
History of the Red Wolves
The Arkansas State Red Wolves are the athletic teams of Arkansas State University. They are a member of the Sun Belt Conference in all sports except women's bowling, a sport not sponsored by that league, competing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level. The bowling team competes in the single-sport Southland Bowling League.
College Sports Established
1909
Location
Jonesboro, Arkansas
College Name
Arkansas State University
Collegiate History
1975 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
1991 - Present / Sun Belt Conference
1963 - 1991 / Southland Conference
Nickname
Red Wolves - Early nicknames were "Aggies" in 1911 (sometimes called "Farmers"), "Gorillas" in 1925, and then "Warriors" in 1930.
Indians (1931–2008).
The name "Indians" officially became the school's athletic nickname in 1931. Arkansas State officially retired the Indian mascot on February 28, 2008, during the last home basketball game of the season. The school retained the Indians nickname for the remainder of the 2007–08 school year.
The ASU Indian Family was a trio of mascots for Arkansas State University. The family consists of Chief Big Track (named for a prominent Osage chief), an unnamed brave and an unnamed princess. It was one of the few trios of athletics mascots for a university. The choice was in honor of the Osage Nation that inhabited the area until the 1800s.
The tradition, which had been dormant for years, was revived in 1996 by new athletic director Barry Dowd. During the process of reviving the tradition, Dowd sought permission and advice from the Cherokee and other local tribes on attire, dance and appearance. The various groups which restarted the tradition, including a former "Brave" and "Princess," were responsible for the creation of all outfits. The beadwork was done by the Cherokee as well as tribes from Texas.
"The Indian Family maintains a stately and dignified persona, befitting the Indian tribes which once lived in this area, as the official mascot of Arkansas State athletics and they will still have a major presence at our game day events," said Lee.
On June 18, 2007, Arkansas State's Mascot Review Committee unanimously approved a recommendation for Arkansas State to retire the "Indians" nickname and all Native American mascots and imagery. The time frame for finding a new mascot is yet to be determined. Chancellor Robert L. Potts promised a broad-based search to be guided by a Mascot Selection Steering Committee. The move for the name change comes in response to the NCAA's 2005 ban on ethnically or racially derogatory mascots at championship events.
The Family served their last performance as mascots of Arkansas State University during the last game of the 2008 men's basketball season, during a mascot retirement ceremony at halftime.
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
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