Odd names of college / university mascots (plantation, racism, famous)

[recycled]

Many college mascot names are inspired by an animal of some sort, or maybe an icon of success or history or geography. And some team names are inspired by, well, something a bit more subdued. Here in California we have a few good ones - our local stars are the University of California Irvine Anteaters. In northern Cal you can cheer for the famous University of California Santa Cruz Banana Slugs. What are the odd or weird team or mascot names from your area?

[bradly]

I think "Hoya's" is the strangest team name, such as the one for georgetown!
I dont even think you wanna know what that means.. were i come from..

[bigdave01]

I love the Banana Slugs.

[JMT]

I've always liked the Pittsburg State (Kansas) Gorillas.

[WILWRadio]

The Syracuse Orange.

[DTO Luv]

Friendship University of Central Kansas.

[Chicago60614]

Ole Miss is interesting.

The name was derived not from Mississippi, but as a respectful term that black slaves would use to describe the wife of their plantation owner.

Throughout the years people have brought up changing it since it has roots in racism and slavery, but so far it's stuck.

[Finger Laker]

Scottsdale Community College are the Fighting Artichokes

[krudmonk]

Stanford Cardinal are named for a shade of red

[DgoNative]

Evergreen State College Geoducks. Bet you can't guess what that is!