03/05: The Joan of Arc Warrior
The past week a thread was started on MUScoop that discussed how a Joan of Arc Warrior could have been used when the Marquette nickname debate came up a couple years ago. I was also surprised that I hadn't heard more of this idea - since I had lots of ideas flow through my inbox during the height of the controversy in 2004 & 2005. Some people had suggested it, but nobody ever seemed to run with it.
While back in Milwaukee for the Pitt game this past weekend, I talked with a few people about this. The consensus was the idea could have (had?) legs - but we just needed some appropriate imagery to go along with it. As fate would have it, I got an e-mail today from Joe Locher who runs The Yes Men advertising anti-agency. Joe is a 1984 Marquette grad that not only had this idea in 2004, but actively pitched it to Marquette. Here's his note, and some sample images:
While back in Milwaukee for the Pitt game this past weekend, I talked with a few people about this. The consensus was the idea could have (had?) legs - but we just needed some appropriate imagery to go along with it. As fate would have it, I got an e-mail today from Joe Locher who runs The Yes Men advertising anti-agency. Joe is a 1984 Marquette grad that not only had this idea in 2004, but actively pitched it to Marquette. Here's his note, and some sample images:
OK, I thought I'd be able to convince myself to keep this site up to date, but that hasn't happened. I'll leave the site up, and probably just rarely update.
However, there is a new Marquette Basketball site around called MUScoop. In addition to being a Marquette Basketball forum, they've also installed a Wiki that covers Marquette's nickname history. I've put the Warrior & nickname information I have here on the Wiki, but feel free to add to it, and keep the archive effort alive! Go directly to MUScoop's Wiki Here!
However, there is a new Marquette Basketball site around called MUScoop. In addition to being a Marquette Basketball forum, they've also installed a Wiki that covers Marquette's nickname history. I've put the Warrior & nickname information I have here on the Wiki, but feel free to add to it, and keep the archive effort alive! Go directly to MUScoop's Wiki Here!
02/07: What's this all about?
As a fan of Marquette Basketball, a common question is "What's up with your nickname?" or "Didn't you guys used to be the Warriors?" or "Why do you guys call yourselves Warriors? I thought you were the Golden Eagles?".
Well, this site is here to help explain the whole situation, and to tie together some of the history of the Marquette Warriors that should not be forgotten.
So, lets get to some of that history. From 1954 to 1994 Marquette athletics nickname was officially the "Warriors" for all sports. Prior to that period, athletic teams were known as the "Blue and Gold" unofficially, then the "Hilltoppers" officially, but then eventually the "Golden Avalanche" was used for Marquette's football team only. Speaking of football, Marquette did have a football team, and more information on that can be found here: Marquette Club Football
But then in 1993-1994 Father DiUlio, who was the president of the university at the time, made a decision for Marquette to be on the forefront of political correctness in doing away with the Warriors nickname and the American Indian logo that went along with it. This caused turmoil within the Marquette community; students and alumni alike. Nobody understood why the nickname "Warriors" could not be kept while just doing away with the logo. Nonetheless, complaints fell on deaf ears, a controversial vote was held for the new nickname, and the nickname was changed to "Golden Eagles", which it has remained to this day.
However, the turmoil didn't stop in 1994. From 1994 until 2004, some students and many alumni complained loudly, "Lets go Warriors" chants could still be heard at the sporting events, and most alumni refused to buy merchandise with the Golden Eagle on it, as it remained a bitter reminder of the perfectly fine nickname that Marquette used to have. At commencement in 2004 things got stirred up a bit. Wayne Sanders who was the vice chair of Marquette's board of trustees offered $2 million -- $1 MM from himself and another $1 MM from an anonymous trustee -- if Marquette would change it's nickname back to Warriors before joining the Big East Conference. The monetary gift was immediately declined, but Father Wild, the new president of the university, was courageous enough to consider the proposal.
And the debate went on for a year from May 2004 to May 2005, during which time the board of trustees passed a resolution stating that "Marquette will prohibit the use of Native American references, symbolism or imagery in its athletics logo, nickname, or mascot ". A survey was offered up to the entire Marquette community -- the results of which indicated that "even 10 years after its introduction, the Golden Eagles nickname, logo and mascot have not generated with the Marquette community a strong sense of pride or identity ". However, instead of using this data to conclude that Warriors was the appropriate nickname as long as American Indian imagery was avoided, they concluded that the new nickname should be "Gold".
Whoa! What? Gold? This took the entire Marquette community by surprise, and the university experienced a backlash they never could have imagined. In less than a week, the Marquette Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting and decided that "Gold" would not be the nickname, but rather a vote would be held to determine the new nickname. However there were a couple flaws with this vote. First, Warriors would not be accepted as a vote. No way, now how. Second, the incumbent Golden Eagles were primarily pitted up against old nicknames -- which hardly anyone could remember -- of "Hilltoppers" and "Golden Avalanche". Needless to say, in late June 2005 the board of trustees proudly proclaimed that Marquette community "decisively opted for “Golden Eagles” in a voting process carried out during the past five weeks".
Yup, in case you read this far, that's the same nickname that just a few months earlier had "not generated with the Marquette community a strong sense of pride or identity". Marquette fans may have only had their Warriors nickname stripped from them one time, but they've felt betrayed twice now.
Some claim it's not a big deal, some claim it's a huge deal. Regardless, there are a large number of Marquette fans that will always refer to their athletic teams as the Warriors, regardless of what the official nickname may be.
As for me, I say, "Go Marquette" and "Go Warriors" -- hoping to preserve some of that tradition along the way.
Well, this site is here to help explain the whole situation, and to tie together some of the history of the Marquette Warriors that should not be forgotten.
So, lets get to some of that history. From 1954 to 1994 Marquette athletics nickname was officially the "Warriors" for all sports. Prior to that period, athletic teams were known as the "Blue and Gold" unofficially, then the "Hilltoppers" officially, but then eventually the "Golden Avalanche" was used for Marquette's football team only. Speaking of football, Marquette did have a football team, and more information on that can be found here: Marquette Club Football
But then in 1993-1994 Father DiUlio, who was the president of the university at the time, made a decision for Marquette to be on the forefront of political correctness in doing away with the Warriors nickname and the American Indian logo that went along with it. This caused turmoil within the Marquette community; students and alumni alike. Nobody understood why the nickname "Warriors" could not be kept while just doing away with the logo. Nonetheless, complaints fell on deaf ears, a controversial vote was held for the new nickname, and the nickname was changed to "Golden Eagles", which it has remained to this day.
However, the turmoil didn't stop in 1994. From 1994 until 2004, some students and many alumni complained loudly, "Lets go Warriors" chants could still be heard at the sporting events, and most alumni refused to buy merchandise with the Golden Eagle on it, as it remained a bitter reminder of the perfectly fine nickname that Marquette used to have. At commencement in 2004 things got stirred up a bit. Wayne Sanders who was the vice chair of Marquette's board of trustees offered $2 million -- $1 MM from himself and another $1 MM from an anonymous trustee -- if Marquette would change it's nickname back to Warriors before joining the Big East Conference. The monetary gift was immediately declined, but Father Wild, the new president of the university, was courageous enough to consider the proposal.
And the debate went on for a year from May 2004 to May 2005, during which time the board of trustees passed a resolution stating that "Marquette will prohibit the use of Native American references, symbolism or imagery in its athletics logo, nickname, or mascot ". A survey was offered up to the entire Marquette community -- the results of which indicated that "even 10 years after its introduction, the Golden Eagles nickname, logo and mascot have not generated with the Marquette community a strong sense of pride or identity ". However, instead of using this data to conclude that Warriors was the appropriate nickname as long as American Indian imagery was avoided, they concluded that the new nickname should be "Gold".
Whoa! What? Gold? This took the entire Marquette community by surprise, and the university experienced a backlash they never could have imagined. In less than a week, the Marquette Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting and decided that "Gold" would not be the nickname, but rather a vote would be held to determine the new nickname. However there were a couple flaws with this vote. First, Warriors would not be accepted as a vote. No way, now how. Second, the incumbent Golden Eagles were primarily pitted up against old nicknames -- which hardly anyone could remember -- of "Hilltoppers" and "Golden Avalanche". Needless to say, in late June 2005 the board of trustees proudly proclaimed that Marquette community "decisively opted for “Golden Eagles” in a voting process carried out during the past five weeks".
Yup, in case you read this far, that's the same nickname that just a few months earlier had "not generated with the Marquette community a strong sense of pride or identity". Marquette fans may have only had their Warriors nickname stripped from them one time, but they've felt betrayed twice now.
Some claim it's not a big deal, some claim it's a huge deal. Regardless, there are a large number of Marquette fans that will always refer to their athletic teams as the Warriors, regardless of what the official nickname may be.
As for me, I say, "Go Marquette" and "Go Warriors" -- hoping to preserve some of that tradition along the way.
02/02: Support Us
The only support we would ask, is for all Marquette fans (and hey, even opponents too) to proudly support the Warriors. Keep the cheers and tradition alive!
02/01: Who the hell are you anyway?
Who me? I'm a Marquette grad that was in school during the 1994 name change fiasco.
