[So I Guess Fighting Hawks It Is]

Good luck Hawks.....sorry.

[Nickname Vote: FINAL Runoff: Exit Poll]

The poll shows Rough Riders beating Hawks badly but everyone seems to thinks Hawks will win.  Is this board that far into left field.  Just curious.

[And then there were 2....]

Fighting Hawks huh.....well you will be right there with Southeast Mo, Miami Oh,Louisiana Monroe's of the world.  Glad it's not my team....boring.

[And then there were three....]

Fighting Hawks huh.....ULM War Hawks....Southeast Mo Red Hawks.....Miami Univ Red Hawks.  Sorry...not good.  NoDaks....reminds me of the California school that uses Banana Slugs...just weird.  Rough Riders...nice name.  Fits your state.  None of my business but I assure you the rest of us are watching...you can go safe safe safe...or very weird or something you can really have fun with.  Good luck.

[Why not choose Nodaks]

When Ark St. was replacing Indians a popular name with some was Engines. Sounds like.....anyway I don't believe many took it serious but it would have ticked off the NCAA.

[Vote on your final 5 nickname choices (just ND is out)]

I am a visitor from the Arkansas State fan base.  A few years ago we had to change from Indians to something the NCAA would allow.  I sympathise with what you are going through now.  Like you we had a name that some favored that most of us hated.  Unfortunately one of the folks wanting that name was on the committee.  It was Locomotives.  Like most communities the railroad was very important to the progress of Jonesboro early on.  I was at the final meeting that finally picked a name.  Like you this process had dragged on and on when we had one name that nearly everyone liked.  After the committee had droned on and on getting nothing done one ex football player spoke up saying he had a hard time sending our coaches into a recruits home and trying to get him to be a Locomotive.  The committee had asked for logoes from a company for at least two names...Locomotives and Red Wolves.  The audience exploded with applause.  Others on the committee agreed and finally that name was taken off.  The committee chairman wanted to close and meet again to pick the new name but another letterman spoke or maybe the same guy can't remember for sure and said he thought most on the committee had studied the names seen the logoes to know what direction we should go.  He was asked which one and he wanted Red Wolves to be voted on.  No one voted against it...even the Locomotive proponent voted for it.  Again the audience let the committee know they did the right thing. 

 

We have been Red Wolves now for a bit and its been the best thing stAte has done in years.  Everyone has imbraced it...well almost everyone...my wife is an alum and she is still ticked off...but she is really stubborn.  If we had been named for a specific Tribe like yall were I would not have liked it nearly so well but Indians is so generic and because of the NCAA we could not do anything with it.  Our mascots was a Chief, Princess, and Brave and about all they could do was come out on the field or court and wave to the crowd.  Queen Elisabeth showed more enthusiasm.

 

It seems most on here lide Roughriders.  Good name.  I know the reservations but we open against the USC Trojans and we have the Troy Trojans and  Little Rock Trojans in our conference and they seem  to be doing fine.  On the different boards they are called condoms but seemed to have survived.  Remember opposing fans are going to find something or some way to put down your team.  No big deal. 

 

I hated the way we were forced to change mascots but to be honest we have made it a positive.  I think you can too.  When you change its not going to change a building on campus your diploma or the loyalty you have to your school.  Embraced it and kick NDSU rear....WOLVES UP!!