# Teams Known as "The Indians" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 25, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100 "2003-03-25T19:57:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![King\_Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@King\_Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Friday)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100/21 "2003-03-26T10:35:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spectre of Pithecanthropus \* > \*\*You probably won’t find many teams named “Indians” (or “Warriors”, “Braves”, or tribal names), anymore. \*\* Woodlawn Warriors class of '92 (baltimore, md) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100/22 "2003-03-26T13:35:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neurotik \* > \*\*It doesn’t necessarily, but when the mascot is Warrior, most schools choose to illustrate that with an Indian. In fact, very few don’t. \*\* Then the logical step would be to replace the logo/mascot, rather than the name. I can understand changing “Indians” or “Redskins.” Those are insensitive names, and should be changed. “Braves” and “Warriors” I don’t buy, however. Indian/Redskin refers to an ethnicity; Brave/Warrior refers to an aggressive, masculine-sounding job, like “Crusader” or “Raider” or “Cowboy.” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100/23 "2003-03-26T14:17:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > **Indian/Redskin refers to an ethnicity** So? Why aren’t people protesting teams like the Union College Dutchmen, the San Diego Aztecs, The U of St. Thomas Celts, the Iona Gaels, the Northern Kentucky Norsemen, The U. Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns, the Alfred Saxons, or the Maryville Scots? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100/24 "2003-03-26T14:43:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\*So? Why aren’t people protesting teams like the Union College Dutchmen, the San Diego Aztecs, The U of St. Thomas Celts, the Iona Gaels, the Northern Kentucky Norsemen, The U. Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns, the Alfred Saxons, or the Maryville Scots? \*\* These names refer to groups that have not historically been widely ridiculed and discriminated against politically, economically, and socially. ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100/25 "2003-03-26T15:11:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary T \* > \*\*These names refer to groups that have not historically been widely ridiculed and discriminated against politically, economically, and socially. \*\* Yeah, the Irish were never discriminated against in the U.S. :rolleyes: Does “Irish need not apply” in help wanted ads not count? (Yes, I know that Celts were not origianaly from Ireland but the term Celtic is associated with the Irish) Anyway, I was enrolled at St. John’s during the time of the name change. I was a bit miffed because I knew the name did not originate from a Native American slur. I remember voting on the new name. They were all lame ass names to pick from too. I could have sworn that “Beast of the East” was the winner. May have even been used for a short period of time. I don’t even remember Red Storm being on the ballot but hey that was a while ago. Oh, and St. John’s did change their mascot from an American Indian/Native Amerian to a man in a red tuxedo. Apparently that wasn’t enough to appease the PC police. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100/26 "2003-03-26T15:31:26Z")
My high school was named after a specific Indian cheif (his English name) and our nickname was the Warriors. For example, we were the Sitting Bull Warriors (not Sitting Bull though). I’m not aware that there has ever been significant protest or consideration to change the school name or mascot. The logo is the profile of a Native American in headdress. There are several businesses in town named after this particular Indian also, although without the logo. Back to the OP, I think that Indians (meaning the ethnic group from the subcontinent) would be an unlikely mascot because the popular image of India is a peaceful country (Gandhi?) and unlikely to strike fear in opponents. Kind of like naming a team “The Fighting Swiss” or “The Frenchmen.” ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100/27 "2003-03-26T15:39:47Z")
> [@](#): > > ## quote: > > Originally posted by The Controvert > If this means anything like the “Crimson Tide”, I’d say it’s not so much a slur as a tasteless reference. **Neurotik** , there’s a certain flowage that’s crimson in color and synced up with the cycles of Moon. ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100/28 "2003-03-26T15:42:06Z")
When the “Fasting Hindus” meet the “Meditating Buddhas” on the gridiron, how many spectators will there be? ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100/29 "2003-03-26T15:53:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\*So? Why aren’t people protesting teams like the Union College Dutchmen, the San Diego Aztecs, The U of St. Thomas Celts, the Iona Gaels, the Northern Kentucky Norsemen, The U. Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns, the Alfred Saxons, or the Maryville Scots? \*\* I guess you’ll have to go ask a Dutchman or Aztec, or Celt, or Gael, or norseman, or Cajun, or Saxon, or Scot. ---
**Author:** ![Amethyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@Amethyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amethyst)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100/30 "2003-03-26T17:25:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neurotik \* > \*\*It doesn’t necessarily, but when the mascot is Warrior, most schools choose to illustrate that with an Indian. In fact, very few don’t. \*\* At my alma mater, University of Waterloo, the men’s teams are called the warriors, but the logo is a profile of a greek warrior’s helmet. (The women’s teams are called the Athenas) ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100/31 "2003-03-26T17:37:57Z")
**Skammer** , I wouldn’t want to take on the Swiss on their home turf. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100/32 "2003-03-26T18:30:01Z")
The San Diego State Aztec has been the subject of numerous protests. The mascot used to be a somewhat fancified guy named Monty Montezuma, but his costume has been toned down and he acts much more dignified than in the past. But it’s still San Diego State and those fans who come out for football games there are not known for the most decorous behavior. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100/33 "2003-03-26T19:05:45Z")
Some of you seem to have forgotten what the question was: “Does anybody know of a high school or college sports team in America known as “The Indians” in which the team’s symbol is obviously South Asian?” Since the answer appears to be no, I’ll close this thread at the suggestion of the OPer. If anyone has any factual information that would be of use in answering the question, e-mail me and I’ll re-open it. Debates about Native American mascots may be continued in Great Debates. bibliophage moderator GQ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teams-known-as-the-indians/164100.md?page=1)