While watching the Northwestern Wildcats battle the Indiana Hoosier to a soccer overtime, someone said, “What is a Hoosier anyway?” Nobody knew, and the game was more compelling than Google, but when I looked it up later, I discovered that it is simply a designation for a resident of Indiana and the word’s origin is still up for debate.

Hoosier is only one of many confounding nicknames for sports teams, including the Hokies, Hoyas, Gorloks, Billikens, Wyverns, Ephs, and Illini. The list of college mascots and team names is quite colorful and spans a wide range of associations. Sometimes the school’s location is the focus, sometimes the curriculum. The Dust Devils and Cornhuskers are joined by the LumberJacks and LumberJills. I’m surprised the Jills still survive in today’s climate of equality in women’s sports.

Animals are by far the most popular mascots, with big cats taking top billing, followed closely by a variety of birds. There are a surprising number of insects and amphibians represented, from Yellow Jackets and Hornets to Fire Ants and Boll Weevils, along with Geckos, Gila Monsters, Horned Frogs and what I find the most unlikely mascot name of all: Banana Slugs. I don’t think that would inspire a great deal of confidence in the athletic ability of the team.

There are also quite a few combative vegetables out there: Fighting Artichokes, Pickles, Radishes and Okra take the fields or courts.

Despite an effort to remove Indian names from professional sports teams, there are still a lot of schools honoring their historical roots. I have never really understood the objection to Indian-based names for sports team. I always thought it was a compliment, rather than a slur.

But no matter what they’re called and whether it makes any sense or not, fans love to cheer their favorites on.

But “Go Banana Slugs”? That would take some getting used to.

Jean McCamy is a Wake Forest artist.

Jean McCamy