The Name-a-Day Calendar
The story behind the nickname of every team in Division I. Once a day. For the next year.
The 2022-23 college basketball season is upon us! I always forget just how brutally long the offseason in this sport is until, like, August, but we made it!
And we’ve got five new Division I teams to join us for the ride this year: the Lindenwood Lions, Queens Royals, Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles, Stonehill Skyhawks, and Texas A&M–Commerce Lions.
These proverbial freshmen bring us up to 363 Division I basketball teams. That’s just short of one team for every day of the year. And with more schools making the jump up to the highest level of intercollegiate competition year after year, it’s highly likely we’ll have enough D1 teams to fill a calendar by this time in 2023.
So that’s exactly what I’m gonna do!
Beginning on the first day of the 2022-23 regular season (November 7, 2022),1 I will post one short story per day recounting how each Division I team picked their nickname. I’ll go in alphabetical order through the current D1 teams, beginning with the Abilene Christian Wildcats and ending with the Youngstown State Penguins.2 That’ll get us through November 4, 2023, at which point I’ll wrap it up with whatever teams have officially begun their transition to D1 by then;3 if there somehow aren’t any, I’ll fill it in with a couple former D1 squads.
These stories should each take no longer than a minute or two to read, but they’re chock-full of fun tidbits and trivia about the history of each school. I’ve had a blast researching them and I can’t wait to share them all with you.
So come back tomorrow (and the next day, and the next day) as I rip off a new page on the Name-a-Day Calendar!
Page 1 — 11/7/2022: Abilene Christian Wildcats
Page 2 — 11/8/2022: Air Force Falcons
Page 3 — 11/9/2022: Akron Zips
Page 4 — 11/10/2022: Alabama Crimson Tide
Page 5 — 11/11/2022: Alabama A&M Bulldogs
Page 6 — 11/12/2022: Alabama State Hornets
Page 7 — 11/13/2022: Albany Great Danes
Page 8 — 11/14/2022: Alcorn State Braves
Page 9 — 11/15/2022: American Eagles
Page 10 — 11/16/2022: Appalachian State Mountaineers
Page 11 — 11/17/2022: Arizona Wildcats
Page 12 — 11/18/2022: Arizona State Sun Devils
Page 13 — 11/19/2022: Arkansas Razorbacks
Page 14 — 11/20/2022: Arkansas State Red Wolves
Page 15 — 11/21/2022: Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions
Page 16 — 11/22/2022: Army Black Knights
Page 17 — 11/23/2022: Auburn Tigers
Page 18 — 11/24/2022: Austin Peay Governors
Page 19 — 11/25/2022: Ball State Cardinals
Page 20 — 11/26/2022: Baylor Bears
Page 21 — 11/27/2022: Bellarmine Knights
Page 22 — 11/28/2022: Belmont Bruins
Page 23 — 11/29/2022: Bethune–Cookman Wildcats
Page 24 — 11/30/2022: Binghamton Bearcats
Page 25 — 12/1/2022: Boise State Broncos
Page 26 — 12/2/2022: Boston College Eagles
Page 27 — 12/3/2022: Boston University Terriers
Page 28 — 12/4/2022: Bowling Green Falcons
Page 29 — 12/5/2022: Bradley Braves
Page 30 — 12/6/2022: Brown Bears
Page 31 — 12/7/2022: Bryant Bulldogs
Page 32 — 12/8/2022: Bucknell Bison
Page 33 — 12/9/2022: Buffalo Bulls
Page 34 — 12/10/2022: Butler Bulldogs
Page 35 — 12/11/2022: BYU Cougars
Page 36 — 12/12/2022: Cal Poly Mustangs
Page 37 — 12/13/2022: Cal State Fullerton Titans
Page 38 — 12/14/2022: California Golden Bears
Page 39 — 12/15/2022: California Baptist Lancers
Page 40 — 12/16/2022: Campbell Fighting Camels
Page 41 — 12/17/2022: Canisius Golden Griffins
Page 42 — 12/18/2022: Central Arkansas (Sugar) Bears
Page 43 — 12/19/2022: Central Connecticut Blue Devils
Page 44 — 12/20/2022: Central Michigan Chippewas
Page 45 — 12/21/2022: Charleston Cougars
Page 46 — 12/22/2022: Charleston Southern Buccaneers
Page 47 — 12/23/2022: Charlotte 49ers
Page 48 — 12/24/2022: Chattanooga Mocs
Page 49 — 12/25/2022: Chicago State Cougars
Page 50 — 12/26/2022: Cincinnati Bearcats
Page 51 — 12/27/2022: Clemson Tigers
Page 52 — 12/28/2022: Cleveland State Vikings
Page 53 — 12/29/2022: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Page 54 — 12/30/2022: Colgate Raiders
Page 55 — 12/31/2022: Colorado Buffaloes
Page 56 — 1/1/2023: Colorado State Rams
Page 57 — 1/2/2023: Columbia Lions
Page 58 — 1/3/2023: Coppin State Eagles
Page 59 — 1/4/2023: Cornell Big Red
Page 60 — 1/5/2023: Creighton Bluejays
Page 61 — 1/6/2023: CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners
Page 62 — 1/7/2023: CSUN Matadors
Page 63 — 1/8/2023: Dartmouth Big Green
Page 64 — 1/9/2023: Davidson Wildcats
Page 65 — 1/10/2023: Dayton Flyers
Page 66 — 1/11/2023: Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens
Page 67 — 1/12/2023: Delaware State Hornets
Page 68 — 1/13/2023: Denver Pioneers
Page 69 — 1/14/2023: DePaul Blue Demons
Page 70 — 1/15/2023: Detroit Mercy Titans
Page 71 — 1/16/2023: Drake Bulldogs
Page 72 — 1/17/2023: Drexel Dragons
Page 73 — 1/18/2023: Duke Blue Devils
Page 74 — 1/19/2023: Duquesne Dukes
Page 75 — 1/20/2023: East Carolina Pirates
Page 76 — 1/21/2023: Eastern Illinois Panthers
Page 77 — 1/22/2023: Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Page 78 — 1/23/2023: Eastern Michigan Eagles
Page 79 — 1/24/2023: Eastern Washington Eagles
Page 80 — 1/25/2023: Elon Phoenix
Page 81 — 1/26/2023: ETSU Buccaneers
Page 82 — 1/27/2023: Evansville Purple Aces
Page 83 — 1/28/2023: Fairfield Stags
Page 84 — 1/29/2023: Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
Page 85 — 1/30/2023: FIU Panthers
Page 86 — 1/31/2023: Florida Gators
Page 87 — 2/1/2023: Florida A&M Rattlers
Page 88 — 2/2/2023: Florida Atlantic Owls
Page 89 — 2/3/2023: Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
Page 90 — 2/4/2023: Florida State Seminoles
Page 91 — 2/5/2023: Fordham Rams
Page 92 — 2/6/2023: Fresno State Bulldogs
Page 93 — 2/7/2023: Furman Paladins
Page 94 — 2/8/2023: Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
Page 95 — 2/9/2023: George Mason Patriots
Page 96 — 2/10/2023: George Washington Revolutionaries
Page 98 — 2/12/2023: Georgia Bulldogs
Page 99 — 2/13/2023: Georgia Southern Eagles
Page 100 — 2/14/2023: Georgia State Panthers
Page 101 — 2/15/2023: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Page 102 — 2/16/2023: Gonzaga Bulldogs
Page 103 — 2/17/2023: Grambling (State) Tigers
Page 104 — 2/18/2023: Grand Canyon Antelopes
Page 105 — 2/19/2023: Green Bay Phoenix
Page 106 — 2/20/2023: Hampton Pirates
Page 107 — 2/21/2023: (Hartford Hawks)
Page 108 — 2/22/2023: Harvard Crimson
Page 109 — 2/23/2023: Hawaiʻi Rainbow Warriors/Wahine
Page 110 — 2/24/2023: HCU Huskies
Page 111 — 2/25/2023: High Point Panthers
Page 112 — 2/26/2023: Hofstra Pride
Page 113 — 2/27/2023: Holy Cross Crusaders
Page 114 — 2/28/2023: Houston Cougars
Page 366 — (2/29/2028): Mercyhurst Lakers
Page 115 — 3/1/2023: Howard Bison
Page 116 — 3/2/2023: Idaho Vandals
Page 117 — 3/3/2023: Idaho State Bengals
Page 118 —3/4/2023: Illinois Fighting Illini
Page 119 — 3/5/2023: Illinois State Redbirds
Page 120 — 3/6/2023: Indiana Hoosiers
Page 121 — 3/7/2023: Indiana State Sycamores
Page 122 — 3/8/2023: Iona Gaels
Page 123 — 3/9/2023: Iowa Hawkeyes
Page 124 — 3/10/2023: Iowa State Cyclones
Page 125 — 3/11/2023: IUPUI Jaguars
Page 126 — 3/12/2023: Jackson State Tigers
Page 127 — 3/13/2023: Jacksonville Dolphins
Page 128 — 3/14/2023: Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Page 129 — 3/15/2023: James Madison Dukes
Page 130 — 3/16/2023: Kansas Jayhawks
Page 131 — 3/17/2023: Kansas City Roos
Page 132 — 3/18/2023: Kansas State Wildcats
Page 133 — 3/19/2023: Kennesaw State Owls
Page 134 — 3/20/2023: Kent State Golden Flashes
Page 135 — 3/21/2023: Kentucky Wildcats
Page 136 — 3/22/2023: La Salle Explorers
Page 137 — 3/23/2023: Lafayette Leopards
Page 138 — 3/24/2023: Lamar Cardinals
Page 139 — 3/25/2023: Lehigh Mountain Hawks
Page 140 — 3/26/2023: Liberty Flames
Page 141 — 3/27/2023: Lindenwood Lions
Page 142 — 3/28/2023: Lipscomb Bisons
Page 143 — 3/29/2023: Little Rock Trojans
Page 144 — 3/30/2023: LIU Sharks
Page 145 — 3/31/2023: Long Beach State Beach / Dirtbags
Page 146 — 4/1/2023: Longwood Lancers
Page 147 — 4/2/2023: Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns
Page 148 — 4/3/2023: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs / Lady Techsters
Page 149 — 4/4/2023: Louisville Cardinals
Page 150 — 4/5/2023: Loyola (MD) Greyhounds
Page 151 — 4/6/2023: Loyola Chicago Ramblers
Page 152 — 4/7/2023: Loyola Marymount Lions
Page 153 — 4/8/2023: LSU Tigers
Page 154 — 4/9/2023: Maine Black Bears
Page 155 — 4/10/2023: Manhattan Jaspers
Page 156 — 4/11/2023: Marist Red Foxes
Page 157 — 4/12/2023: Marquette Golden Eagles
Page 158 — 4/13/2023: Marshall Thundering Herd
Page 159 — 4/14/2023: Maryland Terrapins
Page 160 — 4/15/2023: Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks
Page 161 — 4/16/2023: McNeese Cowboys / Cowgirls
Page 162 — 4/17/2023: Memphis Tigers
Page 163 — 4/18/2023: Mercer Bears
Page 164 — 4/19/2023: Merrimack Warriors
Page 165 — 4/20/2023: Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Page 166 — 4/21/2023: Miami (OH) RedHawks
Page 167 — 4/22/2023: Michigan Wolverines
Page 168 — 4/23/2023: Michigan State Spartans
Page 169 — 4/24/2023: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Page 170 — 4/25/2023: Milwaukee Panthers
Page 171 — 4/26/2023: Minnesota Golden Gophers
Page 172 — 4/27/2023: Mississippi State Bulldogs
Page 173 — 4/28/2023: Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils / Devilettes
Page 174 — 4/29/2023: Missouri Tigers
Page 175 — 4/30/2023: Missouri State Bears
Page 176 — 5/1/2023: Monmouth Hawks
Page 177 — 5/2/2023: Montana Grizzlies
Page 178 — 5/3/2023: Montana State Bobcats
Page 179 — 5/4/2023: Morehead State Eagles
Page 180 — 5/5/2023: Morgan State Bears
Page 181 — 5/6/2023: Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers
Page 182 — 5/7/2023: Murray State Racers
Page 183 — 5/8/2023: Navy Midshipmen
Page 184 — 5/9/2023: NC State Wolfpack
Page 185 — 5/10/2023: Nebraska Cornhuskers
Page 186 — 5/11/2023: Nevada Wolf Pack
Page 187 — 5/12/2023: New Hampshire Wildcats
Page 188 — 5/13/2023: New Mexico Lobos
Page 189 — 5/14/2023: New Mexico State Aggies
Page 190 — 5/15/2023: New Orleans Privateers
Page 191 — 5/16/2023: Niagara Purple Eagles
Page 192 — 5/17/2023: Nicholls Colonels
Page 193 — 5/18/2023: NJIT Highlanders
Page 194 — 5/19/2023: Norfolk State Spartans
Page 195 — 5/20/2023: North Alabama Lions
Page 196 — 5/21/2023: North Carolina Tar Heels
Page 197 — 5/22/2023: North Carolina A&T Aggies
Page 198 — 5/23/2023: North Carolina Central Eagles
Page 199 — 5/24/2023: North Dakota Fighting Hawks
Page 200 — 5/25/2023: North Dakota State Bison
Page 201 — 5/26/2023: North Florida Ospreys
Page 202 — 5/27/2023: North Texas Mean Green
Page 203 — 5/28/2023: Northeastern Huskies
Page 204 — 5/29/2023: Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
Page 205 — 5/30/2023: Northern Colorado Bears
Page 206 — 5/31/2023: Northern Illinois Huskies
Page 207 — 6/1/2023: Northern Iowa Panthers
Page 208 — 6/2/2023: Northern Kentucky Norse
Page 209 — 6/3/2023: Northwestern Wildcats
Page 210 — 6/4/2023: Northwestern State Demons
Page 211 — 6/5/2023: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Page 212 — 6/6/2023: Oakland Golden Grizzlies
Page 213 — 6/7/2023: Ohio Bobcats
Page 214 — 6/8/2023: Ohio State Buckeyes
Page 215 — 6/9/2023: Oklahoma Sooners
Page 216 — 6/10/2023: Oklahoma State Cowboys/Cowgirls
Page 217 — 6/11/2023: Old Dominion Monarchs
Page 218 — 6/12/2023: Ole Miss Rebels
Page 219 — 6/13/2023: Omaha Mavericks
Page 220 — 6/14/2023: Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Page 221 — 6/15/2023: Oregon Ducks
Page 222 — 6/16/2023: Oregon State Beavers
Page 223 — 6/17/2023: Pacific Tigers
Page 224 — 6/18/2023: Penn Quakers
Page 225 — 6/19/2023: Penn State Nittany Lions
Page 226 — 6/20/2023: Pepperdine Waves
Page 227 — 6/21/2023: Pitt Panthers
Page 228 — 6/22/2023: Portland Pilots
Page 229 — 6/23/2023: Portland State Vikings
Page 230 — 6/24/2023: Prairie View A&M Panthers
Page 231 — 6/25/ 2023: Presbyterian Blue Hose
Page 232 — 6/26/2023: Princeton Tigers
Page 233 — 6/27/2023: Providence Friars
Page 234 — 6/28/2023: Purdue Boilermakers
Page 235 — 6/29/2023: Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons
Page 236 — 6/30/2023: Queens Royals
Page 237 — 7/1/2023: Quinnipiac Bobcats
Page 238 — 7/2/2023: Radford Highlanders
Page 239 — 7/3/2023: Rhode Island Rams
Page 240 — 7/4/2023: Rice Owls
Page 241 — 7/5/2023: Richmond Spiders
Page 242 — 7/6/2023: Rider Broncs
Page 243 — 7/7/2023: Robert Morris Colonials
Page 244 — 7/8/2023: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Page 245 — 7/9/2023: Sacramento State Hornets
Page 246 — 7/10/2023: Sacred Heart Pioneers
Page 247 — 7/11/2023: Saint Francis Red Flash
Page 248 — 7/12/2023: Saint Joseph’s Hawks
Page 249 — 7/13/2023: Saint Louis Billikens
Page 250 — 7/14/2023: Saint Mary’s Gaels
Page 251 — 7/15/2023: Saint Peter’s Peacocks
Page 252 — 7/16/2023: Sam Houston Bearkats
Page 253 — 7/17/2023: Samford Bulldogs
Page 254 — 7/18/2023: San Diego Toreros
Page 255 — 7/19/2023: San Diego State Aztecs
Page 256 — 7/20/2023: San Francisco Dons
Page 257 — 7/21/2023: San José State Spartans
Page 258 — 7/22/2023: Santa Clara Broncos
Page 259 — 7/23/2023: Seattle Redhawks
Page 260 — 7/24/2023: Seton Hall Pirates
Page 261 — 7/25/2023: Siena Saints
Page 262 — 7/26/2023: SIU Edwardsville Cougars
Page 263 — 7/27/2023: SMU Mustangs
Page 264 — 7/28/2023: South Alabama Jaguars
Page 265 — 7/29/2023: South Carolina Gamecocks
Page 266 — 7/30/2023: South Carolina State Bulldogs
Page 267 — 7/31/2023: South Dakota Coyotes
Page 268 — 8/1/2023: South Dakota State Jackrabbits
Page 269 — 8/2/2023: South Florida Bulls
Page 270 — 8/3/2023: Southeast Missouri Redhawks
Page 271 — 8/4/2023: Southeastern (Louisiana) Lions
Page 272 — 8/5/2023: Southern Illinois Salukis
Page 273 — 8/6/2023: Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
Page 274 — 8/7/2023: Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Page 275 — 8/8/2023: Southern Utah Thunderbirds
Page 276 — 8/9/2023: Southern Jaguars
Page 277 — 8/10/2023: St. Bonaventure Bonnies
Page 278 — 8/11/2023: St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers (RIP)
Page 279 — 8/12/2023: St. John’s Red Storm
Page 280 — 8/13/2023: St. Thomas Tommies
Page 281 — 8/14/2023: Stanford Cardinal
Page 282 — 8/15/2023: Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
Page 283 — 8/16/2023: Stetson Hatters
Page 284 — 8/17/2023: Stonehill Skyhawks
Page 285 — 8/18/2023: Stony Brook Seawolves
Page 286 — 8/19/2023: Syracuse Orange
Page 287 — 8/20/2023: Tarleton Texans
Page 288 — 8/21/2023: TCU Horned Frogs
Page 289 — 8/22/2023: Temple Owls
Page 290 — 8/23/2023: Tennessee Volunteers
Page 291 — 8/24/2023: Tennessee State Tigers
Page 292 — 8/25/2023: Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
Page 293 — 8/26/2023: Texas Longhorns
Page 294 — 8/27/2023: Texas A&M Aggies
Page 295 — 8/28/2023: Texas A&M–Commerce Lions
Page 296 — 8/29/2023: Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders
Page 297 — 8/30/2023: Texas Southern Tigers
Page 298 — 8/31/2023: Texas State Bobcats
Page 299 — 9/1/2023: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Page 300 — 9/2/2023: The Citadel Bulldogs
Page 301 — 9/3/2023: Toledo Rockets
Page 302 — 9/4/2023: Towson Tigers
Page 303 — 9/5/2023: Troy Trojans
Page 304 — 9/6/2023: Tulane Green Wave
Page 305 — 9/7/2023: Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Page 306 — 9/8/2023: UAB Blazers
Page 307 — 9/9/2023: UC Davis Aggies
Page 308 — 9/10/2023: UC Irvine Anteaters
Page 309 — 9/11/2023: UC Riverside Highlanders
Page 310 — 9/12/2023: UC San Diego Tritons
Page 311 — 9/13/2023: UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Page 312 — 9/14/2023: UCF Knights
Page 313 — 9/15/2023: UCLA Bruins
Page 314 — 9/16/2023: UConn Huskies
Page 315 — 9/17/2023: UIC Flames
Page 316 — 9/18/2023: UIW Cardinals
Page 317 — 9/19/2023: ULM Warhawks
Page 318 — 9/20/2023: UMass Minutemen and Minutewomen
Page 319 — 9/21/2023: UMass Lowell River Hawks
Page 320 — 9/22/2023: UMBC Retrievers
Page 321 — 9/23/2023: UNC Asheville Bulldogs
Page 322 — 9/24/2023: UNC Greensboro Spartans
Page 323 — 9/25/2023: UNC Wilmington Seahawks
Page 324 — 9/26/2023: UNLV (Runnin’) Rebels
Page 325 — 9/27/2023: USC Trojans
Page 326 — 9/28/2023: USC Upstate Spartans
Page 327 — 9/29/2023: UT Arlington Mavericks
Page 328 — 9/30/2023: UT Martin Skyhawks
Page 329 — 10/1/2023: Utah (Runnin’) Utes
Page 330 — 10/2/2023: Utah State Aggies
Page 331 — 10/3/2023: Utah Tech Trailblazers
Page 332 — 10/4/2023: Utah Valley Wolverines
Page 333 — 10/5/2023: UTEP Miners
Page 334 — 10/6/2023: UTRGV Vaqueros
Page 335 — 10/7/2023: UTSA Roadrunners
Page 336 — 10/8/2023: Valparaiso Beacons
Page 337 — 10/9/2023: Vanderbilt Commodores
Page 338 — 10/10/2023: VCU Rams
Page 339 — 10/11/2023: Vermont Catamounts
Page 340 — 10/12/2023: Villanova Wildcats
Page 341 — 10/13/2023: Virginia Cavaliers
Page 342 — 10/14/2023: Virginia Tech Hokies
Page 343 — 10/15/2023: VMI Keydets
Page 344 — 10/16/2023: Wagner Seahawks
Page 345 — 10/17/2023: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Page 346 — 10/18/2023: Washington Huskies
Page 347 — 10/19/2023: Washington State Cougars
Page 348 — 10/20/2023: Weber State Wildcats
Page 349 — 10/21/2023: West Virginia Mountaineers
Page 350 — 10/22/2023: Western Carolina Catamounts
Page 351 — 10/23/2023: Western Illinois Leathernecks
Page 352 — 10/24/2023: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Page 353 — 10/25/2023: Western Michigan Broncos
Page 354 — 10/26/2023: Wichita State Shockers
Page 355 — 10/27/2023: William & Mary Tribe
Page 356 — 10/28/2023: Winthrop Eagles
Page 357 — 10/29/2023: Wisconsin Badgers
Page 358 — 10/30/2023: Wofford Terriers
Page 359 — 10/31/2023: Wright State Raiders
Page 360 — 11/1/2023: Wyoming Cowboys
Page 361 — 11/2/2023: Xavier Musketeers
Page 362 — 11/3/2023: Yale Bulldogs
Page 363 — 11/4/2023: Youngstown State Penguins
Page 364 — 11/5/2023: Le Moyne Dolphins
Page 365 — 11/6/2023: West Georgia Wolves
That’s tomorrow if you’re reading this when I first published it.
This will include the Hartford Hawks, may their waning Division I classification rest in peace.
The Indianapolis Greyhounds and Le Moyne Dolphins have already hinted at making the leap. Could there be more?