I have never understood the change to ‘Golden Eagles’ from ‘Warriors’

[MU Avenue]

The decision in 1994 to change to "Marquette Golden Eagles" from "Marquette Warriors" was without reason and, therefore, silly. It was the result of certain MU administrators buying into the whole "correctness" movement, which is too bad and embarrassing.

Marquette's former team nickname -- Warriors -- was neither offensive nor insensitive to any people or their heritage.

A warrior, after all, is one who is involved in a battle, a conflict, a war. The name has no more connection to American Indians than to people of German, French, Italian, Polish or African ancestry.

Marquette's team nickname has been "Golden Eagles" for 15 years. While I would be glad -- and proud -- to see thinking people at MU bring back the "Warriors" nickname, Marquette is now the "Golden Eagles."

Why, therefore, do some -- such as CrackedSidewalksSays -- continue to tarnish Marquette's school name, teams and reputation by repeatedly using "Warriors" when referring to the "Golden Eagles?"

[mu_hilltopper]

Because.

[Jay Bee]

...We gonna rock on to.. MU Avenue

It sounds like you're arguing that using Warriors is OK to call the team, but then you flip the script at the very end - I totally don't get your post.

Are you upset that SI.com 'tarnished' Marquette's reputation on their website when they referred to us as The Perfect Warriors?  Those pricks!

I was in school when we were Warriors and I will probably always call us Warriors - sorry you think I'm tarnishing the school name, teams and reputation of Marquette University... not sorry because I feel I'm doing something to actually 'tarnish' MU, but sorry because I think you're certified nuts and feel bad for you.

[MU Avenue]

Because.

Like maybe a second word.

[4everwarriors]

We are Warriors................................................................4ever.

[krocheck]

Marquette's team nickname has been "Golden Eagles" for 15 years. While I would be glad -- and proud -- to see thinking people at MU bring back the "Warriors" nickname, Marquette is now the "Golden Eagles."

Why, therefore, do some -- such as CrackedSidewalksSays -- continue to tarnish Marquette's school name, teams and reputation by repeatedly using "Warriors" when referring to the "Golden Eagles?"

First, I am a proud Golden Eagle.  I knew nothing of the school's nickname history before I started there as a student years ago.  I know that is not the case for many incoming students (especially those whose parents attended MU).  I do not see it as a problem for an alumnus to use the 'Warrior' name.  Tradition is one of the defining principles of the program and a core value of the fans.  If you ARE a Warrior feel free to support your team as the Warrior you are.  They changed the name ... big deal ... the colors are what I care about more than the name (Blue and Gold were my high school colors too! ... its in my blood).

When I see things like: 'Warriors face Seminoles for Old Spice Classic title' ... yeah I get a punchy for a sec, but we all know what it means and we all know who they're talking about.  I simply see it as an alumnus/a supporting his/her team.  The SI.com article was a play on the old name ... read the article.  I saw no problem there either.

On the flip side ... I DO have a problem with the student section doing Warrior cheers.  I have never liked and never participated in them as a student.

We are not Warriors.  You may be a Warrior.  I am a Golden Eagle.  WE ARE MARQUETTE!!!

[Jay Bee]

Krocheck - interesting to hear your perspective as a more-recent student.. I personally like when the crowd cheers "Let's Go Warriors".  I'm a bit surprised that there are kids out there that dislike and refuse to participant in the cheer, but understand your angle. 

[krocheck]

Krocheck - interesting to hear your perspective as a more-recent student.. I personally like when the crowd cheers "Let's Go Warriors".  I'm a bit surprised that there are kids out there that dislike and refuse to participant in the cheer, but understand your angle.  

It is the only thing I don't like.  I'd rather have cheered "Let's Go Marquette".  I'm not a Warrior, so I'm not going to cheer for them.  I might just be a hypocrite.

[Hards Alumni]

really?

This thread again?

REALLY?

[OpenLook]

I'm a current student and personally love the Warrior cheers from the student section. I don't remember when Marquette was the Warriors, and neither do many of the students today, but I think we all know the significance of the name to the program. I really don't see a problem with students cheering for the "Warriors", we're all cheering for the same team.

Besides, I think Warriors just sounds cooler during a game than Golden Eagles. "Let's Go Golden Eagles" just don't have the same ring to it.

[krocheck]

really?

This thread again?

REALLY?

Apparently ... but its been so long since the last.

[KonaWarrior]

What I find interesting is seeing a good amount of students wearing the older Warrior tshirt.  Is there some sort of grass root movement going on campus to push this or are these students just the more attention getters?

[Jam Chowder]

Words fail me. Can I have a redo on my vote in TT's "least favorite thread" poll?

[ChicosBailBonds]

It is the only thing I don't like.  I'd rather have cheered "Let's Go Marquette".  I'm not a Warrior, so I'm not going to cheer for them.  I might just be a hypocrite.

YES YOU ARE!!

[krocheck]

YES YOU ARE!!

Thought so ... just checking 

[muhoosier260]

What I find interesting is seeing a good amount of students wearing the older Warrior tshirt.  Is there some sort of grass root movement going on campus to push this or are these students just the more attention getters?

I just graduated last year and I can tell you that yes there is a grassroots organization, if you want to call it that. A guy I knew printed them off and sold them for like $5, and I think he passed the operation on to someone else when he graduated.

[Aughnanure]

Because Golden Eagles is one of the most unoriginal un-distinguishable overused nicknames in college athletics. Why didn't we just rename us the wildcats or tigers? It would have been okay if the administration tried to make something that distinguished MU from other schools, but they got lazy and went with somethign that was sure not to stir any feathers. I voted for Hilltoppers and would have loved Jumpin' Jesuits.

[drewm88]

Wait a minute, we changed our nickname?

[Coleman]

I just graduated last year and I can tell you that yes there is a grassroots organization, if you want to call it that. A guy I knew printed them off and sold them for like $5, and I think he passed the operation on to someone else when he graduated.

I too graduated last year and there are a few people who continue to do this, but I would hardly call it "grassroots." What seems most interesting to me is that it has sort of been politically hijacked by the College Republicans and turned into a political issue against the "liberal administration" more than anything else. I find myself in the middle of the aisle politically and think its kind of annoying that something like a mascot become politicized, but whatever.

If you want another recent student's perspective I can tell you the overwhelming number of students just want to put the thing to rest. I was a freshman during the Gold fiasco and especially after that a number of us just wanted to forget about it and focus on being proud of what we are. The "Marquette" on the front of the jersey is what means the most, not the mascot. Colleges change mascots all the time. Marquette went through 2 before they were the Warriors.

If we were currently the Warriors, I would be all in favor of keeping it. But we aren't, and haven't been for 15 years. Going back would just be continuing the vaccilation, and make our school look even worse, like we can't make up our minds.

I respect the Warriors mascot and have admiration for the traditions and success of Marquette teams under that name. But we are Golden Eagles now, and most importantly WE ARE MARQUETTE.


PS I also realize this sounds silly coming from someone whose avatar is ReneeRowarrior. But I had to find a way to incorporate my love for the building that is Renee Row...and Eagle just didn't work.


Edit: Jumpin' Jesuits actually had widespread student support, but the name was quickly squashed and didn't appear on the ballot. Hilltoppers was also pretty popular. Those names were just as popular with students as Warriors, but never seemed to garner the media attention (maybe not as sexy?).

[AlienWarrior]

Long live the FSU Seminoles, the last school left with balls. I don't think the Hawaii Warriors qualify.

[AZWarrior]

Wait a minute, we changed our nickname?

Yes - To the "Jumping Jesuits".   

[ChicosBailBonds]

I too graduated last year and there are a few people who continue to do this, but I would hardly call it "grassroots." What seems most interesting to me is that it has sort of been politically hijacked by the College Republicans and turned into a political issue against the "liberal administration" more than anything else. I find myself in the middle of the aisle politically and think its kind of annoying that something like a mascot become politicized, but whatever.

If you want another recent student's perspective I can tell you the overwhelming number of students just want to put the thing to rest. I was a freshman during the Gold fiasco and especially after that a number of us just wanted to forget about it and focus on being proud of what we are. The "Marquette" on the front of the jersey is what means the most, not the mascot. Colleges change mascots all the time. Marquette went through 2 before they were the Warriors.

If we were currently the Warriors, I would be all in favor of keeping it. But we aren't, and haven't been for 15 years. Going back would just be continuing the vaccilation, and make our school look even worse, like we can't make up our minds.

I respect the Warriors mascot and have admiration for the traditions and success of Marquette teams under that name. But we are Golden Eagles now, and most importantly WE ARE MARQUETTE.


PS I also realize this sounds silly coming from someone whose avatar is ReneeRowarrior. But I had to find a way to incorporate my love for the building that is Renee Row...and Eagle just didn't work.


Edit: Jumpin' Jesuits actually had widespread student support, but the name was quickly squashed and didn't appear on the ballot. Hilltoppers was also pretty popular. Those names were just as popular with students as Warriors, but never seemed to garner the media attention (maybe not as sexy?).

You are proving what so many of us said in 1994 and again a few years ago, with time people forget....but that applies both ways.

If we would have stuck with Warriors and changed the mascot\symbol, with time people would have forgotten the association.

Just as the students now have no linkage with Warriors and don't see the symbolism.


In another 50 years or so fewer and fewer people will even know who the Sioux, Seminoles, Utes, etc even were because they have been pushed out of popular culture.  Shame...especially when those tribes WANT the name to be kept.  Oh the irony.

And yes, it is a political issue in many ways for obvious reasons.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

It's an embarrassment to the university, one they've tried to rectify numerous times only to be usurped by race hustlers. Nobody in their right mind could possibly be offended by the term "Warrior." Change the image and nobody is talking about this...ask the Golden State Warriors.

I happen to know it STILL comes up at BOT meetings. Unfortunately, not all the BOTs are all that familiar with MU basketball, to be perfectly honest.

It's not something that's only an issue on message boards.

[mu_hilltopper]

.. Dang, I should have locked this thread at "because."

[Coleman]

You are proving what so many of us said in 1994 and again a few years ago, with time people forget....but that applies both ways.

If we would have stuck with Warriors and changed the mascot\symbol, with time people would have forgotten the association.

Just as the students now have no linkage with Warriors and don't see the symbolism.


In another 50 years or so fewer and fewer people will even know who the Sioux, Seminoles, Utes, etc even were because they have been pushed out of popular culture.  Shame...especially when those tribes WANT the name to be kept.  Oh the irony.

And yes, it is a political issue in many ways for obvious reasons.

I don't disagree with you necessarily about the Warriors name. I think they could have, and should have, kept the name while changing the Native imagery. I think most people probably agree with that.

BUT they didn't do that. They went with Golden Eagles, and since that change, approximately 30,000 undergraduates have gone through Marquette as Golden Eagles, and have little to no association with the Warrior name. As time goes on, that number will grow. The time has passed. The issue needs to be put to rest. It looks pretty bad if Marquette fans can't even show unity behind their team.

I agree its a political issue, but I don't like how its been, as I said, hijacked by certain sides. Much like many other issues out there, it becomes a simple "left vs. right" issue which ignores nuanced opinions and shades of grey. But that is a larger American issue, and one of the problems I have with our political system in general.

I am perfectly fine with Florida State remaining the Seminoles. But don't lay down that crap that they are one of the few schools with balls. They got the permission they had to from the Seminole tribe. The truth is, its hard to find tribes who are always willing to go along with it. It put MU in a difficult situation when there were zero Native American students willing to be the First Warrior. So we got Bleauteux....

If there is Native American support for Mascots/Imagery, then that's fine. If there's not, then its problematic.

But again, I think most people would have been satisfied with keeping Warriors and changing the imagery. But we're 15 years past that decision...