Name-a-Day Calendar, May 12: New Hampshire Wildcats

Page 187 of 365

Chosen in: 1926

Chosen by: Student body vote

---

The school now known as the University of New Hampshire was established in 1866 and began playing football as early as 1893. Their teams had no official nickname for over three decades, but this was put to an end in 1926.

In the early weeks of 1926, the university solicited official nickname suggestions from its student body; these suggestions were then put to a vote on February 4. The possibilities were endless—Bulls, Eagles, Huskies, Unicorns, Wildcats, among others—but the two frontrunners were “Bulls” and “Wildcats”.

The men’s hockey team was often called the “Durham Bulls” by local sportswriters, as the University of New Hampshire is located in the town of Durham. But a more hyperlocal print source, The New Hampshire student newspaper, came out in support of “Wildcats” prior to the election for three reasons. First, wildcats are “small and aggressive, like New Hampshire”. Second, agile wildcats are more emblematic of New Hampshire athletes than “sluggish bulls”. And last, but not least, it would be easier to acquire and transport a live wildcat than a live bull.

Perhaps due to the newspaper’s endorsement, “Wildcats” won the election in a squeaker. Almost a century later, it remains.

New Hampshire enjoys two costumed wildcat mascots: Wild E. Cat and Gnarlz.

Previous page: Nevada Wolf Pack

Next page: New Mexico Lobos

Find every page at the Name-a-Day Calendar hub!