# Unusual sports team names **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 9, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073 "2011-03-09T18:48:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/21 "2011-03-09T21:31:45Z")
Two of my favorites from Illinois high school sports: Teutopolis Wooden Shoes Effingham Flaming Hearts ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/22 "2011-03-09T21:40:11Z")
Are there any other Isotopes out there? ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/23 "2011-03-09T22:50:03Z")
Brush, CO High School are the beetdiggers. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/24 "2011-03-09T22:50:16Z")
If you go to minor league teams there will be many unusual names (Lock Monsters, Mud Hens, Isotopes). ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/25 "2011-03-09T22:52:30Z")
Southern Illinois University has definitely the coolest nickname, the Salukis (a dog breed from ancient Egypt). ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/26 "2011-03-09T23:04:35Z")
The University of California, Santa Cruz **Banana Slugs**. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/27 "2011-03-09T23:04:53Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Cudahy Packers (HS, WI) I live in Cudahy Packer Country. Now, I know how the GB Packers got their name, but I’ve always wondered if the Cudahy Packers took their name from the Green Bay Packers or just for the same reason. In Cudahy we have the Patrick Cudahy Meat Packing Plant. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/28 "2011-03-09T23:08:16Z")
And the ‘Macon Whoppee’ ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/29 "2011-03-09T23:16:15Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > Two of my favorites from Illinois high school sports: > > Teutopolis Wooden Shoes > Effingham Flaming Hearts Don’t forget my favorite: Freeport Pretzels ---
**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 9, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/30 "2011-03-09T23:32:14Z")
**Current** New York Mets – Other than farm teams, I doubt there’s another team using that nickname New York Yankees Detroit Pistons Historical: Buffalo Buffeds – Federal League Chicago Whales – Federal League Brooklyn Superbas – NL ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/31 "2011-03-09T23:41:31Z")
Before my alma mater switched to the more pedestrian “Wildcats” in the 1920s, its sports teams went by the name “The Fighting Methodists.” I’m sure you can find lots of “fighting whatevers” but I’d be surprised if any were Methodists. Besides the Santa Cruz Banana Slugs (already mentioned by **Ol’Gaffer** ), I think my favorite offbeat mascot is the Haverford Black Squirrels. > [@Skammer](#): > > I wonder what the most common sports nickname is? I’d probably guess “Wildcats.” I once wondered the same thing, and, in fact, had the same hypothesis (i.e. “wildcats”). However, if I remember correctly, it turned out that the most popular college mascot was “Tigers.” ---
**Author:** ![Sakuma\_Drops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sakuma\_Drops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sakuma_Drops)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/32 "2011-03-09T23:43:22Z")
I honestly don’t know if any other team in NC (or anywhere) uses the nickname “ **Tar Heels** ” other than UNC. If there is another Tar Heels team out there, it’s probably a high school/middle school of some kind. Most of those schools around here are just named after various cats, though 😛 Other names that are probably not too common: Syracuse Sky Chiefs (minor league baseball) Tulane Green Wave Stanford Cardinal Wake Forest Demon Deacons ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/33 "2011-03-09T23:55:05Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > I’m sure you can find lots of “fighting whatevers” but I’d be surprised if any were Methodists. You know what? I’m just going to follow this up myself. College sports team nicknames beginning with “Fighting”[ul][_]Fighting Camels - Campbell [_]Fighting Christians - Elon University (until 1999 - then the more boring “Phoenixes”)[_]Fighting Illini - Illinois [_]Fighting Irish - Notre Dame [_] Fighting Knights - Lynn[_]Fighting Leathernecks - Western Illinois men’s teams [_]Fighting Scots - seven schools: [list][_]Edinboro[_]Gordon[_]Macalester[_]McHenry County College[_]Monmouth College[_]Ohio Valley[_]Wooster[/ul][\*]Fighting Sioux - North Dakota[/list] ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/34 "2011-03-10T00:22:07Z")
Alright, lets see if you can find many sounding like this one from the old country: Originally this first division football soccer team was named “Tecun Uman”, after the last ruler of the Maya people, but then it switched the name to Luis Angel Firpo, a famous boxer of the past… Uh? > **[Club Deportivo Luis Angel Firpo: Its History](http://lafirpo.fanspace.com/History.htm)** > [@](#): > > But the name “TECUN UMAN” was short lived, it lasted only five days!! So, What happened? Why did the name change so fast? > > In September 14 1923, Jack Dempsey, the heavyweight boxing champion of the world, defeated the Argentinean Luis Angel “The Wild Bull of the Pampas” Firpo in a brutal, quick fight that has often been called the most exciting championship fight ever witnessed. In four minutes of wild, frenzied action, the two boxers traded blows and knockouts with a savage fury unmatched before or since. The winner, as was expected, was Dempsey, but it was Firpo who recorded perhaps the most famous knockout in boxing history. > > After being sent to the mat, Firpo rushed the confused Dempsey and dealt him nine unanswered shots, finishing with an earth-shattering left that knocked Dempsey clear through the ropes! > > With the help of the journalists at ringside, Dempsey climbed back into the ring after about twenty seconds (yes! they stole the fight from the Bull). Weak as he was, the champ warded off another Firpo attack and the wildest round ever in a championship fight ended. Observers reported between five and seven knockouts of Firpo and three of Dempsey in the first round. The second round was briefer but just as gory. Firpo continued rushing the champ, but he parried his blows. After receiving a crushing uppercut, Firpo went down again. For the eighth time Firpo struggled to his feet and rushed the champ again, and Dempsey sent him to the mat once more. This time the Wild Bull of the Pampas had no answer and did not get up. Dempsey retained his championship, of course, but it was Firpo who returned to Argentina a hero to all Latin Americans even in defeat. > > After the fight, in September 26, 1923, the city of Usulután paid homage to the Bull by changing the name of its soccer team, TECUN UMAN, and renaming it CLUB DEPORTIVO LUIS ANGEL FIRPO. Being Mr. Gustavo Demis the team’s first president. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/35 "2011-03-10T00:29:54Z")
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill **Tar Heels**. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/36 "2011-03-10T00:50:23Z")
[quote=“Randy\_Seltzer, post:33, topic:574073”] You know what? I’m just going to follow this up myself. College sports team nicknames beginning with “Fighting”[ul][li]Fighting Camels - Campbell [_]Fighting Christians - Elon University (until 1999 - then the more boring “Phoenixes”)[_]Fighting Illini - Illinois [_]Fighting Irish - Notre Dame [_] Fighting Knights - Lynn[_]Fighting Leathernecks - Western Illinois men’s teams [_]Fighting Scots - seven schools: [list][_]Edinboro[_]Gordon[_]Macalester[_]McHenry County College[_]Monmouth College[_]Ohio Valley[_]Wooster[/ul][_]Fighting Sioux - North Dakota[/list][/li][/QUOTE] Don’t forget the “Fighting Whites” (aka the Fighting Whities) from the University of Northern Colorado…although they were just an intramural team and are now disbanded. ---
**Author:** ![Sakuma\_Drops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sakuma\_Drops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sakuma_Drops)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/37 "2011-03-10T01:24:53Z")
Okay, here are a few more I thought of: U. of South Carolina Gamecocks Penn State Nittany Lions Montreal Expos (name not used in MLB anymore, of course) Presbyterian College Blue Hose Tulsa Golden Hurricane Akron Zips ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/38 "2011-03-10T01:48:03Z")
Back in the days of the American Basketball Association, the Memphis franchise came up with the name “Tams” (as in Tennesse-Arkansas-Mississippi.) Worse than that, the team symbol was actually a Tam O’Shanter. Even worse, the name was supposedly chosen by the fans. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/39 "2011-03-10T01:56:25Z")
The Rhode Island School of Design’s team name is the Nads. Their mascot is Scrotie, a giant penis, and the team call is of course “Go Nads!” ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073/40 "2011-03-10T02:05:35Z")
One of the 49ers refered to in the OP is Long Beach State. However, their baseball team has a unofficial nickanme that’s truly unique: the **Dirtbags**. They seem quite proud of it. The Banana Slugs mentioned above reminds me of one of my favorites: The Evergreen College **Geoducks** (a geoduck is a large clam). Another favorite is the Spokane Community College **Sasquatch**. Another “Fighting” nickname is the Scottsdale Community College **Fighting Artichokes** (artichokes can fight?) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-sports-team-names/574073.md?page=3)