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Quiz about Former Nicknames and Stories 3

Former Nicknames and Stories #3 Quiz

Once again, I've found some fun stories about the nicknames of several colleges and universities, and this quiz is the result. I've made it much easier because the stories are so obscure. Good Luck.

A multiple-choice quiz by WilkeCollins. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
WilkeCollins

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
138,913

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
3 / 10

Plays
1846

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. St. Mary's of California received the nickname "Gaels", following their football team's first defeat of which archrival? Hint

Pacific

California

San Diego

San Francisco

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Question 2 of 10

2. We all know that the University of Kentucky's athletes are the "Wildcats", but which sport's players inspired the name? Hint

Wrestling

Basketball

Football

Baseball

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Question 3 of 10

3. According to their athletic department, why did the term "Billiken" become associated with St. Louis University? Hint

Their coach looked like one when he smiled.

The football team was so awful they adopted the little symbol of good luck.

The Billiken Company donated money to the athletic department.

The school's dean was Charles Billiken.

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Question 4 of 10

4. Prior to the 1970's, New Mexico State's women's teams were called by which nickname? Hint

Lady Aggies

Roadrunners

Senoritas

Wolves

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Question 5 of 10

5. What was the 2003 nickname of the Long Beach State baseball team? Hint

Dirtbags

Bums

49ers

86ers

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Question 6 of 10

6. Before becoming the Gauchos, UC-Santa Barbara's teams were called which of the following nicknames? Hint

Tidal Waves

Roadrunners

Lampoons

Crunchers

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Question 7 of 10

7. Like the Cleveland Browns, which of the following universities named their sports teams after a real person? Hint

James Madison

South Florida

George Mason

Clemson

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of the following universities got their nickname from a star football player who went on to play in numerous Super Bowls? Hint

Montana

North Texas

Tulane

Depaul

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the following nicknames did Rutgers University abandon because some opponents began to call them "Chickens"? Hint

Red Hens

Chanticleers

Roosters

Gamecocks

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Question 10 of 10

10. During the years of the Four Horsemen, what nickname, that in 2003 was used by another Chicago-area institution, was used by Notre Dame? Hint

Cougars

Wildcats

Ramblers

Blue Demons

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. St. Mary's of California received the nickname "Gaels", following their football team's first defeat of which archrival?

Answer: California

This is another case of a sportswriter influencing the choice of a nickname. Following the victory in 1926, a San Francisco sportswriter wrote that "the Lone Horseman and the Galloping Gaels" had defeated Cal. The team roster apparently had many Irish players on it, and the "Horseman" was their star running back.

2. We all know that the University of Kentucky's athletes are the "Wildcats", but which sport's players inspired the name?

Answer: Football

Following a 6-2 football defeat of Illinois in 1909, the school's military head, Commandant Carbusier, said in a church service that he thought they "fought like Wildcats." Hence the nickname.

3. According to their athletic department, why did the term "Billiken" become associated with St. Louis University?

Answer: Their coach looked like one when he smiled.

Yep, according to the athletic department, the school's football coach looked like a Billiken to two sportswriters, especially when he smiled. They coined the phrase "Bender's Billikens", and the rest is history. A Billiken, by the way, is a little Asian figure that became popular between 1908 and 1912.

It was adopted by the Billiken Company of Chicago and released as a bank and a statuette. If you had one of the original's it might be worth a lot as a collectible.

4. Prior to the 1970's, New Mexico State's women's teams were called by which nickname?

Answer: Roadrunners

This is a strange case in which the men's athletic department and the women's athletic department, were entirely separate entities and the women just decided to adopt a different nickname. When the athletic departments merged, they settled on all being called Aggies. I personally would have gone for Roadrunners.

5. What was the 2003 nickname of the Long Beach State baseball team?

Answer: Dirtbags

Dirtbags it is. According to the athletic department this is the official nickname of the baseball team only. All the other teams are the 49ers. I'd love for someone to tell me why.

6. Before becoming the Gauchos, UC-Santa Barbara's teams were called which of the following nicknames?

Answer: Roadrunners

Prior to 1934, they were known as the Roadrunners but dumped the moniker like nearly every other team that possessed it. It is curious, however, that the term Gaucho, according to the athletic department's website, is often associated with rebel-rousing. I don't know that an athletic department should extol that virtue in the recruiting process.

7. Like the Cleveland Browns, which of the following universities named their sports teams after a real person?

Answer: James Madison

The Patriots, Bulls, and Tigers could, I guess, have been named for people but it was the Dukes who were named for the university's second president, Samuel P. Duke.

8. Which of the following universities got their nickname from a star football player who went on to play in numerous Super Bowls?

Answer: North Texas

"Mean" Joe Greene became the inspiration for North Texas' teams. The green in the nickname, however, has nothing to do with him as it was always the school's color. Their mascot, however, is not some mean, green, sacking machine, but rather an eagle named "Scrappy".

9. Which of the following nicknames did Rutgers University abandon because some opponents began to call them "Chickens"?

Answer: Chanticleers

Originally the teams were referred to as the Queensmen because they were knowns as Queen's College. They then changed to Chanticleers, but abandoned it for the reason cited above. Coastal Carolina, however, has kept the nickname.

10. During the years of the Four Horsemen, what nickname, that in 2003 was used by another Chicago-area institution, was used by Notre Dame?

Answer: Ramblers

It is a subject of much confusion just how the Irish became the "Irish" but during the 1920's they were known as the "Ramblers". It is also true that "Fighting Irish" was used by some opponents in a derogatory fashion.

Source: Author WilkeCollins

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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