sc49erfan15 Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 I've always wondered this, but never posted it here. My former high school had its big rivalry game last night, and our rival's name is the Trojans. It's not just because they're our rivals...this just doesn't make any sense to me. Why do schools name their athletic teams the Trojans? I know that they were at one time some fierce warriors and stuff, and every civilization eventually has its downfall...but what are the Trojans most known for? LOSING the Trojan War. It's like naming your athletic teams the Redcoats, Confederates, Kalingans, or something to that nature. Or maybe it's just the History major in me.I know some USC and Troy faithful probably won't be too amused...but does anybody else wonder the same thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadragon76 Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 That's the idea: They were, at one time, a fierce group of warriors. Most teams want to have their nickname be something fierce and powerful, you know.That, and Trojan Condoms are good when getting it on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbasalmon Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 I may be completely off-base here, but the feeling I get is that the Trojans were the honorable ones (or at least more so), and the Greeks had to cheat to win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShaftDu Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 here in Virginia, we have the Cavaliers. History has it that the English Cavaliers left England to escape death or something. And a lot of them settled in Virginia. So UVa is named after a bunch of wussies. I am partly with you there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbasalmon Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 here in Virginia, we have the Cavaliers. History has it that the English Cavaliers left England to escape death or something. And a lot of them settled in Virginia. So UVa is named after a bunch of wussies. I am partly with you there. Well, the Cavaliers were the ones who supported the King in the English Civil War, and that king lost his head and paved the way for Oliver Cromwell to take over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpnation Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 The Ole Miss Rebels lost the war (though they probably don't believe that). Didn't they have to change up their mascot guy because he was a Confederate general? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dilbert Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 On the back of my high school yearbook"If you ever feel a hole inside, fill it with some Trojan pride"my high school, The Glen Este High School Trojans battle the defending Ohio Division I champions Colerain Cardinals tonight in the playoffs. This is a big game, because both schools are 9-1 and the winner faces the winner of Fairfield and undefeated St.Xavier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schwep76 Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 My high school is the Trojans too. It produces some interesting stuff on our rally T-shirts they give out..."This Trojan pack won't bust""Our Trojans score more, just ask the dance team" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doafhat Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 Whether or not the Trojans lost the war, it's still a better nickname than the Chickasha "Fightin' Chicks" or the Atoka "Wampus Cats" here in Oklahoma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted November 5, 2005 Share Posted November 5, 2005 I may be completely off-base here, but the feeling I get is that the Trojans were the honorable ones (or at least more so), and the Greeks had to cheat to win. This depends on whose recounting of events you read.The Romans, who traced their roots back to the Trojans, tended to paint a picture of the underhanded Greeks using foul tactics to spoil a beautiful love story and one of the most magnificent cities of all time. The movie Troy more or less assumed this perspective.The Greeks, who had Homer writing for them, painted a picture of the Greeks using brains to defeat brawn and reclaim their queen. Homer makes a hero out of Odysseus and the gang, and Priam and those Trojans honourable enough to stick around and be razed with their city are left to rot.The truth is that both sides may be right.Regardless, there's no disputing that the Trojans were a significant military power in the ancient world and lost not because they were the inferior warriors, but because of the cleverness of their opponent and the arrogance of their king. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zer0dotcom Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 I always thought that the name Spartans was meaner, since Sparta was a complete warrior state. Men were trained from childhood to be brutal, efficent killers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WideRight Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 What has always struck me as odd is that no team is named after the victors in the Trojan war. Am I mistaken or didn't they use the name Akaians (Spelling?) And what about other great warrior peoples? The Huns, Mongols, Gauls, Romans, Vandals (thanks U. of Idaho) Goths, Saxons, Normans, etc. are either not used at all or rarely used.Personally I'd love to see a team called the "Bluecoats" in New England or the "Iron Brigade" in Minnesota. Maybe just a team called the "Vets" in DC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFoA Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 It sounds better than Greeks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBTV Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 Forget about Trojans, I just looked up Hokies on Dictionary.com and the definition is: "an emasculated turkey"For those who don't know what emasculated means, it is " To deprive of strength or vigor; weaken" or "to castrate."So VT's mascot is a turkey with no nuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footballfiji Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 Actually there is a funny story behind that:VaTech's nickname has been the Hokies since 1896. I originally a nonesense word made up by O.M. Stull to complete a cheer he wrote (and is still used today) and goes like this: Hokie Hokie Hokie Hi! Tech Tech V-P-I!Later on, in 1909, They also got the secondary nickname of gobblers. (This nickname came from the offensive lineman "gobbling up" their food).A gobbler is also a nickname for a turkey so when a member of the student body was chosen to create or be the mascot he came out in a large cart pulled by a giant tom turkey. Years later a costumed gobbler took over. Then around 1982 to costumed was changed to look like a maroon cardinal with a snood (the dangling skin uner the beak) and this animal was referred to as the Hokie bird (as it was no longer an actual turkey).Some point around this time some University of Virginia grads who were members of the state legislature passed a resolution that the definition of Hokie shall forever be "a castrated turkey"...you know just to rub it at their rivals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slapshot Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 Because calling them the "Lifestyles" is just dumb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JQK Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 I always thought "Mermadins" would be a cool name for a team, Achilles fearless warriors... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bterreson Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 Our current freshman class (2009) was named "The Trojans" but some parents complained so now they are named... The Humuhumunukunuku Apua'asya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmered Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 Because calling them the "Lifestyles" is just dumb. Well, they could have called them the Rough Riders, which was a brand of ribbed condoms ("for her pleasure") over here.And I can't seem to find them now that I found the name of not one, but two CFL teams were named after them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmered Posted November 6, 2005 Share Posted November 6, 2005 It sounds better than Greeks? Reminds me of Analyze This:BENWell, you said you were fighting. You were rebelling against his authority. There may have been some unresolved Oedipal conflict.VITTIEnglish.BENOedipus was a Greek king who killed his father and married his mother.VITTIF***in' Greeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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