Arkansas State's New Mascot

[hogsanity]

After sifting through 700 submissions by students they have narrowed it to three...
Arkansas State Express Train (no joke)
Arkansas State Ridgerunners
Arkansas State Red Wolves

Maybe one day the "express train" can make a stop in faytown...

IF they choose any of those names they should be kicked out of d1 immediatley!! 

[Adam Stokes]

I say they just name themselves the Arkansas State Caucasians just to show how stupid it is that people get offended over crap like this.  Would anyone be offended by the Caucasians?  Nope not really.  Shouldn't be any different with the indians.  Can someone please explain to why being called the indians is offensive?  If a team in Alaska were called the Eskimos I don't think anyone would be offended.

[Bryan (CHF)]

Yeah I have to agree the level of PC'ness has gotten silly. The NCAA has gone crazy on teams trying to get them to change. Once they began in the collegiate world, others tried to do the same in other sports. The Washington Redskins laughed at those who wanted them to change. What is crazy is Florida State isn't getting punished because they got "approval" to keep their name. I think that is garbage. Either it is good for all or good for none.

[Rooka]

Yeah I have to agree the level of PC'ness has gotten silly. The NCAA has gone crazy on teams trying to get them to change. Once they began in the collegiate world, others tried to do the same in other sports. The Washington Redskins laughed at those who wanted them to change. What is crazy is Florida State isn't getting punished because they got "approval" to keep their name. I think that is garbage. Either it is good for all or good for none.

could.... not....agree....more....exactly my friend. +1.

[Gettin Down w tha Hawgs]

I think "Panthers" or "Jaquars" or even "Red Barons" would be a good mascot and logo for ASU :razorback:

[RedSatinHog]

After sifting through 700 submissions by students they have narrowed it to three...
Arkansas State Express Train (no joke)
Arkansas State Ridgerunners
Arkansas State Red Wolves

Maybe one day the "express train" can make a stop in faytown...

Ridgerunners actually does make some sense.  The campus sits near an area of the state named Crowley's Ridge.

The other two make little to no sense at all.

[RedSatinHog]

I say they just name themselves the Arkansas State Caucasians just to show how stupid it is that people get offended over crap like this.  Would anyone be offended by the Caucasians?  Nope not really.  Shouldn't be any different with the indians.  Can someone please explain to why being called the indians is offensive?  If a team in Alaska were called the Eskimos I don't think anyone would be offended.

Even better yet, the ASU Mighty Whities.  THAT wouldn't offend anybody.

The native tribes in AK would be offended by the term Eskimos, though.  Trust me on this one.  That state goes out of its way to prevent offending any tribal indians.

[aar0n]

I mean express train?   Is there even any significance?  Red wolves sounds pretty cool and ridgerunners is ok.

My vote goes for the ASU fighting Boeing 747s

[RedSatinHog]

the NCAA and the tree hugging, tofu farting, prius driving ferrys - filed a law suit becuase the name INDIAN is offensive.

It's really more the actions of one Myles Brand, the same former IU bigwig who got his panties in a bunch over Bobby Knight a few years back.  He is someone who is so boringly PC that it makes you just wanna beat the barjesus out of something.  He issued an order to schools with tribal indian mascots to change their team names or not be able to have their mascots appear at tourney games.

And I agree.  Letting FSU keep theirs and making everybody else change theirs is as stupid as anything the NCAA is done in recent memory.  It's either everyone or no one IMHO.

[El Dogg Hog]

I have to admit I expected a little more than what they have narrowed it down to.

Perhaps I gave them to much credit.

+1 for the O'Brother picture in your sig. That's classic!!!!

[Duke of Buckingham]

Express Train! That's perfect. That might even beat my tribute to contract programmers.

I had a great great uncle that was an engineer on the Jonesboro / Memphis run early in the previous century. There and back, over and over. The family lived in Jonesboro.

He died. His wife, of course, attended the funeral in Jonesboro. Also attending was his other wife from Memphis. This was the cause of significant conversation, to say the least.

I will be happy to sign papers allowing the use of the likeness of my great-great uncle's, ol' "Express Train", to replace Injun Joe for the Express Train.

[PowderedToastMan]

Indians aren't the only group of people that are used as mascots. Just look at:
Ragin' Cajuns (Louisiana-Lafayette)
Fightin' Irish (ND)
Boilermakers (Purdue)
Quakers (Penn)
Trojans (USC)
Elon College in North Carolina was the Fighting Christians until about 10 years ago.

[Milton]

In the history of ASU, have they always been the Indians?

nope they used to be the aggies

[jep_hog_fan]

Yeah but get ready to hear "Come on Ride The Train" at every ASU sporting event, and on every radio station in Jonesboro.

Or Aerosmith's Train keeps a rollin All night long.

[Ashdownpanther]

I must be getting old and out of touch.  In my day it was " pull the train!" as a comment for those exceptionally few inhibition-challenged coeds.

[DooDahman]

Yeah I have to agree the level of PC'ness has gotten silly. The NCAA has gone crazy on teams trying to get them to change. Once they began in the collegiate world, others tried to do the same in other sports. The Washington Redskins laughed at those who wanted them to change. What is crazy is Florida State isn't getting punished because they got "approval" to keep their name. I think that is garbage. Either it is good for all or good for none.

The most hypocritical thing about all this is that the NCAA offices are located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

[preach33]

Indians aren't the only group of people that are used as mascots. Just look at:
Ragin' Cajuns (Louisiana-Lafayette)
Fightin' Irish (ND)
Boilermakers (Purdue)
Quakers (Penn)
Trojans (USC)
Elon College in North Carolina was the Fighting Christians until about 10 years ago.

Nebraska - Cornhuskers

[Duke of Buckingham]

Wyoming and Oklahoma State Cowboys offends beef industry workers.
Virginia Cavaliers offends English royalists.
Tennessee Volunteers offends the armed forces.
Lousiville Cardinals offends the Catholic hierarchy.
Oklahoma Sooners offends land thiefs and poachers.
Lousiana Monroe Warhawks offends certain Congressmen.
Michigan State Spartans offends those of Greek heritage and anybody on a strict exercise regimen.
West  Virginia Mountaineers offends everyone with an SUV that thinks maybe someday they will drive over a curb
Pitt Panthers offends 1960s civil rights activists
North Carolina Tar Heels offends anyone who can't afford shoes,
Texas Tech Red Raiders offends sunburned outlaws the world over.
Vanderbilt Commodores offends any naval captain who has ever been placed in command of more than one ship without the attendant title of admiral and fans of "Three Times a Lady". This is less risky than the ...
Wake Forest Demon Deacons, who recklessly offend both low level church officials and anyone cojured from the nether regions.

College football is offensive by nature. That's why there are offensive coordinators.

[preach33]

Wyoming and Oklahoma State Cowboys offends beef industry workers.
Virginia Cavaliers offends English royalists.
Tennessee Volunteers offends the armed forces.
Lousiville Cardinals offends the Catholic hierarchy.
Oklahoma Sooners offends land thiefs and poachers.
Lousiana Monor Warhawks offends certain Congressmen.
Michigan State Spartans offends those of Greek heritage and anybody on a strict exercise regimen.
West  Virginia Mountaineers offends everyone with an SUV that thinks maybe someday they will drive over a curb
Pitt Panthers offends 1960s civil rights activists
North Carolina Tar Heels offends anyone who can't afford shoes,
Texas Tech Red Raiders offends sunburned outlaws the world over.
Vanderbilt Commodores offends any naval captain who has ever been placed in command of more than one ship without the attendant title of admiral and fans of "Three Times a Lady". This is less risky than the ...
Wake Forest Demon Deacons, who recklessly offend both low level church officials and anyone cojured from the nether regions.

College football is offensive by nature. That's why there are offensive coordinators.

That was excellent +1

[AckaBacka]

"Express" would not be a word that I would associate with any train that I have encountered in Jonesboro.  I guess, "long, slow, rice-laden train" doesn't have the same ring to it.

[ThisLittlePiggie]

Looking for something regional to NEA. How about the...

BeerRunners

Those people from Jonesboro (Dry) spend half their lives in Paragould (Wet).

[spudhog]

After sifting through 700 submissions by students they have narrowed it to three...
Arkansas State Express Train (no joke)
Arkansas State Ridgerunners
Arkansas State Red Wolves

Maybe one day the "express train" can make a stop in faytown...

the dumbest set of nicknames ever!!!!! yeah, i go with wanting to be original but this is plum stupid.

[DeltaBoy]

It is a SAD DAY  the NCAA can worry about this but can't get a D-1 playoff system organized!

[PolishPigPower]

Dear God... I can already hear Ozzy screaming "AYYY AYYY AYYY" over the speakers as ASU takes the field.  The Express Train... nice.  Do they go after large-bottomed cheerleaders and call them the Caboose Squad?

[Duke of Buckingham]

Kansas Jayhawks is offensive to vigilantes.
Baylor Bears is offensive to short-sellers.
South Florida Bulls is offensive to Jim Cramer.
Washington Huskies is offensive to certain Big Ten coeds.
Connecticut Huskies is, also.
Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys is offensive to Dick Grayson.
Richmond Spiders is offensive to Peter Parker.
Xavier Musketeers is offensive to anyone who disdains the new fangled breechloaders.
Idaho Vandals is offensive to misunderstood and underappreciated graffiti artists.
The Tufts Jumbos are offensive to Big Ten coeds who consider Washington Huskies a compliment.
Central Florida Knights offends the Pips.

[DrSwineESQ]

How many actual Razorbacks are in Arkansas?\
answer: none, they are in Australia

Like the Red Wolves that inhabited NE Arkansas, the Razorbacks that once roamed the Ozarks were hunted to extinction around 1900.

[Bluehorseshoe luvs HOGS]

Looking for soemthing that fits the local:

1. Cropdusters
2. Flatlanders
3. Cotton pickers (already mentioned above)
4. Rice Runners  (as in Budwiesers rice growers)
5. Roys Rage  (bar in P'gould)

[wooDEMhogs]

Ridgerunners actually does make some sense.  The campus sits near an area of the state named Crowley's Ridge.

The other two make little to no sense at all.

Actually, the express train does make some sense. You see, the ASU campus is surrounded by train tracks. I lived in Jonesboro and took some classes at ASU, and if you lived off campus you had to make sure you left early, otherwise you could get caught by the train and be late for class. If roars by the campus quite often. I think they are planning an overpass that should be completed sometime soon.

[CorningHog]

How about Tornadoes!

There are a lot of Twisters in J-town.  I always heard it was Tornado alley in Arkansas.

Arkansas State Twisters?  I think folks that know about Jonesboro would relate.

[hogsig535]

What about the Wonder Boys 2

[Doggtown31LCC]

does florida st have to change their name?

[Boardon Hamsay]

I was hoping for the Ivorybilled Woodpeckers.

They would have made millions....using 'Peckers as a mascot.

I agree!  And, if they were to schedule South Carolina, they could call it "The Sausagefest Shoot Out!"

[GiantFoamFingerMak]

Tribal names are one thing, but the term "Indians" is another.  It's a generic term that lumps all of the tribes together under a term that is geographically inaccurate.

Think about it: isn't there a difference between The Lyon College "Scots" vs. Lyon College "White men?"

Arkansas State Tax Burdens is my vote.


This whole conversation reminds me of a story back when Arkansas College became Lyon College.  They were going through the same process of taking nominations for names.  One of the papers printed out a list of all the submissions and "sumbitches" was my absolute favorite.

"We're playin' the Lyon Sumbitches this weekend."

That still makes me smile.

[Scaife]

does florida st have to change their name?

No, the Seminole Nation lobbied the NCAA for FSU to keep the name. Since the Seminole Nation wants the Seminole name kept, there's not much the PC nazis at the NCAA can do.

[Bluehorseshoe luvs HOGS]

What about the Wonder Boys 2

LMAO. First 2 college years were at Redneck Tech in Ruttville. Only saving grace was Whataburger and the Bag-o-fries.  Had to spend all my weekends at Frat row on the HILL for real entertainment. Worth the drive though.

[Hogstudent79]

Not to be overwhelmingly opposite, the American Indian Organizations brought this before the NCAA and asked for a share of the profits since money was being generated in their image.  The NCAA, always proactive when it comes to money, quickly passed this referendum (gotta keep the money in house).  They gave each of the schools with this type of mascot time to change said mascot.

To my knowledge, however, I believe Florida State and North Dakota are actively and aggressively countering this based on the fact that they involved and support the tribes for whom they are directly named.

[OLDHOG]

I dont care about what they call themselves. It's a non issue to me.

[Bluehorseshoe luvs HOGS]

That is more understandable that the "we're offended" assumption everyone else was making. It's the American way, they are just playing by the rules. Try to use a hog or any other shcools mascot and see what happens. 

[hoghart]

They could call themselves the ASU Losers, Put big "L"s on the front of their helmets,  and wouldn't really have to change anything else they do.  The only downside would be that losers everywhere would be offended.

[BigDrDon]

  Fightin polecats comes to mind ,scince they stink up the place wherever they go!

[Porquemada]

Please, please, let it be the "Express Trains". Just when you think it's getting bad to be a Hog fan, ASU busts out the mascot of mascots. Thanks J-boro. 

[Porquemada]

I bet nobody is more excited about the ASU mascot selections than the UCA Bears. They're in a neck and neck race for #2 in Arkansas college football programs with a school who might change their mascot to the "Express Trains".

[Hog in MO]

As an Ozarks American I am highly offended by the term "Ridgerunner" - they are making a mockery of my moonshinin' heritage.  I demand this option be stricken from the ballot.   

[HogasaurusRex]

They should change their mascot to the:
Arkansas State Engines

LMAO! And it's the right colors too!

[GrantWalker]

After sifting through 700 submissions by students they have narrowed it to three...
Arkansas State Express Train (no joke)
Arkansas State Ridgerunners
Arkansas State Red Wolves

Maybe one day the "express train" can make a stop in faytown...

It's completely amazing to me some of the names I have seen submitted by their students.  I saw a big list the other day of some of the names they had supposedly narrowed it down to.  "Red Storm" was one of them.  Give me a freaking break.  Saint Johns took that one when they whimped out a few years ago and now ASU is/was  considering it. 

A couple months ago a popular sports writer told me that ASU would probably do the stupid thing and send this to some "focus" group which would come up with some ignorant, modernized name.

What's next, change the uniform colors to the current trend of teal and black?

[reddogjcss]

Good luck ASU on what ever you choose; it will always be Razorbacks first in my book but I do root for you also. I wish UA & ASU played every year in Little Rock!!!! :razorback: :razorback:

[FedUpWithNutt]

I would have thought that "Tornadoes" would have been good.  Jonesboro sure does seem to have their share of them...

[rutman]

I always wondered if anyone would be offended if they were known as the Arkansas State University Trailer Trash.

[Scaife]

I always wondered if anyone would be offended if they were known as the Arkansas State University Trailer Trash.

I'd be offended if they didn't call themselves that.

[bugo]

They should change their mascot to the:
Arkansas State Engines

LMAO! And it's the right colors too!

Nice big block.