Valpo Name Change

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Another FCS'er will be getting a new mascot/nickname after Valpo elected to remove the Crusader mascot/nickname. I'm interested what they go with. At this point I would tread very lightly when it comes to nicknames. Maybe the Valpo Largemouth Bass (Indiana state fish) or the Valpo Tulips (state flower)?

I have to think this puts College of the Holy Cross Crusaders on the clock despite not having the KKK connection? There's a local Scranton high school near me (Holy Cross High School Crusaders) where I know there's been recent discussion regarding the its name (many people want something less secular sounding) and the mascot. The precedent is a college in my town that recently changed its name from Baptist Bible College to Clarks Summit University in order to feel more "welcoming".

Valparaiso U. Drops Crusader as Mascot, Citing Ties to Hate Groups - The New York Times (nytimes.com) (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/sports/valparaiso-drops-crusader-mascot.html)

[Laker]

Just add a V.

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcSInRDAx_JTcwWrrdSI066HonF96Is ldqMMhgtBJjIi0imIdfW68HUwwTAu93-hN-3xI2syDYqB2X5VHKtCQ5KE4EjGlH37

[BEAR]

They need to call their men’s teams the crusaders and their women’s teams the mojaheds.

[caribbeanhen]

There is only one Valparaiso and it’s not in Indiana....





https://dynamic-media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-o/15/33/fc/b7/valparaiso.jpg?w=600&h=400&s=1

[DFW HOYA]

Stating the obvious: there were no Lutheran crusaders.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Stating the obvious: there were no Lutheran crusaders.

I disagree. Anyone can be a Crusader of cause. In fact, those that made the push for the new nickname were in fact "Crusaders"...

Crusader
1. a fighter in the medieval Crusades.

2.a person who campaigns vigorously for political, social, or religious change; a campaigner.

[POD Knows]

More idiocy from the completely gone.

[DFW HOYA]

I disagree. Anyone can be a Crusader of cause. In fact, those that made the push for the new nickname were in fact "Crusaders"...

Crusader
1. a fighter in the medieval Crusades.

2.a person who campaigns vigorously for political, social, or religious change; a campaigner.



Their logo suggested the former. And I would agree this would also define a Warrior, but that's not well received either.

[FUBeAR]

this would also define a Warrior, but that's not well received either.
Yes - because the last thing Valpo needs to bring into the game of Football is violence!

[VandalBasher]

Once someone finds out the deeds the Vandals did, a name change is imminent.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Once someone finds out the deeds the Vandals did, a name change is imminent.

The Big Sky has two nicknames, Vandals and Vikings, that likely have a very short shelf life.

I'm interested to see what Valporaiso does. I could see them sticking with the Valporaiso Valpos ala the Gonzaga 'Zags (in lieu of Bulldogs).

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Yes - because the last thing Valpo needs to bring into the game of Football is violence!

Valpo has serious financial issues and given the football program's struggles I could see them dropping it as well. The fact that Valpo is moving ahead in a rebranding effort given their position financially is very telling in terms how much it meant to the administration to rid themselves of the "Crusader" name.

[DFW HOYA]

Valpo enrollment fell 10% in 2020. Just 2,781 undergraduates.

https://www.valpo.edu/institutional-effectiveness/files/2020/09/FALL01.totalenrollment.pdf

Feb. 2020 article

http://www.valpotorch.com/news/article_38d59268-4971-11ea-a37d-770d866739ca.html

[JALMOND]

I'm surprised no one has looked at the Simon Fraser Clan (that is with a "C" to honor their Scottish heritage). But, maybe being the only Canadian school to play NCAA (American) football, they are used to being overlooked.

Then, there is of course, the Oregon State Lady Beavers. xconfusedx xlolx

[Laker]

I'm surprised no one has looked at the Simon Fraser Clan (that is with a "C" to honor their Scottish heritage). But, maybe being the only Canadian school to play NCAA (American) football, they are used to being overlooked.

Then, there is of course, the Oregon State Lady Beavers. xconfusedx xlolx

Simon Fraser dumped the Clan nickname back in September. Even though it is spelled with a C and has nothing, and I repeat nothing to do with the KKK, they have given in to the ignorant and uniformed.

https://the-peak.ca/2020/09/sfu-athletics-retires-the-clan-name/#:~:text=The%20Simon%20Fraser%20Clan%20name,group% 2C%20the%20Klu%20Klux%20Klan.

[FUBeAR]

Simon Fraser dumped the Clan nickname back in September. Even though it is spelled with a C and has nothing, and I repeat nothing to do with the KKK, they have given in to the ignorant and uniformed.

https://the-peak.ca/2020/09/sfu-athletics-retires-the-clan-name/#:~:text=The%20Simon%20Fraser%20Clan%20name,group% 2C%20the%20Klu%20Klux%20Klan.
Looks like this is a process that started for them in 2019 & they knew they were going to 86 The Clan or Clansmen by June of 2020...so, by the end of 2020...they’ve made tremendous progress at coming up with a replacement name...

Introducing the Varsity Team Name Working Group
December 15, 2020

The selection team, made up of Theresa Hanson, Senior Director, Athletics and Recreation; Working Group co-chairs Ryan Stolys, President of the SAAC and Breanne Watson, Associate Director, Athletics; and Othniel Spence, member at-large, met last week to review the impressive slate of Expression of Interest submissions. The aim of having diverse and inclusive representation as best as possible was met and we are very pleased to introduce to you the Varsity Team Name Working Group.

The Working Group, made up of student-athletes, coaches and staff, will be co-chaired by Breanne Watson, Associate Director, Athletics and Ryan Stolys, President of SAAC:...


I might suggest they go with being the Simon Fraser Eddie’s - they already use a terrier as their mascot. So Eddie from the Frazier sitcom seems a natural go-to.

[Baron Sardonicus]

Know what else the KKK identifies with? Crosses.

I can name some schools that better purge themselves of those, pronto.

[ngineer]

I'm surprised no one has looked at the Simon Fraser Clan (that is with a "C" to honor their Scottish heritage). But, maybe being the only Canadian school to play NCAA (American) football, they are used to being overlooked.

Then, there is of course, the Oregon State Lady Beavers. xconfusedx xlolx

I imagine there has been more than one headline on the school sports page about them winning in a close shave...

[Baron Sardonicus]

Stating the obvious: there were no Lutheran crusaders.

You correctly point out that the Crusades predated Lutheranism. Valparaiso selected the Crusader moniker as a replacement for an earlier, equally politically incorrect name. Both were soldier-type nicknames.

It may not have occurred to the Valpo people that when they first appeased the mob by changing to "Crusaders," the mob was going to own them forever.

[FUBeAR]

I imagine there has been more than one headline on the school sports page about them winning in a close shave...
not sure about that, but they are known for fast starts in their competitions; no beating around the bush.

[Lehigh Engineer]

I disagree. Anyone can be a Crusader of cause. In fact, those that made the push for the new nickname were in fact "Crusaders"...

Crusader
1. a fighter in the medieval Crusades.

2.a person who campaigns vigorously for political, social, or religious change; a campaigner.




#2 - OH...like a Black Lives Matter supporter then.

[Lehigh Engineer]

Know what else the KKK identifies with? Crosses.

I can name some schools that better purge themselves of those, pronto.

Well...we know they can't call themselves the "Democrats"...since the Deocrats founded the KKK

[VandalBasher]

Wait until someone finds out what the Vandals actually did when they "sacked" Rome. Somebody is going to complain.

I guess being Christian is worse.

[caribbeanhen]

If you guys had ever been to Valparaiso you would never be worrying about such stupid bull****

Trust on this

[clenz]

Valpo has serious financial issues and given the football program's struggles I could see them dropping it as well. The fact that Valpo is moving ahead in a rebranding effort given their position financially is very telling in terms how much it meant to the administration to rid themselves of the "Crusader" name.

Still pissed about their MVC add.

Horrible decision getting worse every year.

They dropped their law school - the big academic selling point. They’ve also dropped like a dozen or two other majors at this point.

Enrollment is down

Complete rebrand is more cost effective than donor support to keep the name

I hate that they are mvc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Baron Sardonicus]

Still pissed about their MVC add.




Curious what you think about change in the MVFC, namely the potential of losing WIU to the Ohio Valley Conference. Does that even make a ripple for you?

[SDFS]

Curious what you think about change in the MVFC, namely the potential of losing WIU to the Ohio Valley Conference. Does that even make a ripple for you?

I think Mr. Lenz would take great joy because I believe he is on record thinking that it will end the Summit League or something like that... something to do with baseball and not having enough sports to maintain autobid.

[walliver]

The Crusades, which were complex geo-religious-political events have been simplified, as in the NY Times article quoted above, as simply bad white Christians attacking kind benevolent Muslims.
Maybe Valpo feels that changing the mascot will bring in an influx of rich Muslims.
Very few mascots are not completely beyond reproach.
I wonder how long before the SJW's realize that most animal mascots are assumed to be male and their preferred pronouns are almost always he/him.

[NY Crusader 2010]

Fordham's sexist mascot needs to go. Rams are inherently all male.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Fordham's sexist mascot needs to go. Rams are inherently all male.

Dunmore High School girl's athletic nickname? The Lady Bucks! Always loved that one! Back in the day when non-PC banners were accepted/embraced there were some homeruns!

[caribbeanhen]

How about the Valparaiso Woke

[OhioHen]

Fordham's sexist mascot needs to go. Rams are inherently all male.

Nah, that's balanced out by the Delaware Blue Hens. Hens are by definition all female.

Maybe as a man I should be offended!

[UAalum72]

I don’t know why Marist can’t call their women’s teams the Vixens instead of the Lady Red Foxes. But then Buffalo still calls their women The Bulls.

[Laker]

I don’t know why Marist can’t call their women’s teams the Vixens instead of the Lady Red Foxes. But then Buffalo still calls their women The Bulls.

I remember watching the Iowa state girls basketball tourney in high school on TV and Mediapolis was called the Bullets. Or was it Bullettes because the boys team were the Bulldogs?

I answered my own question. Bullettes.

https://www.meposchools.org/programs/athletics/

Jordan MN. The boys are the Hubmen. The girls are the Jaguars.

[Baron Sardonicus]

I've read that Valpo will keep the shield as a symbol, putting a new spin on its meaning.

The Crusader name was ill-conceived from the start. The administration is making the right decision, albeit for the wrong reasons.

[FUBeAR]

I've read that Valpo will keep the shield as a symbol, putting a new spin on its meaning.

The Crusader name was ill-conceived from the start. The administration is making the right decision, albeit for the wrong reasons.
Aren’t police badges called & crafted in the shape of “shields?”
Isn’t Valparaiso, IN an exurb of Chicago?
Isn’t Chicago a “defund the police” hot spot?

Valpo, if they truly desire real change & don’t want to continue to be guilty of WrongThink, may need to keep ‘conceiving.’