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10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - Printable Version

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10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - RamblinRedWolf - 08-03-2017 12:43 PM

https://twitter.com/uniwatch/status/893139203692908544

My oh my how time really flies. I was a freshman in college when the university retired the 'Indians' mascot and I joined the "Red Wolves" crusade. To be a part of all that was remarkable in its self (not everyday a nearly 80 part of an institutes history ends and simultaneously you witness the birth of the next chapter), but I think none of us Arkies could've guessed not only the on-field success that would eventually come but how successful the name and brand would be (i wish I could find the article but somewhere it states that more red wolves merchandise was sold and distributed in a given year than ever in the history of Astate)

Here's to many more successful years as the red wolves fellow stAte fans!

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - arkstfan - 08-03-2017 04:07 PM

I had that data but have no idea if got moved over when 247 bought Scout.

I'm proud that I had a small part in the change. I was convinced we could never get a logo with personality as long as we were Indians. A few people had suggested wolves or red wolves so I swapped out every Indian logo on arkst.com (then Tribal Grounds) and we used a wolf for everything.

I felt the smart course of action was stay Indians but use a wolf and then when the inevitable happened we could easily flow over to Red Wolves. School never saw it that way but everyone of the 11 committees representing different groups and charged with sending names to the main committee included Red Wolves as an option.

The NY design firm AState hired REALLY wanted us to go with a train theme because there are train tracks nearby (and every student before the overpass was built has horrible memories of the trains). They created great logos for the train theme, an OK set for "Ridgerunners" and absolutely pathetic underfed suffering mange wolf logos.

President went to the in-house design people and told them if they could do better they could design the logo. Also beat out Stone Ward an alum owned ad firm that took a stab at it on spec work.

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - OsageJ - 08-03-2017 04:40 PM

Like others here I was at the last meeting when it was decided to go with Redwolves. Chairman of the committee wanted to have another meeting but some old warriors had had enough. I think one them wondered how we could send our coaches out to recruit to a train. When it was decided we all got really loud. A very popular decision.

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - MissouriStateBears - 08-03-2017 07:10 PM

It's been a rebirth and growth period for Arkansas State that's for sure.

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - trapdrawApp - 08-03-2017 07:33 PM

Thanks for the history lesson. Had no idea it was only 10 years ago.

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - chiefsfan - 08-03-2017 10:20 PM

Like a few decisions in Arkansas State history, changing to the Red Wolves was something that was virtually forced by the fan base.

Though I was savagely hoping that we would come up with a nickname based off the official state bird, the mosquito.

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - RamblinRedWolf - 08-04-2017 06:37 AM

If only we kept the entire list of the suggestions (especially the ridiculous ones) that made it past the online suggestion phase

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - Florida RedWolf - 08-04-2017 07:06 AM

(08-03-2017 04:07 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  I had that data but have no idea if got moved over when 247 bought Scout.

I'm proud that I had a small part in the change. I was convinced we could never get a logo with personality as long as we were Indians. A few people had suggested wolves or red wolves so I swapped out every Indian logo on arkst.com (then Tribal Grounds) and we used a wolf for everything.

I felt the smart course of action was stay Indians but use a wolf and then when the inevitable happened we could easily flow over to Red Wolves. School never saw it that way but everyone of the 11 committees representing different groups and charged with sending names to the main committee included Red Wolves as an option.

The NY design firm AState hired REALLY wanted us to go with a train theme because there are train tracks nearby (and every student before the overpass was built has horrible memories of the trains). They created great logos for the train theme, an OK set for "Ridgerunners" and absolutely pathetic underfed suffering mange wolf logos.

President went to the in-house design people and told them if they could do better they could design the logo. Also beat out Stone Ward an alum owned ad firm that took a stab at it on spec work.


I remember it well and it all got started on our board with your logo's. My claim is a small part in '67 to make it ASU. Two great and memorable changes.

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - arkstfan - 08-04-2017 09:18 AM

(08-03-2017 04:40 PM)OsageJ Wrote:  Like others here I was at the last meeting when it was decided to go with Redwolves. Chairman of the committee wanted to have another meeting but some old warriors had had enough. I think one them wondered how we could send our coaches out to recruit to a train. When it was decided we all got really loud. A very popular decision.

It was my impression that the top-level committee wasn't really big on Red Wolves but sort of got backed into it by the fans. Remember one of them arguing that Red Wolves would seem strange if we were still using Black as our primary jersey. I was sitting behind Jerry Anderson and he mutters fairly loudly, "Guess he's never seen the Texas Tech Red Raiders".

Think it was the lady from the Chamber who seemed to want to do anything other than Red Wolves.

Committee finally sent Red Wolves and Wolves to the Chancellor and board.

The board had a special teleconference meeting to pick and when they called roll one of board members howled rather than saying present. Knew we were on the right track then.

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - cmaxwellgsu - 08-04-2017 10:06 AM

Red Wolves is far and away the best mascot change after the NCAA's ruling on Indian names.

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - chiefsfan - 08-04-2017 10:40 AM

(08-04-2017 10:06 AM)cmaxwellgsu Wrote:  Red Wolves is far and away the best mascot change after the NCAA's ruling on Indian names.

It really has been. We saw pretty much immediate increases across the board in merchandise sales once the change was announced.

It took a lont time to make the change. There were a lot of older grads who insisted we fight the NCAA despite the fact that there was no chance we'd win that fight. It took a lot of people with common sense to get together and get a change made. From there, we were pretty much set on Red Wolves

There have been stops and starts along the way. School tried to invent some traditions and cheers that just didn't take hold, and a few too many started Woooing rather than Howling, but we got there eventually.

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - ark30inf - 08-04-2017 01:49 PM

(08-04-2017 06:37 AM)RamblinRedWolf Wrote:  If only we kept the entire list of the suggestions (especially the ridiculous ones) that made it past the online suggestion phase
That list was cathartic. They let everybody put nearly anything they wanted.

Flying Elvi, Engines, Mudpuppies, Amorphous Blobs, whatever.

It was good for everyone's mental health while we waited for the deciders to really decide.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - chiefsfan - 08-04-2017 02:06 PM

(08-04-2017 01:49 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  
(08-04-2017 06:37 AM)RamblinRedWolf Wrote:  If only we kept the entire list of the suggestions (especially the ridiculous ones) that made it past the online suggestion phase
That list was cathartic. They let everybody put nearly anything they wanted.

Flying Elvi, Engines, Mudpuppies, Amorphous Blobs, whatever.

It was good for everyone's mental health while we waited for the deciders to really decide.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk


We couldn't be the Arkansas State Amorphus Blobs, that's already taken by this dude.

[Image: Hilltoppers-mascot.jpg]

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - troutbummike - 08-04-2017 03:21 PM

Just FYI, we have Red Wolves in NC. They're awesome critters.

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - RamblinRedWolf - 08-04-2017 04:19 PM

Wish the university would create a sanctuary with red wolves on campus similar to how LSU, north Alabama and other schools have exhibits with live tigers

On a side note, my second vote if we weren't going to be red wolves was ridge runners because I felt it was both unique and you had a lot of options in terms of marketing and mascot. Any of y'all had second options?

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - Shox - 08-04-2017 06:22 PM

(08-03-2017 12:43 PM)RamblinRedWolf Wrote:  https://twitter.com/uniwatch/status/893139203692908544

My oh my how time really flies. I was a freshman in college when the university retired the 'Indians' mascot and I joined the "Red Wolves" crusade. To be a part of all that was remarkable in its self (not everyday a nearly 80 part of an institutes history ends and simultaneously you witness the birth of the next chapter), but I think none of us Arkies could've guessed not only the on-field success that would eventually come but how successful the name and brand would be (i wish I could find the article but somewhere it states that more red wolves merchandise was sold and distributed in a given year than ever in the history of Astate)

Here's to many more successful years as the red wolves fellow stAte fans!

Interesting, thanks. It is amazing how different the name change went down at Arkansas State compared to UND. stAte fans wanted and demanded Red Wolves and got their wish while UND fans wanted Roughriders (state motto is RoughRider state) and fits in perfectly with what other flagships have done for nickname's (Wisconsin, Nebraska, etc). Instead pc culture and committe after committee dragged it out and they settled on Hawks, a putrid and generic option compared to Sioux or Roughriders. I suspect the Hockey group fudged it up for everybody and had the school to do it again, it would be done differently. Didn't Marquette switch nicknames for a couple years only to be forced to change it again because of the fans and alumni? Somebody should write an article on how practically everybody else got it wrong while Arkansas State absolutely picked the perfect name.

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - Pounce FTW - 08-04-2017 08:01 PM

1. This is a cool thread.

2. In fairness to our conference mates, I'll note that Warhawks is also a good nickname. The plane connection gives it a nice regional flavor.

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - RamblinRedWolf - 08-04-2017 09:01 PM

(08-04-2017 06:22 PM)Shox Wrote:  
(08-03-2017 12:43 PM)RamblinRedWolf Wrote:  https://twitter.com/uniwatch/status/893139203692908544

My oh my how time really flies. I was a freshman in college when the university retired the 'Indians' mascot and I joined the "Red Wolves" crusade. To be a part of all that was remarkable in its self (not everyday a nearly 80 part of an institutes history ends and simultaneously you witness the birth of the next chapter), but I think none of us Arkies could've guessed not only the on-field success that would eventually come but how successful the name and brand would be (i wish I could find the article but somewhere it states that more red wolves merchandise was sold and distributed in a given year than ever in the history of Astate)

Here's to many more successful years as the red wolves fellow stAte fans!

Interesting, thanks. It is amazing how different the name change went down at Arkansas State compared to UND. stAte fans wanted and demanded Red Wolves and got their wish while UND fans wanted Roughriders (state motto is RoughRider state) and fits in perfectly with what other flagships have done for nickname's (Wisconsin, Nebraska, etc). Instead pc culture and committe after committee dragged it out and they settled on Hawks, a putrid and generic option compared to Sioux or Roughriders. I suspect the Hockey group fudged it up for everybody and had the school to do it again, it would be done differently. Didn't Marquette switch nicknames for a couple years only to be forced to change it again because of the fans and alumni? Somebody should write an article on how practically everybody else got it wrong while Arkansas State absolutely picked the perfect name.

Yeah the whole debacle in North Dakota was something else (didn't the ND general assembly decree that the university couldn't pick a name for 3 years to allow "healing" or something like that) then they pick the lamest name ever?

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - sdcritter - 08-04-2017 09:05 PM

I was out of Jonesboro by the time the name change came around. I love the decision for Red Wolves. That said, being away from the fray, I was leaning towards them going back to the old school "gorillas" moniker. Another instance of it being better if people don't listen to me.

RE: 10 Years Since the Red Wolves were Born - wwwyzzrd - 08-04-2017 09:33 PM

(08-03-2017 04:07 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  I had that data but have no idea if got moved over when 247 bought Scout.

I'm proud that I had a small part in the change. I was convinced we could never get a logo with personality as long as we were Indians. A few people had suggested wolves or red wolves so I swapped out every Indian logo on arkst.com (then Tribal Grounds) and we used a wolf for everything.6

I felt the smart course of action was stay Indians but use a wolf and then when the inevitable happened we could easily flow over to Red Wolves. School never saw it that way but everyone of the 11 committees representing different groups and charged with sending names to the main committee included Red Wolves as an option.

The NY design firm AState hired REALLY wanted us to go with a train theme because there are train tracks nearby (and every student before the overpass was built has horrible memories of the trains). They created great logos for the train theme, an OK set for "Ridgerunners" and absolutely pathetic underfed suffering mange wolf logos.

President went to the in-house design people and told them if they could do better they could design the logo. Also beat out Stone Ward an alum owned ad firm that took a stab at it on spec work.

I was a junior at the time....many of us considered the train idea of "engines" a joke. (Injuns....slightly racist term for Indian) I know a-state express was also an idea that went around.

Some other names from the early stages of selection:
Scarlet skeeters
Red foxes
Wolves

The final 12 mascot finalists can be found here