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WSU unveils their new mascot
Thursday, January 11, 2007
A history of the Wright State mascot
What's the mascot?
Wright State has struggled to decide since it started playing varsity basketball in 1970.
A student contest determined WSU's colors would be hunter green and gold and the school nickname would be Raiders. Mike Zink, equipment manager for the school's teams, says that contest was held in 1972, but the Raiders' nickname was used at least since 1970.
Legend says the colors came from the NFL's Green Bay Packers and the nickname from the Oakland Raiders, both popular — and winning — teams at the time.
Soccer, which was played at the school prior to basketball, apparently didn't have a nickname.
Even with the nickname, there was a problem matching a mascot. An early program rendering showed a pirate with a bandana and eye patch. In 1986, a roly poly Viking emerged — complete with horned helmet, red beard and a dubious link to the nickname.
Seven years ago, in a drive to update and eliminate singular gender considerations, a marketing firm was hired to come up with a new mascot, and the WSU wolf was born.
"We wanted a symbol that would take us into the future," said Iris Harvey, WSU assistant vice-president of communications and marketing.
Too much equity had been spent on the Raiders nickname to change that.
Did you know WSU — founded in 1964 — is the only state school in Ohio named after a person or persons (the flight-inventing Wright brothers)? Flight-oriented names were shunned in deference to cross-town UD, whose teams are known as the Flyers.
Even the wolf has been updated this season. The old brown wolf prowling the sidelines is now black, gray and white, with claws for feet.
A few students would like to see the old Viking return, but really want more students to attend games.
"I used to make fun of people at Wright State," said Jeff Baltes, a transfer from Bowling Green, who wants to raise awareness of the men's team. "I'd ask, 'What are you guys?'"
Well, they're Raiders.
