Name-a-Day Calendar, November 18: Arizona State Sun Devils
Page 12 of 365
Chosen in: 1946
Chosen by: The Sun Angels, Arizona State’s first booster club
The history of athletic branding at Arizona State University has historically grown along with the school. The institution was founded in 1885 as the Territorial Normal School1 and, as such, its student body originally chose the studious owl as their mascot (though sources disagree over whether the sports teams were known as the Owls or simply the Normals).2 In 1925, they rebranded as Tempe State Teachers College3 and began offering four-year degrees. They wanted a new identity to match, so they chose Bulldogs and stuck with that for two decades.
Finally, in 1945, amid skyrocketing enrollment, the school expanded to teach several disciplines instead of focusing on education. Their first booster club, the Sun Angels, was founded the next year, and they wanted a new, unique identity that encompassed all of Arizona. Their suggestion was Sun Devils. The change was sent to the student body for a vote, where it passed with overwhelming support.4
Read more about the history of the Sun Devils moniker and mascot here.
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Then Tempe Normal School of Arizona in 1889, then simply Tempe Normal School in 1903
An alternate name for a teachers’ college that has since fallen out of practice, a “normal school” was called this because it taught teaching norms.
Then Arizona State Teachers College in 1929
The vote was officially ratified on November 20, 1946, so make sure to celebrate Sparky’s 76th birthday on Sunday!