Funny team names

[santeebutch]

In Yuma AZ, the YUMA High nickname is the Criminals.

[drothamel]

My HS alma mater is located in Fluvanna County, VA. We are the Flying Flucos. "Fluco" is short for Fluvanna County. There have been numerous attempts to create a mascot that would go along with "Fluco"-- all to no avail. Currently, the logo is a flying "F." Although it used to be a flying foot, much like the symbol most of us see track teams use. As a result of the flying foot logo, the gym here is referred to as "The Shoebox."

Waynesboro High School, just over the mountain from me, call themselves, The Little Giants. Harrisonburg High School, home of George Toliver's Daughter, are the Blue Streaks.

One time when I was travelling in West Virginia, I seem to recall a high school there in Polk County who called themselves the Dots.

[M&M Guy]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mikesears

I've officiated games for the Fisher Bunnies. By the way, the Jr High mascot is the Scotties (the dog).

Where are you from M&M?
[Edited by mikesears on Mar 9th, 2005 at 11:14 AM]

I live only 5 miles from the Assembly Hall, home of the #1 basketball team in the country, in Champaign.

I'm familiar with the Scotties as well, because I refereed one of my first games in that gym. There was no room along any of the sidelines. The benches were up on the stage, along with the table; the kids had to jump up and down off the stage to go in and out of the game. The stands were permanent and raised on the other side, complete with railings in front. (If anyone has ever been to the Corn Palace in South Dakota - it's set up the same way except 10 times smaller...) The endlines were only about a foot from the brick walls, so they set up "restraining" lines about a foot in from the actual endlines for the throw-ins. And finally, the floor was so small they had the three lines across the center of the court - one center line, and two other lines on either side of the circle. They would use the center line as the 10-second line, then the furthest of the three lines away from that team's basket as an "over and back" line, because the center line was only about 10 feet from the top of the key. Imagine being a new official trying to learn all the "real" rules, and trying to keep straight all the lines as well. Geesh.

I believe they recently built a new grade school and tore this one down. But the Scotties still remain.

I thought Effingham HS in Illinois used to be the "Flaming Hearts".

I think Speedway HS in Indiana is nicknamed the "Sparkplugs", I could be wrong about that. Speedway is the part of Indianapolis where the Indianapolis Speedway is located.

That's all I can remember. "Pretzels" was one that I had heard off before but can't remember the school in Illinois.

[Boiler14]

Speedway Sparkplugs (about a halfmile from the motor speedway)

Rockville Rox

Cloverdale Clovers

Forest Park Rangers

Plymouth Pilgrams

[M&M Guy]

Originally posted by Jerry Blum
I thought Effingham HS in Illinois used to be the "Flaming Hearts".

I think Speedway HS in Indiana is nicknamed the "Sparkplugs", I could be wrong about that. Speedway is the part of Indianapolis where the Indianapolis Speedway is located.

That's all I can remember. "Pretzels" was one that I had heard off before but can't remember the school in Illinois.

You're right - Effingham is still the Flaming Hearts. And I believe Freeport (in northern IL) are the Pretzels and Lady Pretzels. And I just remembered the Vandalia Vandals.

[Wearin' Stripes]

Boiler-

Despite your obvious affiliation with the other school, you must be an OK guy since you wear the stripes. You working this weekend?

[drothamel]

I found this website that lists just about every one there is, and includes all of the ones that we have mentioned thus far. It is pretty interesting.

http://www.halcyon.com/marcs/mascot.html

[w_sohl]

my wife was a Ft. Branch Twig in jr. high in Southern Indiana near Evansville, there is also the Owensville Kickapoos, but they are Indians I think.

[mikesears]

Originally posted by M&M Guy

You're right - Effingham is still the Flaming Hearts. And I believe Freeport (in northern IL) are the Pretzels and Lady Pretzels. And I just remembered the Vandalia Vandals.

They are the New Berlin Pretzels. (That's New BER'-lin, not ber-'LIN).

Here is a link to the IHSA website:

http://www.ihsa.org/school/schools/newberln.htm


Kind of like Athens, IL (pronounced Ay-thens) and San Jose, IL where the "J" makes the "J" sound and not the Spanish "H" sound. and the "E" is silent.


[Edited by mikesears on Mar 9th, 2005 at 12:51 PM]

[pbrad59]

Grew up near Effingham so I know the "Flaming Hearts" and T-Town "Wooden Shoes". Cobden, in Southern Illinois, known for it's fruit orchards has the "Appleknockers".

[mikesears]

Originally posted by M&M Guy

I live only 5 miles from the Assembly Hall, home of the #1 basketball team in the country, in Champaign.

I'm familiar with the Scotties as well, because I refereed one of my first games in that gym. There was no room along any of the sidelines. The benches were up on the stage, along with the table; the kids had to jump up and down off the stage to go in and out of the game. The stands were permanent and raised on the other side, complete with railings in front. (If anyone has ever been to the Corn Palace in South Dakota - it's set up the same way except 10 times smaller...) The endlines were only about a foot from the brick walls, so they set up "restraining" lines about a foot in from the actual endlines for the throw-ins. And finally, the floor was so small they had the three lines across the center of the court - one center line, and two other lines on either side of the circle. They would use the center line as the 10-second line, then the furthest of the three lines away from that team's basket as an "over and back" line, because the center line was only about 10 feet from the top of the key. Imagine being a new official trying to learn all the "real" rules, and trying to keep straight all the lines as well. Geesh.

I believe they recently built a new grade school and tore this one down. But the Scotties still remain. [/B]

Go Illini!!!!!

I am in Bloomington. When I still worked basketball games, I worked my first ever game at Fisher Jr High. Are the fans there still as rowdy as they used to be? That court was so small! Glad to hear they built a new school (hopefully with a larger gym).

[Forksref]

Grafton, ND "Spoilers" (apparently they spoiled the season for an opponent many years ago)

Starkweather,ND "Stormkings" and "Stormqueens" (joined with Munich, ND and are now the "Purple Storm")

Sauk Centre, MN "Mainstreeters" - (home of Sinclair Lewis who wrote "Main Street") affectionately known as the "Streeters"

Hope, ND "Hustlers"

Montpelier, ND "Purple Martins"

Drayton, ND "Bombers"

Valley City, ND "Hi-Liners" (refers to very high railroad trestle)

[RecRef]

Originally posted by drothamel
I found this website that lists just about every one there is, and includes all of the ones that we have mentioned thus far. It is pretty interesting.

http://www.halcyon.com/marcs/mascot.html

They missed Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. The nickname is “The High School.” EHS, founded in 1839, was the first pure high in the state.

BTW, if you want to send your child to EHS it will cost you just under $32,000 a year.

[JRutledge]

Mikesears and M&M Guy,

Did you guys not see my Pretzel post at the beginning?

BTW, there was a guy trying to write a book about the nicknames of Illinois High Schools. This guy came to a Fox Valley Football Official's meeting a few years back and had information on just about every name and some history. He knew why schools had unusual names and their origin. I do not know what happen with that book idea, but he had a lot of good information.

Peace