FCS Nicknames: My Top 25 for FCS College Football

Certain colleges deserve recognition for their unique mascots and/or nicknames.

Here is my top 25 list of FCS college nicknames:

1: Campbell Fighting Camels: A camel is the mascot — and quite comical to me.

2: Presbyterian Blue Hose: The Blue Hose mascot of Presbyterian College is a Scotsman with a kilt and blue stockings.

3: Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens: Named after the state bird of Delaware, the blue hen chicken. Not many teams have a farm animal as a mascot.

4: Youngstown State Penguins: The only Division I program to have the penguin as a mascot.

5: Austin Peay Governors: Named in honor of Governor Austin Peay, former governor of Tennessee.

6: Cornell Big Red: The nickname refers to Cornell’s colors; the mascot is a bear.

7: Albany Great Danes: The only college team in America with the Great Dane as a mascot.

8: Saint Francis Red Flash: The Red Flash nickname refers to the red in the school’s colors. The actual mascot is a friar with huge teeth.

9: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers: Cleverly named after a rooster in “The Canterbury Tales”. A rooster is the mascot.

10: Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils: Named for the location of the campus in the Mississippi Delta; mascot is a devil.

11: South Dakota State Jackrabbits: Basically, a blue and gold jackrabbit. Unique, in my opinion.

12: Dayton Flyers: Being from N.C., it’s special to me that the Flyers’ nickname is because of the Wright brothers.

13: Old Dominion Monarchs: A regal lion is the mascot. Nickname is derived from royalty naming the university.

14: Furman Paladins: Mascot is a knight, or paladin, on horseback. Very cool.

15: Pennsylvania Quakers: The mascot is a quaker with a huge smile.

16: Marist Red Foxes: The red fox is the mascot and is indigenous to the area.

17: William & Mary Tribe: Contrary to the nickname, the mascot is actually a griffin, oddly enough.

18: San Diego Toreros: A matador is the mascot, which is creative.

19: Florida A&M; Rattlers: Having a rattlesnake as the mascot wins my vote any day.

20: Wofford Terriers: The mascot is just that, a terrier. I like terriers, so it’s on the list.

21: Stony Brook Seawolves: Known as Wolfie, he is a mythological seawolf, which supposedly brings good luck.

22: Western Illinois Leathernecks: I’m a Marine, and with our nickname as WIU’s, it’s my favorite on the list.

23: Richmond Spiders: I loathe spiders, but it’s unique and the only such mascot in the country.

24: Sacred Heart Pioneers: The mascot is a pioneer that looks like Daniel Boone.

25: Indiana State Sycamores: The mascot is a wolf, but the nickname implies local flora.

*While my favorite FCS team, Appalachian State, did not make the list, they hold a special place with me for being such a scrappy team. They are 3-time FCS champions.

Sources:

http://www.sacredheartpioneers.com

http://www.furmanpaladins.com

http://www.pennathletics.com

http://www.gosycamores.com