New Jersey College Nicknames Trivia Quiz

Answer: Broncs

Rider University was established in 1865 in Lawrence Township, Mercer County, under its original name of Trenton Business College. The Broncos nickname evolved from the college's logo featuring a roughrider hanging on to a bucking bronco. The school is a member of the NCAA Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), but doesn't field a gridiron team.

Answer: Scarlet Knights

Rutgers University has a number of campuses, with the flagship one, founded in 1766, being located in New Brunswick, Middlesex County. The school has had a number of nicknames down the years including Queensmen and Chanticleers, with Scarlet Knights being adopted in 1955 after a student vote. Rutgers have had a number of conference affiiiations during their history and joined the Big Ten in 2014.

In 1869, Rutgers and Princeton competed in the first intercollegiate (American) football match.

Answer: Profs

Rowan University was founded as Glassboro Normal School in Gloucester County in 1923, the current name being adopted in 1992, in honor of Henry Rowan who donated $100m to the school. The nickname of Profs is short for professors and alludes to Rowan's early history as a school for educators.

The Profs are members of the NCAA Division III New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), and have won national titles at Division III level in a number of sports including men's basketball and women's field hockey.

Answer: Hawks

Monmouth University was established in West Long Branch, Monmouth County, in 1933. Originally nicknamed the Fighting Scots, the school adopted Hawks as their new moniker in 1956, influenced by red-tailed hawks which were often seen on campus. Monmouth joined the NCAA Division I Coastal Athletic Conference (CAA) in 2022.

Answer: Highlanders

The New Jersey Institute of Technology, usually referred to as NJIT, was founded in Newark in 1881. The Highlanders nickname was chosen by students due to the school's location in the University Heights area of Newark, previously known as Newark Highlands (there are no mountains in the area).

The school has had a number of conference affiliations down the years, joining the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2020. NJIT doesn't field a gridiron team.

Answer: Cougars

Kean University was established in 1855 in Newark as Newark Normal School. The school relocated to Union Township in 1958, and after, a number of name changes, adopted its current name in 1973. Kean was originally nicknamed Squires, before adopting Cougars in 1985.

The school is a member of the New jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). In 2007, the Cougars baseball team won the Division III College World Series.

Answer: Lions

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) was founded in Trenton in 1855, relocating to Ewing Township in 1928. The Lions nickname originates from a school basketball coach telling his players to " "Get out there, act like a lion, and win the game!". TCNJ are members of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and have won numerous Division III national crowns in women's lacrosse and field hockey and men's wrestling.

Answer: Tigers

Princeton University was founded in 1746 in Elizabeth under its original name of College of New Jersey. When it moved to its current location of the town of Princeton in 1756, it adopted its present name. The Tigers nickname originated from the uniforms of their early gridiron squads. Princeton is a member of the Ivy League, and has won numerous national titles.

Their gridiron squads claim 28 crowns, although only 15 of these are officially recognized by the NCAA.

Answer: Pirates

Seton Hall University was established in 1856 in South Orange, Essex County. The Pirates nickname dates back to 1931 when a sportswriter reporting on a Holy Cross University baseball game complained that Seton Hall had played like "a bunch of pirates".

The school is a member of the Big East Conference and is best known for its mane's basketball squads, who won the 1953 NIT tournament and were runners-up in the NCAA national tournament 1989. The school hasn't fielded a gridiron team since 1982.

Answer: Peacocks

Saint Peter's University was established in Jersey City in 1872. The Peacocks nickname dates back to 1930 when the college reopened after being closed for a number of years after World War I. The school's dean chose the name as representing "resurrection and eternal life", whilst Jersey City was previously known as Pavonia, or Land of the Peacock.

The school is a member of the NCAA Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, but hasn't fielded a gridiron team since 2006.