ESPN week 6 power 16..

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Nobody is blaming the students for the pathetic nickname. And the fact of the matter is that 62 percent of students identified more with Warriors than Golden Eagles in 2005. These are kids who were less than 10 years old when it was changed. This is in addition to more than 90 percent of alums. If you want to ask people to accept something, accept this: It's a terrible nickname and will always be a terrible nickname. I would have preferred Gold to be honest. It came completely out of nowhere and almost everybody hates it or is embarrassed by it.

The fact that it keeps coming up in the media is indicative of how lame a decision it was.

Once again, it wasn't 90% of alums that said they identified with Warriors.  The total amount of responses was barely over a third of the alums.  It was 90% of that group that said they identified with Warriors, or about 30% of alums.

And even then, in the second portion of the survey, when faced with the choice of taking a stand and showing how much they wanted Warriors by writing in the vote even though they knew it wouldn't count, or choosing one of the nicknames that would count, only 10% of respondents, around 3300 people actually cared enough to write Warriors in. 

The pathetic thing is you KNOW that your response is completely disingenious and you posted it anyway.

It shows how weak your argument is.

You conveniently fail to mention that the voting SPECIFIED THAT WARRIOR WRITE INS WOULDN'T BE COUNTED!!! Of course, they went ahead and counted them anyway in some half-assed attempt to prove a lack of support. And you use that fact as evidence that there was no support?

Warriors supporters should use it as evidence that the people organizing the vote were nothing short of devious...and desperate.

But you're right -- more than 90 percent of "respondents" identified with Warriors. I am not a statistician but I believe the number of respondents was more than a represenative sample.

Also, what about the more than 60 percent of students who felt the same way?

You cannot be arguing that there is significant support for our lame, pathetic, embarrassing nickname, can you?

[Brew City]

Clearly, the nickname situation has not been handled well.  I wish that some of the funding used to research "Gold" could go to refurbishing those underground tunnels so I could walk to class without becoming exposed to the elements.

However, I will never understand why people continue to claim that "Golden Eagles" is a weak name.  It isn't... why is the Bald Eagle a symbol of strength, when the Golden (its larger, and much more powerful cousin) is not.  People just REFUSE to accept anything non-Warrior.  While I understand the pride behind the Warrior name (there is talk my high school might change our nickname as well, a move I'm strongly against), it think that it really needs to be let go at this point, especially when instead of moving on a portion of our fan base will take any attempt to stab at our university (and in the example I gave, I'd be willing to accept a change and would proudly support my alma mater afterwards, even if they became the "Spirit").  I feel like if you had true Marquette pride, you'd take offense to someone taking a swat at our institution.  We are Marquette, regardless of what cartoon character is dancing on the Bradley Center floor.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Clearly, the nickname situation has not been handled well.  I wish that some of the funding used to research "Gold" could go to refurbishing those underground tunnels so I could walk to class without becoming exposed to the elements.

However, I will never understand why people continue to claim that "Golden Eagles" is a weak name.  It isn't... why is the Bald Eagle a symbol of strength, when the Golden (its larger, and much more powerful cousin) is not.  People just REFUSE to accept anything non-Warrior.  While I understand the pride behind the Warrior name (there is talk my high school might change our nickname as well, a move I'm strongly against), it think that it really needs to be let go at this point, especially when instead of moving on a portion of our fan base will take any attempt to stab at our university (and in the example I gave, I'd be willing to accept a change and would proudly support my alma mater afterwards, even if they became the "Spirit").  I feel like if you had true Marquette pride, you'd take offense to someone taking a swat at our institution.  We are Marquette, regardless of what cartoon character is dancing on the Bradley Center floor.

Do you honestly think the people that have been making these decisions did research on "Gold?" You can't be serious.

[Brew City]

PRN,

Well, I guess I do find it tough to believe, but regardless, it was reported that money went into the research (can't remember the amount of time) but I'd love to get paid to come up with that kind of nonsense.  I think the choice was CLEARLY to go with Golden Eagles or Warriors (perhaps Hilltoppers as well)... Gold was just out there.

[greenman]

If you hate the fact the the name was changed so much, then you should completely pull out of the university as a whole. Some of you stopped giving to MU  because of the name, and wont contribute another cent (unless its to B&G fund) until the admin. changes the name back.

if you hate it so much dont half-ass it, give up on the bball team like youve given up on the rest of the university.

im sure there are plenty of golden eagle fans who would love your season tickets.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

im sure there are plenty of golden eagle fans who would love your season tickets.

If people were being completely honest about whether they preferred Warriors or Golden Eagles, I don't believe the people that side with excrement that is our current nickname would even come close to filling the lower bowl.

[bma725]

Nobody is blaming the students for the pathetic nickname. And the fact of the matter is that 62 percent of students identified more with Warriors than Golden Eagles in 2005. These are kids who were less than 10 years old when it was changed. This is in addition to more than 90 percent of alums. If you want to ask people to accept something, accept this: It's a terrible nickname and will always be a terrible nickname. I would have preferred Gold to be honest. It came completely out of nowhere and almost everybody hates it or is embarrassed by it.

The fact that it keeps coming up in the media is indicative of how lame a decision it was.

Once again, it wasn't 90% of alums that said they identified with Warriors.  The total amount of responses was barely over a third of the alums.  It was 90% of that group that said they identified with Warriors, or about 30% of alums.

And even then, in the second portion of the survey, when faced with the choice of taking a stand and showing how much they wanted Warriors by writing in the vote even though they knew it wouldn't count, or choosing one of the nicknames that would count, only 10% of respondents, around 3300 people actually cared enough to write Warriors in. 

The pathetic thing is you KNOW that your response is completely disingenious and you posted it anyway.

It shows how weak your argument is.

You conveniently fail to mention that the voting SPECIFIED THAT WARRIOR WRITE INS WOULDN'T BE COUNTED!!! Of course, they went ahead and counted them anyway in some half-assed attempt to prove a lack of support. And you use that fact as evidence that there was no support?

Warriors supporters should use it as evidence that the people organizing the vote were nothing short of devious...and desperate.

But you're right -- more than 90 percent of "respondents" identified with Warriors. I am not a statistician but I believe the number of respondents was more than a represenative sample.

Also, what about the more than 60 percent of students who felt the same way?

You cannot be arguing that there is significant support for our lame, pathetic, embarrassing nickname, can you?

Re-read the post what part of "even though they knew it wouldn't count," is conveniently failing to mention that it wouldn't be counted.  I made a point of saying that they knew it wouldn't be counted.  And despite that 3300 people felt strongly enough about it to vote for it anyway.  The rest did not.

And nowhere did I say that there was significant support for Golden Eagles, but you are being just as disingenious when you say 90% of alumni support or identify with Warriors when 60+ percent of the alumni didn't even respond. 

[Doctor V]

do you think the high ranking officials at this university wanted to get rid of the warrior? they prob lost alot of money because of it. dont go blaming people for something that needed to be done. did illinois wanna get rid of the chief?? In our politically correct society if something is remotely offensive to a group of people it is not tolerated- it is what it is.

whats ridiculous is that you hate the new name just because its not warriors, not because its a poor name. the people voted, had the chance to change it, and obviously wanted to keep it over the other choices. its better than spirit, gold, hilltoppers. is it that much worse than blue demons, friars, orange, cardinals, mountaineers, etc etc

dont talk nonsense ultimate warrior

[JetCityWarrior]

I'd love it if we dropped the nickname thing.  I'm not just talking about on this message board either.  My write-in vote was to eliminate the nickname altogether.  We are Marquette.  Since it's so (apparently) painful to alum in particular, why not just remove it?  We could set a new standard.  It's not like 'Bleuteaux' would be hurt by it either.

That just might be cool.  ESPN, CBS, et al, wouldn't know what to do with their graphics...

[Desert_Eagle]

There is a reason that we chant "We are Marquette," and not "We are the Warriors, " or "We are the Golden Eagles." Its because we are all a part of one Marquette Family and a nickname shouldn't be dividing us.

[muwarrior87]

I'd love it if we dropped the nickname thing.  I'm not just talking about on this message board either.  My write-in vote was to eliminate the nickname altogether.  We are Marquette.  Since it's so (apparently) painful to alum in particular, why not just remove it?  We could set a new standard.  It's not like 'Bleuteaux' would be hurt by it either.

That just might be cool.  ESPN, CBS, et al, wouldn't know what to do with their graphics...

That's why I like the 'MU' and didn't like the new eagle head when they came out with it...along with the reason it looks ugly.

[Brew City]

I've always loved the "We are Marquette" chant.  When its booming at the Bradley, it is impressive (and sounds great on TV).  Not exactly unique, but my favorite cheer.

[Phi Iota Gamma 84]

Clearly, the nickname situation has not been handled well.  I wish that some of the funding used to research "Gold" could go to refurbishing those underground tunnels so I could walk to class without becoming exposed to the elements.

However, I will never understand why people continue to claim that "Golden Eagles" is a weak name.   It isn't... why is the Bald Eagle a symbol of strength, when the Golden (its larger, and much more powerful cousin) is not.  People just REFUSE to accept anything non-Warrior.  While I understand the pride behind the Warrior name (there is talk my high school might change our nickname as well, a move I'm strongly against), it think that it really needs to be let go at this point, especially when instead of moving on a portion of our fan base will take any attempt to stab at our university (and in the example I gave, I'd be willing to accept a change and would proudly support my alma mater afterwards, even if they became the "Spirit").  I feel like if you had true Marquette pride, you'd take offense to someone taking a swat at our institution.  We are Marquette, regardless of what cartoon character is dancing on the Bradley Center floor.

Your missing the point.  It does not matter strong or not.  The heirarchy (DiUhlio et al) changed from our name to the Boston College nickname (along with a dozen other universities).  It would be like changing to Cardinal or Blue Demons or Hoyas, or Mountaineers.  AND    The reasoning was lame, if it was a Native American issue change the imagery, logo, etc.  It was a power play, copout, to special interest groups that should not have ranked higher than the students, alumni, and the fan base.  There is no way Golden Eagles won the first vote in the 90's,  I  have yet to meet someone who voted Golden Eagles on the first vote.  It was a matter of total arrogance by the powers at the time over 90+ % of the Marquette constituency at the time. 

I understand why later fans and students do not understand our pain.  But it is real.

[Tribby]

I understand why later fans and students do not understand our pain.  But it is real.

[baltimoremufan]

Nightmare,

The Bradley Center houses 18,600 people for basketball games. Marquette University houses roughly 11,500 students (under and grad) pulled from the flawless Wikipedia. You boldly stated that the lower bowl would not be filled if it was just golden eagles fans minus the beloved Warriors fans. The numbers above leave for roughly 7,100 seats left to be filled if EVERY Single student went to the game, which they don't. The fun thing about Marquette basketball is it is not just a students (alum as well) game but a tourist and city natives game. The tickets are cheaper than the Bucks and you get to see college basketball at the highest level. They help fill up those seats because they are there to watch dang good basketball not worry about the name. I would say that the stadium would be filled because true Warriors fan would go for MU basketball not the semantics of a name.

[bs4173]

mualum: You are right. Nobody can argue that Warriors is the more popular name.

But, you know what? MU was the Eagles when I went there... and the more I hear people whine about the nickname, the more it just gets old.

It seems the nickname is all a lot of older alumni want to talk about. Nobody wants to talk about how great campus looks, or how great the school is doing, or how admissions are up. They just want to wear a t-shirt with the old logo on it and say something about how MU isn't like it used to be and the PCers have ruined it.

Now, I think that is an clear indication of how big of a mistake the nickname thing was (I understand that, and agree the nickname was a mistake)... but I also think it is an indication of how some people have lost touch with the school and only have one thing to focus on... the nickname.

Go to campus, see the buildings, talk to the students, talk to the faculty, see a game, see the Al, see the school spirit. Regardless of the nickname, MU is doing some GREAT things and I hope the pro-Warrior crowd (who I respect) realizes that.

While the nickname is disappointing, (IMHO) it's hardly be the thing that everybody should focus on.

Thank you, mualum and baltimoremufan! Before I say anything, let me add the disclaimer that I have 2 aunts, 3 uncles, 2 cousins, a late grandmother and an older brother that were all either alumni or students when the nickname changed. I'm even wearing a Warriors shirt from Sweeney's as I type this. So, I fully understand why people were/are upset.

Anyway, I work as a campus tour guide, and every once in a while, alums will come back to the campus for tours because they haven't seen it in 5 or 10 or even 20 years. They love to start reminiscing about Al and the Warriors and old bars and so on. Quite often, they start to air their grievances about the "Golden Eagles." But by about the halfway point in the tour--without fail--they've forgotten about the whole nickname debacle and are blown away by the progress MU has seen SINCE the change. A lot of them even buy shirts at the end of the tour with "Golden Eagles" on the chest.

I think PRN and everybody else who remains bitter towards Marquette for changing the name needs to visit the campus and talk to current students about their experiences at games. Stop wasting so much energy pointing to "official polls" about nicknames and arguing about how the student section/crowd/"feeling" at every game just isn't or never will be as magical as it was when the Warriors played. Instead, check out how entire dorm rooms are plastered in MU b-ball paraphernalia. Look at all of us painting our faces, going shirtless, making signs and chanting ourselves hoarse. Look at all of us waiting in the snow and wind for 12+ hours for the best seats. Listen to ESPN Gameday commentators calling us the best crowd they've seen in a long, long time.

I don't need to talk about how great the university is, because we generally agree on that. We current students love watching the old footage of 1977, and I've heard more speeches in Public Speaking class about Al McGuire and the Warriors than you can imagine. We know what the tradition is, and we support it as much as we can without taking away from the present. However, it's been over a decade, and while us Golden Eagles fully respect your tradition and what ONCE WAS--even shouting "Lets Go Warriors"--you need to respect what Marquette IS NOW. You have your memories, now let us have ours. We're all still Marquette and we all still cheer for the same team. Please do your best to move past it, because holding a grudge like this won't change a thing, whatsoever.

[MUrugger]

This Warrior-Golden Eagle topic seems to be a touchy one and I just don't get it.  Current students and those who have never known anything other than Golden Eagle don't seem to understand.  I've read and heard the 'lip service' that they do, but that is just trying to be as politically correct, and less than forthright, as the name change itself.  Now I don't begrudge 18-23 year-olds their right to defend the name, that's what 18-23 year-olds do.  I was one once and I've got three of them now.  (1 of them a Golden Eagle.)

But what is a Warrior other than someone/thing that connotes "proud, tough, a fighter, never quit, enduring..."  I think of the dude that Russell Crowe played; OK, they called him "Gladiator."  But tell me 'gladiator' and 'warrior' aren't practically synonomous?  Webster's says nothing of Native Americans under 'warrior.' Was San Francisco's pro bball franchise named after an Indian?  Until I came to MU I never even related the term Warrior to a native American Indian heritage.  Then when I did get there, that image worked just fine.  Then, as now we played tough.  You think McGuire wasn't tough? He cast the team in his image and we had a national following that embraced it.  Majerus and others who can't help themselves when referring to the MU team use the term all the time to mean "tough." Until reading earlier posts I didn't even know there was such a thing as a "golden" eagle.  I thought it was made up to get the 'maize' color in there.  That was the color btw, 1 of the Crayola 64, but now it's gold? It was all so convenient.

Our name and our history were stolen and we were powerless to stop it. Now in my early 50's, old friends who once respected the University I attended, and are envious of a national championship that earns that respect and that they don't have, resort to mocking me with slams about "Golden Eagles" like its a flavor of the month.  If/when MU wins another national championship and someone decides to change the name, how are you gonna feel then?

My current student will open MU swag next week as Christmas presents, but none of it will be gold or say "Golden Eagles" on it.  She couldn't care less.  Some things shouldn't change. My guess is that as decades pass, many of you will come to feel the same way.  About a lot of stuff.  The school was and is great.  So was the Warriors name.  Change it back.

[reesiecup210]

Current Marquette Students:

Just because we got stuck with Golden Eagles doesn't mean we have to be satisfied with it. I know this is an old argument, but it is worth our time. Think of the awesome mascot we gave up to be politically correct. No other university had this. It set us apart. We Are Marquette! Now, we are just another Golden Eagle school. If you guys want to be associated with Southern Mississippi that's up to you, but I will not stoop to that level. I'm sorry, but Golden Eagles does not do this university justice. I dare somebody to tell me the Golden Eagles is a sufficient replacement for Warriors.

[thisists]

I dare somebody to tell me the Golden Eagles is a sufficient replacement for Warriors.

reesiecup210, the Golden Eagles is a sufficient replacement for Warriors.

peace out to this thread, your all nuts.

[reesiecup210]

Thisists,

Learn how to spell. The word you are looking for is "you're". I dare somebody intelligent to tell me that Golden Eagles is a sufficient replacement for Warriors.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Where is the pro-hilltopper crowd in all of this?

Wasn't the name change back then just arbitrary?

I seem to recall that it has something to do with the Milwaukee Braves coming to town. (If I remember right).


Shouldn't they be equally as outraged about the "warrior" nickname?

MU could have handled the nickname issues in a lot of different/better ways... maybe the best way would have been to just go back to the original nickname.

[Warriors Forever]

Warriors. Forever.

[spiral97]

This thread has gone well past it's point.  My brain hurts just reviewing it.  As such, consider it locked.