South Carolina College Nicknames Quiz

Answer: Paladins

Furman University was established in the city of Greenville in 1826, taking its name from Baptist pastor Richard Furman. The school had various nicknames, including Hurricanes and Hornets, before adopting Paladins in 1961. A Paladin is a knight renowned for heroism and chivalry. Furman is a member of the NCAA Division I Southern Conference, and won the gridiron I-AA National Championship in 1988.

Answer: Gamecocks

The University of South Carolina was founded in 1801 in the state capital, Columbia. The Gamecocks nickname dates back to 1901 and refers to revolutionary war General Thomas Sumter who was nicknamed the "Fighting Gamecock". South Carolina joined the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 1991.

Their women's basketball teams won three national titles between 2017 and 2024, whilst their men's baseball squad won back-to-back College World Series crowns in 2010-11.

Answer: Terriers

Wofford College was founded in 1854 in the city of Spartanburg and was named after benefactor Benjamin Wofford, a local Methodist minister. The Terriers joined the Southern Conference in 1997, having previously competed at Division II level.

Answer: Tigers

Clemson University was established in 1889 by founder Thomas Clemson, in the town of Calhoun - the town itself was renamed Clemson in 1943. They adopted the Tigers nickname in 1896, naming themselves after the Princeton Tigers who were a dominant gridiron team of the era. Clemson were a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1953.

The Tigers won three gridiron national crowns between 1981 and 2018.

Answer: Wolves

Newberry College was founded in 1856 in Newberry County. The school was nicknamed Indians until 2010 when the more socially acceptable Wolves was adopted. Newberry is a member of the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Conference.

Answer: Trojans

Anderson University was established in Anderson County in 1911. The Trojans nickname, derived from the ancient city of Troy, is a fairly common one in US college sports. Anderson became a member of the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Conference in 2010.

Answer: Chanticleers

Coastal Carolina University was founded in Conway, Horry County, in 1954. Formerly known as the Trojans, the school adopted Chanticleers as its nickname when it became part of the University of South Carolina system in the 1960's, and retained this name when it became fully independent again in 1993.

The school joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2016. That same year, their baseball squad won the College World Series.

Answer: Buccaneers

Charleston Southern University was founded in 1960 under its original name of Baptist College of Charleston. The Buccanneers nickname was chosen by students at a basketball game in 1964. The school became members of the Big South Conference in 1983.

Answer: Blue Hose

Presbyterian College was established in 1880 in Clinton, Laurens County. The unusual Blue Hose nickname refers to the blue socks worn by one of their early gridiron teams. The school joined the Big South Conference in 2007.

Answer: Bulldogs

The Citadel Military College of South Carolina (normally referred to as The Citadel) was founded in Charleston in 1842. The Bulldogs nickname is one of the most common in US college sports, and the school has a live bulldog mascot called Gen. Mike D. Groshon. The Citadel has been a member of the Southern Conference since 1936, and has won national titles in men's rifle.