# The Atoz Game (Part 3) **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [December 2, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341 "2025-12-02T22:20:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/141 "2026-01-03T06:12:07Z")
**Universities and their team names** Arizona Wildcats Baylor Bears Columbia Lions Drexel Dragons Eastern Washington Eagles Florida State Seminoles Georgetown Hoyas Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors Indiana Hoosiers Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Kansas Jayhawks Laurentian Voyageurs MIT Beavers Nevada Rebels Oregon Ducks Penn State Nittany Lions Not sure what a Nittany is. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/142 "2026-01-03T08:40:18Z")
The “Nittany” is for Mount Nittany, overlooking the Penn State campus in State College, PA. **Universities and their team names** Arizona Wildcats Baylor Bears Columbia Lions Drexel Dragons Eastern Washington Eagles Florida State Seminoles Georgetown Hoyas Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors Indiana Hoosiers Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Kansas Jayhawks Laurentian Voyageurs MIT Beavers Nevada Rebels Oregon Ducks Penn State Nittany Lions Quinnipiac Bobcats Formerly the Braves. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/143 "2026-01-03T15:48:28Z")
**Universities and their team names** Arizona Wildcats Baylor Bears Columbia Lions Drexel Dragons Eastern Washington Eagles Florida State Seminoles Georgetown Hoyas Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors Indiana Hoosiers Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Kansas Jayhawks Laurentian Voyageurs MIT Beavers Nevada Rebels Oregon Ducks Penn State Nittany Lions Quinnipiac Bobcats Rice Owls I remember looking around for Mt Nittany when I visited Penn State, and it’s not very tall, according to Wiki 2077 ft and “generally too small to be considered a mountain”. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/144 "2026-01-03T16:58:52Z")
**Universities and their team names** Arizona Wildcats Baylor Bears Columbia Lions Drexel Dragons Eastern Washington Eagles Florida State Seminoles Georgetown Hoyas Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors Indiana Hoosiers Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Kansas Jayhawks Laurentian Voyageurs MIT Beavers Nevada Rebels Oregon Ducks Penn State Nittany Lions Quinnipiac Bobcats Rice Owls SMU Mustangs (Southern Methodist University) ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/145 "2026-01-03T18:46:56Z")
**Universities and their team names** Arizona Wildcats Baylor Bears Columbia Lions Drexel Dragons Eastern Washington Eagles Florida State Seminoles Georgetown Hoyas Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors Indiana Hoosiers Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Kansas Jayhawks Laurentian Voyageurs MIT Beavers Nevada Rebels Oregon Ducks Penn State Nittany Lions Quinnipiac Bobcats Rice Owls SMU Mustangs Troy Trojans ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/146 "2026-01-03T22:05:01Z")
**Universities and their team names** Arizona Wildcats Baylor Bears Columbia Lions Drexel Dragons Eastern Washington Eagles Florida State Seminoles Georgetown Hoyas Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors Indiana Hoosiers Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Kansas Jayhawks Laurentian Voyageurs MIT Beavers Nevada Running Rebels Oregon Ducks Penn State Nittany Lions Quinnipiac Bobcats Rice Owls SMU Mustangs Troy Trojans Utah Utes Did Joe Pesci name 'em? I’m picturing Fred Gwynne when I hear that. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/147 "2026-01-04T01:22:45Z")
**Universities and their team names** Arizona Wildcats Baylor Bears Columbia Lions Drexel Dragons Eastern Washington Eagles Florida State Seminoles Georgetown Hoyas Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors Indiana Hoosiers Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Kansas Jayhawks Laurentian Voyageurs MIT Beavers Nevada Running Rebels Oregon Ducks Penn State Nittany Lions Quinnipiac Bobcats Rice Owls SMU Mustangs Troy Trojans Utah Utes Villanova wildcats ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/148 "2026-01-04T04:49:48Z")
**Universities and their team names** Arizona Wildcats Baylor Bears Columbia Lions Drexel Dragons Eastern Washington Eagles Florida State Seminoles Georgetown Hoyas Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors Indiana Hoosiers Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Kansas Jayhawks Laurentian Voyageurs MIT Beavers Nevada Running Rebels Oregon Ducks Penn State Nittany Lions Quinnipiac Bobcats Rice Owls SMU Mustangs Troy Trojans Utah Utes Villanova Wildcats Washington Huskies ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/149 "2026-01-04T07:43:10Z")
**Universities and their team names** Arizona Wildcats Baylor Bears Columbia Lions Drexel Dragons Eastern Washington Eagles Florida State Seminoles Georgetown Hoyas Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors Indiana Hoosiers Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Kansas Jayhawks Laurentian Voyageurs MIT Beavers Nevada Running Rebels Oregon Ducks Penn State Nittany Lions Quinnipiac Bobcats Rice Owls SMU Mustangs Troy Trojans Utah Utes Villanova Wildcats Washington Huskies Xavier Musketeers Too many people wrongly pronounce the name as “Ek-savier”, ugh. It’s “Zavier”. Would they pronounce “xylophone” as “ek-sylophone”? [Xavier (given name) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xavier_(given_name)) ---
**Author:** ![Bicycle\_Bill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bicycle_bill/32/6208_2.png) [@Bicycle\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bicycle_Bill)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/150 "2026-01-04T09:49:49Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > Too many people wrongly pronounce the name as “Ek-savier”, ugh. It’s “Zavier”. Would they pronounce “xylophone” as “ek-sylophone”? > [Xavier (given name) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xavier_(given_name)) No, people know how to properly pronounce xylophone. It’s the spelling that gives them problems. When I worked as a CSR for Verizon (and later Sprint, which became T-Mobile), I couldn’t believe the number of times I had people try to spell a name phonetically for me and say something like “Z… like in Xylophone”. _ **-“BB”-** _ ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/151 "2026-01-04T18:26:35Z")
Damn! I really wanted W for the Wake Forrest Demon Deacons. My favorite mascot! [![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-km30nn7y/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/436516/740969/8345__74991.1667689398.jpg?c=3) ](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-km30nn7y/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/436516/740969/8345__74991.1667689398.jpg?c=3) ---
**Author:** ![Bicycle\_Bill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bicycle_bill/32/6208_2.png) [@Bicycle\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bicycle_Bill)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/152 "2026-01-04T23:12:16Z")
**Universities and their team names** Arizona Wildcats Baylor Bears Columbia Lions Drexel Dragons Eastern Washington Eagles Florida State Seminoles Georgetown Hoyas Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors Indiana Hoosiers Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Kansas Jayhawks Laurentian Voyageurs MIT Beavers Nevada Running Rebels Oregon Ducks Penn State Nittany Lions Quinnipiac Bobcats Rice Owls SMU Mustangs Troy Trojans Utah Utes Villanova Wildcats Washington Huskies Xavier Musketeers Yale Bulldogs Yale brought out an actual Olde Erlglish Bulldogge named “Handsome Dan” as their mascot in 1889, making them the first college to use a live mascot. The current mascot is “Handsome Dan XIX” (also known as "Kingman’). _ **-“BB”-** _ ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/153 "2026-01-05T02:02:04Z")
Someday, someday soon, I hope to visit Erlgland. **Universities and their team names** Arizona Wildcats Baylor Bears Columbia Lions Drexel Dragons Eastern Washington Eagles Florida State Seminoles Georgetown Hoyas Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors Indiana Hoosiers Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Kansas Jayhawks Laurentian Voyageurs MIT Beavers Nevada Running Rebels Oregon Ducks Penn State Nittany Lions Quinnipiac Bobcats Rice Owls SMU Mustangs Troy Trojans Utah Utes Villanova Wildcats Washington Huskies Xavier Musketeers Yale Bulldogs Zagreb HAŠK Pass. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/154 "2026-01-05T02:25:26Z")
**The 4th letter is T** Amethyst ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/155 "2026-01-05T02:27:23Z")
**The 4th letter is T** Amethyst Butter ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/156 "2026-01-05T02:39:06Z")
**The 4th letter is T** Amethyst Butter Crater ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/157 "2026-01-05T03:36:48Z")
**The 4th letter is T** Amethyst Butter Crater Death ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/158 "2026-01-05T05:47:10Z")
**The 4th letter is T** Amethyst Butter Crater Death Empty And @Bicycle_Bill , my point is that yes, people can pronounce xylophone, so they should be able to pronounce Xavier similarly. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/159 "2026-01-05T06:02:25Z")
**The 4th letter is T** Amethyst Butter Crater Death Empty Fiction ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341/160 "2026-01-05T10:03:58Z")
**The 4th letter is T** Amethyst Butter Crater Death Empty Fiction Grit [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atoz-game-part-3/1025341.md?page=9)