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What’s in a name?
By my count, there are 1,027 public high schools in Texas that will field varsity football teams during the 2005 campaign. A few schools, like the newly-opened Lehman HS in Kyle, will play only on the JV and freshman levels this year.
Over the summer, I spent some time making sure we here at the Statesman had all the information we need to cover the upcoming season. As I was compiling our list of all the schools in the state, I couldn’t help but notice that certain mascots seemed to be popping up. Everywhere.
And that got me to thinking: what are the most popular mascots for high schools in Texas? And what are some of the most unique?
Turns out that the state’s 1,027 varsity football teams use a total of 198 mascots.
The most popular choices? Bulldogs (76 schools), Eagles (75), Tigers (57), Panthers (52), Wildcats (46) and Mustangs (42); more than a third of our state’s varsity football squads uses one of those six mascots.
Closer to home, “Eagles” was the most popular choice, claimed by eight schools in the Central Texas area.
At the other end of the spectrum are the following nine Central Texas teams, each of which is the only one in the state with its particular moniker:
- Academy Bumblebees
- Austin High Maroons
- Cameron Yoe Yoemen
- Fredericksburg Battlin’ Billies
- Hutto Hippos
- Lake Travis Cavaliers
- New Braunfels Unicorns
- Shoemaker Grey Wolves
- Taylor Ducks
In fact, Taylor claims to be the only high school in the nation whose fans root for the Ducks, while Hutto boosters have a careless carny zookeeper to thank for their school’s distinctive handle.
Overall, 109 varsity football teams in Texas have a mascot they can truly call their own. From that group, here’s a list of 10 of the funniest and most unique names:
- Frost Polar Bears
- Itasca Wampus Cats
- Mason Cowpunchers
- Mesquite Skeeters
- Port Isabel Fighting Tarpons
- Robstown Cotton Pickers
- Texas City Stingarees
- Van Vandals
- Winters Blizzards
and, my personal favorite, from District 9-A, the Pied Pipers of Hamlin.
Comments
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By David
August 26, 2005 2:13 PM | Link to this
You forgot the Somerville Yeguas. I coached there in the laste 90s and it was always fun to explain the mascot. I even got to be on sports radio in Dallas when they did a show on mascots.
By David
August 23, 2005 8:31 AM | Link to this
When I was a youth minister in Springtown, TX. they used to say that they were the only high school in Texas who Porcupine as their mascot. But I notice that they are not on your list, so are there other schools in Texas that you found who use Porcupines?
By todd hausman
August 22, 2005 12:44 PM | Link to this
What about the Cuero “Gobblers”? I do not believe you will find another team with this moniker.
By Douglas
August 21, 2005 1:39 PM | Link to this
Dear Sirs:
There has been something bothering me for the last few years and hopefully we can rectify this error. The team from Cameron, Texas is the Cameron Yoemen not Cameron Yoe or Cameron Yoe Yoemen. The company Duncan produces YoYos. Cameron, Texas produces the Fighting Cameron Yoemen.
Thanks, Douglas Krumnow GO OYE.
By Pablo
August 20, 2005 9:34 AM | Link to this
I believe that you failed to count the 6-man football schools. There is over 100 of those.