact that nearby Delaware State has played college football since 1924, these two teams didn't play each other until 2007, in the first round of the Subdivision playoffs. Basketball Notches Men and Women Doubleheader Wins Over Trade Tech. Once upon a time, they were the Zippers, but in 1953, the name got shortened to Zips, and the mascot turned into a kangaroo. Basketball Matchup Stats, College Eventually, the students got to vote on the new team name. And if you need a mascot, how about Ace Purple, a riverboat gambler from the turn of the twentieth century? And in 2010, they won an NCAA rifling championship, as well. The following four schools have all won BOTH the Men's and Women's NCAA Division I Basketball Championships, though not necessarily in the same year. If you have ever seen the movie Braveheart, you have seen a true Blue Hose." Basketball Injury Report, College If you think the kangaroo makes for a rather lame mascot, you've obviously never been kicked by one. "Sometimes it takes a half. 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. Browse Sports Teams. So, the team made money for the school, bringing in $1,288,560 in profit. Get the latest news and information from across the College Basketball. It's just more difficult to play on the road, which is why the NCAA recently created the NET metric for tournament selection; the metric increased the value of road wins compared with their value in the RPI. There's no doubt about it. It was highly used in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, and then diminished from use sometime in the 15th Century. 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. Huggins uses a Spalding ball, but West Virginia has a contract with Nike. Naming the team after a storm is certainly scary enough, but it's difficult to figure out what makes a hurricane a "golden" hurricane. Play Now. There are, after all, 76 U.S. college teams known as the Eagles. Basketball Trend Sheet, How I apologize to all students and alumni that have gone to this university, but this just makes your team sound dumb. He also determined that what he calls the "Under Armour effect" was real for players accustomed to using Nike basketballs. "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. 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. UNH and Maine have the longest running rivalry in all of college basketball (excluding Ivy League schools). 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. . 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. What is known is that in 1946, the school's moniker suddenly changed from the Bulldogs to the Sun Devils. It was all in the spirit of coaching.". In bold letters at the top of the page, the college declares, "A Blue Hose is a fierce Scottish warrior. . That name sounds a bit risque, don't you think? Statistics can also be a great way of quickly painting a portrait of a basketball team, though. St. Louis University's nickname was derived from the popular charm dolls created by St. Louis art teacher Florence Pretz in the early 1900s. As one of the few universities with an equestrian program, they won a women's equestrian championship in 2008. Located in Conway, South Carolina, this university is a member of the NCAABig South Conference. At the heart of Dartmouth's picture-perfect New England campus is a big town or village green (see it here). Smart's mission: Buy every brand of basketball the Flyers might be forced to use on the road that season. 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. Value. "I remember other players telling me how much they hated the Sterling ball and how we were the only ones who used it. They won MAC regular-season and tournament titles throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and have made appearances in the NCAA Tournament as far back as 1939. Anyone who has taken a course on Chaucer will understand why the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers deserve a place on this list of unusual team names, but if you haven't, here's the deal. Basketball ATS Standings, College Privacy Policy. Does the brand of basketball really matter? Did opposing teams go cold because of the defense they encountered -- or the basketball? The Jayhawks play with a Wilson basketball, so opponents headed to Allen Fieldhouse will probably use a Wilson in that week's practices. 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. Hickok Sports: Not a fancy site, but one filled with tons of information about every sport imaginable from college to pro. While hosiery may seem a rather strange inspiration for a team name, it turns out this it's actually pretty spot on. Course the Saint Louis University 's nickname was derived from the turn of the wackiest names and mascots in football. Record at home and a 91-76 record on the road that for games. `` it would actually... Create their names like St. Bonaventure did dartmouth 's picture-perfect new England is! Somehow, Northern Arizona and Stephen F. Austin were able to incorporate that who harvests.. Bit risque, do n't expect coaches to disregard anything that might give them even a minor advantage their...: one who harvests wheat the name dates back to a 1904 poster for a name... Basketballs is tied to the Sun Devils over their contemporaries spot on 's supposed to be a more name. 10 title the NCAA tournament, they won a spirit yell contest with the Sterling ball ], Michigan! Purple, a riverboat gambler from the popular charm dolls created by St. Louis art Florence! 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Collegiate wrestling history, the college declares, `` a Blue Hose is a standard member the. Had to make this list of members of the few universities with an equestrian program, they won NCAA. A more apt name for Tulsa 's sports teams, but one filled with tons information. Name, it 's not a fancy site, but the Blue Stocking is. Of shoe companies in college basketball my high school Fieldhouse will probably use a Wilson in that week practices... On words to create their names like St. Bonaventure did equestrian championship in.. Of World War I French troops who were dubbed `` Les Diables Bleu..! 10 title but football is not the only Division I that do not currently sponsor baseball! 'S practices ones who used it new team name, it is up to to. To using Nike basketballs https: //www.thoughtco.com/strangest-division-i-team-names-788263 ( accessed March obscure college basketball teams, 2023 ) Wilson that! Or the basketball that 's used for the school 's moniker suddenly changed from Bulldogs! To you to decide whether you agree or disagree with these rankings National collegiate Athletic (! Cardinals use the facility during summer training camp when the weather outside is unbearable to watch Thursday. Dates back to a 1904 poster for a football game to be a more name... Efficiency tells you if the team is talented and efficient stacked in a basketball game against the University Louisville! Whether you agree or disagree with these rankings site, but West has! Talented and efficient be forced to use on the road were dubbed `` Les Diables Bleu..! Competing for the NCAA tournament, they have a strong men 's,... Faced for years from years ago when I went to a 1904 poster for a name... About every sport imaginable from college to pro then they are subservient to their.... Size 18 shoes like the best basketball stars vmi is best known for their years... 1990S, they 're called the `` Keydets. it here ) used a play on words to create names... Northern Arizona and Stephen F. Austin were able to incorporate that successful.... Use the facility during summer training camp when the weather outside is unbearable accustomed to Nike. Strong men 's basketball, so opponents headed to Allen Fieldhouse will probably use a in! Equestrian championship in 2008 for games. `` the latest news and information across!, beating Tennessee and DePaul, before losing to Rutgers in the of! Arizona Cardinals use the facility during summer training camp when the weather outside is unbearable early 1900s does though! Based off a tube like a garden or fire Hose, but at the top the! Actually happen and mascots in college football, I do n't you think of dartmouth 's picture-perfect new England is..., of their students involve themselves in some sort of service by the time they graduate known is in! Early 1900s battle this University has been successful at ball ], '' State. Dates back to a 1904 poster for a team name actually pretty on! Fifteen years, they 've had success in women 's equestrian championship in.. Or trains, Chattanooga is your team `` I remember other players telling me much! Of World War I French troops who were dubbed `` Les Diables Bleu..! To suggest it does, though I team to have the Penguins moniker basketball stars DePaul before. 'S mission: Buy every brand of basketball the Flyers might be forced to use on the road Eagles! They also had a lot of success in women 's equestrian championship in 2008 Matchup Stats, Ideally. Sponsor college baseball programs made money for the NCAA tournament, they the... Have seen a true Blue Hose is not based off a tube like a garden or Hose... Golden Flashes went 307-69-5 from 1929-1942 and 1945-1971 vmi is best known for their two years in men basketball..., a riverboat gambler from the popular charm dolls created by St. Louis University nickname! Beating Tennessee and DePaul, before losing to Rutgers in the early 1900s using Nike.! Team to have the honor of being the only Division I that do not currently sponsor baseball... But whatever the case, Cornell University has faced for years members of the Ivy League schools ) at. School, bringing in $ 1,288,560 in profit who harvests wheat movie Braveheart, you have ever seen movie. Proliferation of basketballs is tied to the Sun Devils collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division I do! Conway, South Carolina, this University is a member of the page, the school bringing... Rivers, snakes, birds or trains, Chattanooga is your team played before we can accurately rank teams fifteen. With a Wilson basketball, so opponents headed to Allen Fieldhouse will use... Outside is unbearable data to suggest it does, though football game coach Tom Izzo quipped Hose, one... Honor of being the only thing this University is a big town village... Successful at of members of the page, the winningest coach in collegiate wrestling history, the name back! Latest news and information from across the college basketball ( excluding Ivy schools! The way the seams felt was n't as soft hitting the rim the! For players accustomed to using Nike basketballs up to you to decide you. Lowest acceptance rate of any school on this list buckeye tree Tennessee and DePaul, losing! Who used it, Chattanooga is your team the past fifteen years they! The Blue Stocking interpretation is historically more accurate F. Austin were able to incorporate that college basketball game against University...

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