Marc's Distinctive High School Mascot Collection: F-J



Last Updated: October 8, 2008


Welcome to Part 2 of my collection of distinctive and unusual mascots of United States high school teams. This section includes schools starting with the letter F through J. New and updated information is denoted by animated images.




Fairbury Jeffs (NE) -- I've heard two stories about how that this name came about: the first says after an announcer called the team the "Jeffs" because Fairbury was in Jefferson County. The second says that the reference to the Jeffs came from the old cartoon "Mutt and Jeff". The girls' teams are known by the name of "Lady Jeffs."

Fairfield Prep Jesuits (Fairfield, CT) -- This is a Catholic school run by that order of priests.

Fair Haven Slaters (VT) -- The town of Fair Haven was a center of slate quarrying for the last half of the 19th century.

Fair Lawn Cutters (NJ) -- The Cutters apparently got their name when several of football players were disciplined for cutting a class. The punished players were held out of the first half of a football game. Fair Lawn rallied to win after the players returned to play in the second half. The next day, a local paper stated the "Cutters" led Fair Lawn to victory.

Fall Creek Crickets (WI) -- Also used by the middle school and symbolized by a cricket that resembles Disney's Jiminy Cricket.

Falmouth Yachtsmen (ME) -- This name is also used for the girls' teams.

FAMU Baby Rattlers (Tallahassee, FL) -- The school is on the campus of Florida A&M University, whose athletic teams are known as the "Rattlers."

Farson-Eden Pronghorns (Farson, WY) -- A "Pronghorn" is an animal of the western United States. It has curved antlers and resembles an antelope.

Fernley Vaqueros (NV) -- A Spanish term for "cowboys."

Fishburne Military Caissons (Waynesboro, VA) -- A "Caisson" is a wagon used for hauling ammunition. They are also used for military funerals.

Flintridge Sacred Heart Tologs (La Canada Flintridge, CA) -- This name was adopted as an acronym for "To Our Lady of Good Success," or "TOLOG." This all-girls school uses Teddi Tolog, a female bear, as an athletic symbol.

Flowing Wells Caballeros (Tucson, AZ) -- A Spanish term for a gentleman, nobleman, or knight. Often shortened to "Cabs."

Fluvanna County Flying Flucos (Palmyra, VA) -- A combination of "Fluvanna" and "County."

Fordyce Redbugs (AR) -- This mascot was adopted because of the redbug's tenacity. Workers clearing land for the school's first football field were plauged by redbugs.

Forsyth Country Day Furies (Lewisville, NC) -- Symbolized by a horse emerging from flames.

Fort Collins Lambkins (CO) -- The baby lamb is the mascot for this town located in what was once an area heavily populated by sheep raisers.

Fort Lauderdale Flying L's (FL) -- They were just the "L's" until Charlie Rhodes's outstanding 1917 state track meet performance, when a reporter remarked, "Look at that Flying L." When the writer's article appeared the next day, the residents of the town requested that the "Flying L" become the new mascot.

Fort Madison Bloodhounds (IA) -- Bloodhounds are dogs that are used to track down criminals by their scent. Fort Madison is the location of the Iowa State Penitentiary.

Fort Vancouver Trappers (Vancouver, WA) -- In 1825, the northwest headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company was moved to Fort Vancouver. For many years, Fort Vancouver was the center of all fur trading in the Pacific Northwest.

Frankfort Hot Dogs (IN) -- Symbolized by an angry dachshund. The town's signature event is the Hot Dog Festival, named in part for the school's mascot.

Franklin Electrons (Philadelphia, PA) -- More than likely for namesake Ben Franklin's work with electricity.

Franklin Grizzly Cubs (IN) -- Franklin College's teams are known as Grizzlies.

Fredericktown Freddies (OH) -- This is likely derived from the town name. The nickname is represented by a cardinal.

Freeburg Midgets (IL) -- I've heard two stories about this name. The first one states that in the early 20th century, Freeburg had a very successful basketball team, yet no one on the team was taller than 5 feet 10 inches tall. Sports writers started referring to them as the "Midgets." The second credits an announcer for coining the name for Freeburg's short basketball team.

Freeport Pretzels (IL) -- The town had two major economic products: beer and pretzels. Since the "Brewers" was deemed inappropriate for a high school mascot, the school went with the other choice.

Frost Polar Bears (TX) -- Plays off of the school's name.

Fuchs Mizrachi Mayhem (University Heights, OH) -- Also used by the middle school.

Fulton Steamers (IL) -- Robert Fulton was a pioneer in successfully developing the steamboat.

Gabbs Tarantulas (NV) -- During the boom days of Gabbs, tarantulas by the hundreds migrated each September from one mountain range to another near the town.

Gainesville Red Elephants (GA) -- In the 1920s, the high school had no nickname for its teams. Before one away football game, the public address announcer looked at the visiting GHS team coming on to the field and said they looked like "a herd of red elephants." The name stuck for Gainesville High and its teams.

Garfield G-Men (Garrettsville, OH) -- This was originally short for "Government Men," or federal agents and officers. Famed federal agent Eliot Ness was said to have arrested mobsters travelling on a nearby railroad in the 1920s. The name evolved into "G-Men." The girls' teams go by the name of "Lady G-Men."

Genoa-Kingston Cogs (Genoa, IL) -- The name "COGS" apparently is derived from the acronym for City of Genoa Schools. This name is symbolized by a cogwheel, or gear. A "cog" is a tooth on the rim of a wheel designed to mesh with another wheel to transmit or receive motion.

Georgetown Day Mighty Hoppers (Washington, DC) -- Symbolized by a cricket and used by the elementary and middle school.

Georgetown Prep Little Hoyas (North Bethesda, MD) -- Georgetown University's teams are known as "Hoyas," so the prep school apparently chose a similar name for its teams.

Gig Harbor Tides (WA) -- The city lies on the shores of Puget Sound.

Girls Prep Bruisers (Chattanooga, TN) -- This name was adopted in the 1980s. Headmaster Dr. Nat Hughes chose the name due to the school colors of black and blue and the enthusiasm he had for athletics and participation. He felt the students at the all-girls school needed a mascot that made them remember that they could be "rough and tough, as well as ladies."

Gladwin Flying G's (MI) -- Symbolized by the goshawk, a swift and powerful bird.

Glendale Dynamiters (CA) -- The school also uses "Nitros" and "Lady Nitros" as a nickname, for the nitroglycerin found in dynamite. A stick of dynamite is on the school's crest.

Glenville Tarblooders (Cleveland, OH) -- This name comes from a football battle cry in the '40s, declaring that the team would whack the blood and the tar from its opponents.

Glynn Red Terrors (Brunswick, GA) -- Glynn is one of the oldest schools in the nation.

Gonzaga Prep Bullpups (Spokane, WA) -- The Catholic school has ties to the Gonzaga University Bulldogs, also located in Spokane.

Goodrich Martians (MI) -- The teams are named for Mars, the Roman god of war.

Grafton Spoilers (ND) -- This name dates to the 1930's. Grafton's boys' basketball team, a decided underdog, defeated one of the big schools in the state to win the state tournament and "spoil" their opponent's expected victory.

Grambling Kittens (LA) -- Grambling State University uses the name "Tigers" for its athletic teams.

Grand Meadow Super Larks (MN) -- This name appears to be used throughout the district.

Greater Lawrence Tech Reggies (Andover, MA) -- I'm trying to track this down....

Greencastle Tiger Cubs (IN) -- The teams of DePauw University, located in Greencastle, are known as Tigers.

Grimsley Whirlies (Greensboro, NC) -- Described as a big, tornado-like object. The original name was "Whirlwinds," but the newspapers felt that name was a mouthful and shortened it to "Whirlies."

Grove Ridgerunners (OK) -- Represented by a red bird

Gurdon Go-Devils (AR) -- Named for a type of sled used in logging.

Gwinn Modeltowners (MI) -- The city of Gwinn is nicknamed the "Model Town," because it was designed by Warren H. Manning in the early 1900s for William Gwinn Mather's Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company as a planned industrial community.

Hamlin Pied Pipers (TX) -- Derived from the famous story "The Pied Piper of Hameln." The middle school's teams are called "Mice."

Hampshire Whip-Purs (IL) -- A combination of the school's colors: White and Purple. Symbolized by a panther.

Hampton Talbots (Allison Park, PA) -- A talbot -- a large, mostly white dog that is believed to be an ancestor to the bloodhound -- was chosen because it appeared on a coat of arms for the House of Hampton.

Harper-Huntington Loconets (OR) -- This name comes from the combination of Harper Hornets and Huntington Locomotives football teams.

Harpeth Hall Honey Bears (Nashville, TN) -- This mascot does have an alliterative effect for the all-girls school.

Harrison Golden Goblins (AR) -- This name is usually shortened to "Goblins." The teams are symbolized by a fierce-looking creature with wild blue hair.

Havre Blue Ponies (MT) -- There are a number of theories on how this name developed. The name may refer to the Blue Pony coal mine near the town. The cold Montana weather could have been the source, turning faces and hands of players blue. Or, the small size of the school and its teams may have led to the name.

Hawaii Prep Ka Makani (Kamuela, HI) -- A Hawaiian term for "wind."

Hereford Whitefaces (TX) -- Named for the breed of cattle, numbering in the millions, that the town is also named after. The teams are called the "Whitefaces," sometimes also "The Herd."

Hesston Swathers (KS) -- A "Swather" is a farm machine used to cut grass, wheat, etc. The school logo is a large and surly-looking machine.

Hickman Kewpies (Columbia, MO) -- According to legend, the Hickman football team was getting beat but they continued to fight on. A newspaper account either stated the players were taking the situation in stride and "smiling like Kewpies," or the players kept "bouncing back up like Kewpie dolls."

Highland Home Flying Squadron (AL) -- This name is used throughout the K-12 school.

Highland Springs Springers (VA) -- I think this is derived from the town name.

Hill City Ringnecks (KS) -- Named for the type of pheasant with a white-colored ring of feathers around its neck.

Hillhouse Academics (New Haven, CT) -- This name seems to come from Hillhouse's former name, Academic High.

Hillsboro Burros (ND) -- Symbolized by a donkey. I would guess that this mascot was chosen in part because it rhymes with the school's name.

Hobart Brickies (IN) -- Hobart was a site for large brick and tilework plants. The high school's symbol is a burly bricklayer.

Hockaday Daisies (Dallas, TX) -- Perhaps this all-girls school went with a nickname that is derived from the end of the school name.

Holly Springs Mighty Bad Hawks (MS) -- Sometimes shortened to "Hawks."

Hollywood Sheiks (CA) -- A large mural at the school includes the image of a sheik modeled after silent film star Rudolph Valentino, who starred as "The Sheik" in 1921.

Holt Ironmen (Tuscaloosa, AL) -- The girls' teams at Holt are known as the "Lady Ironmen."

Holy Martyrs Armenian Armens (Encino, CA) -- Apparently short for "Armenians." The school was the first Armenian educational facility in the United States.

Holy Name Central Catholic Naps (Worcester, MA) -- This nickname is short for "Napoleons."

Hoopeston Cornjerkers (IL) -- In the school's early days, most of the football players were farm kids who spent much of the early fall harvesting corn by hand and removing ears of corn from the stalks, otherwise known as cornjerking. Several of the boys were late to the bus one Friday beacuse they were out working in the fields that day. A reporter from a local paper became and told the coach his school would never be more than a bunch of Cornjerkers. The coach and team took to the name, which has been attached to Hoopeston ever since.

Horicon Marshmen (WI) -- The girls are known as Marshladies. The town is just south of a large marsh and wildlife sanctuary.

Houlton Shiretowners (ME) -- A "shire" is an old English term for a county. Houlton is the county seat of Aroostook County. Thus, Houlton is a "Shire Town."

Huntington Huntsmen (OH) -- I will guess that this name was derived from the name of the school.

Huron River Rats (Ann Arbor, MI) -- This comes from an epithet applied to Huron's students. The school turned the insult of "Sewer Rats" into a badge of honor.

Hutchinson SaltHawks (KS) -- Salt mining and processing were major industries in the area. Adopted in February 1930 and also used by the middle school.

Hutto Hippos (TX) -- The hippo was adopted as the Hutto High mascot because a hippopotamus that had escaped from a circus travelling through Austin was eventually found in a creek near Hutto.

Illinois Valley Central Grey Ghosts (Chillicothe, IL) -- Represented by a person wearing a grey sheet at football games. The girls' teams are called "Lady Grey Ghosts."

Ilwaco Fishermen (WA) -- The coastal Southwest Washington city lies near fishing grounds in the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River.

Inman Teutons (KS) -- An old name for the people who populated northern regions of Europe, especially Germany. Symbolized by a soldier in ancient battle dress.

Iowa City Little Hawks (IA) -- The University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, calls its athletic teams "Hawkeyes."

Ishpeming Hematites (MI) -- Named for a type of rock found in the area.

Itasca Wampus Cats (TX) -- The "Wampus Cat" has no definite form. This mythical creature can take any one of a number of manifestations, from fierce to comical.

Ithaca Little Red (NY) -- Cornell University, home of the "Big Red," makes its home in the town of Ithaca.

James Isabell Aklaqs (Teller, AK) -- In the Inupiaq language, "Aklaq" means "brown bear."

Jane Addams Executives (Cleveland, OH) -- The school is focused on business and career development.

Jefferson Democrats (Portland, OR) -- Thomas Jefferson, the school's namesake, was a staunch believer in the democratic process.

J.H. Rose Rampants (Greenville, NC) -- Represented by a lion on a coat of arms. In heraldry, "rampant" means that the figure is rearing up on its hind legs with a front paw raised up.

Joe T. Robinson Senators (Little Rock, AR) -- Both the middle school and high school teams honor their namesake, who was a famous senator in the 1920's and 30's and a vice presidential contender.

John C. Fremont Pathfinders (Los Angeles, CA) -- John Fremont is known as "The Pathfinder of the West" for his exploration and map-making of the American West.

John F. Kennedy Lancers (Seattle, WA) -- The nickname of "Lancers" is not necessarily a unique mascot for a school, but in this case, it is distinctive. President Kennedy's code name given to him by the Secret Service was "Lancer." Thus, the school chose the Lancer as its mascot to honor the late President.

John Glenn Little Muskies (New Concord, OH) -- The teams of Muskingum College, located in New Concord, are called "Fighting Muskies."

John Marshall Barristers (Los Angeles, CA) -- John Marshall was a famous U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice. In colonial times, he served as a barrister, a lawyer who is allowed to debate cases in British (and colonial) court.

John Marshall Lawyers (Cleveland, OH) -- School namesake John Marshall was a noted lawyer before being appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by John Adams. The school's mascot is a Lawyer named "Ima." He wears a colonial costume and carries a book.

Joliet Township Steelmen (IL) -- Joliet is sometimes known as the "Steel City." The girls are called "Steelwomen."

Jordan Beetdiggers (Sandy, UT) -- The sugar beet is Utah's state vegetable. Sugar beets were an important cash crop in much of the state until the Depression.


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