I think "Sunblazers" was a bad ass nickname. Better than something generic like Panthers. I know the NHL and NFL teams didn't exist back then but that was a poor choice. Just like UCF dropping something unique for something bland.

(08-13-2017 06:23 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  I think "Sunblazers" was a bad ass nickname. Better than something generic like Panthers. I know the NHL and NFL teams didn't exist back then but that was a poor choice. Just like UCF dropping something unique for something bland.

Sunblazers is definitely different, but from what I read, the change to Panthers was taken from the Florida Panther, an endangered species of the nearby Everglades. As for UCF, their original mascot, the Citronaut (a mix between an orange and an astronaut) was unique, but kinda silly if you think about it. In their case, a 1970 student election changed the name to Knights.

Btw, I also read that the reason UH calls themselves the Cougars is because an early physical education instructor of the university was former head football coach of the Washington State Cougars, John R. Bender, and that he had grown fond of his time at Washington State and apparently suggested the name. So you guys basically named yourselves after another university. I'd be more interested in knowing why UH misspells their own nickname when shortening it, using "Coogs" instead of "Cougs", as I tease my UH friends about that.

I understand but Panthers is so generic.

I thought FIU was the Golden Panthers.

(08-13-2017 06:36 AM)Volkmar Wrote:  Sunblazers is definitely different, but from what I read, the change to Panthers was taken from the Florida Panther, an endangered species of the nearby Everglades.

And, regrettably apropos, only very rarely ever spotted in public.

Team nicknames is an interesting discussion. I have always thought that Rice'sOwls and Texas' Longhorns were very apt for those teams.

Back when the rather inept Colt .45s were changing their name to the Astros, it was suggested in the local paper that a more appropriate moniker would be the Half-Astros.

(08-13-2017 09:12 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Back when the rather inept Colt .45s were changing their name to the Astros, it was suggested in the local paper that a more appropriate moniker would be the Half-Astros.

I am seeing "Kiss My Astros" bumper stickers around Houston.

Citronauts...

Those idiots deserve such a nickname.

The SunBlazers was a cool name and S.O.B. was unique for sure lol



FIU started as a 2 year university, accepting juniors and seniors and zero freshmen. In 1971 we had our first freshman class and 1973 played the first NCAA game (SunBlazers). Almost all the games were played off campus during those early years. I think they wanted a reset with a rebranding with football under consideration and changed to the Golden Panthers in 1987, a species local to the state.



Since then the "golden" was dropped, not sure why (UCF also dropped "golden" as well).

Sunblazers sounds like an arena football or MLS circa 1996 team.

I think a general rebranding effort took place in the late 80s. Not sure why, but they even tried to rename FIU to the University of Florida at Miami.

(08-13-2017 10:32 AM)fiuforyou Wrote:  I think a general rebranding effort took place in the late 80s. Not sure why, but they even tried to rename FIU to the University of Florida at Miami.

The impact on ESPN's Bottom 10 would have been massive.

(08-13-2017 10:35 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(08-13-2017 10:32 AM)fiuforyou Wrote:  I think a general rebranding effort took place in the late 80s. Not sure why, but they even tried to rename FIU to the University of Florida at Miami.

The impact on ESPN's Bottom 10 would have been massive.

Ahh the days of the F_Us on Bottom 10. Which hopefully are over for us, though FAU made honorable mention at the end of 2016.

I tried to make "F_U Weekend" a thing in undergrad, never caught on. I still think it's a better name than Shula Bowl.

The sunblazer was an interesting, that's for sure. It just doesn't sound very legit to me. As others have said, there is history with the Florida Panther and the Everglades. I'm not quite sure why Golden was dropped from Golden Panthers. I kind of like Golden Panthers more since there are so many other "Panthers" in college sports.

(08-13-2017 06:36 AM)Volkmar Wrote:  I also read that the reason UH calls themselves the Cougars is because an early physical education instructor of the university was former head football coach of the Washington State Cougars, John R. Bender, and that he had grown fond of his time at Washington State and apparently suggested the name. So you guys basically named yourselves after another university.

georgia bulldogs did same thing (yale)

sunblazers and citronauts both awesome nicknames, especially for being in florida
a shame those 2 schools didn't keep them

(08-13-2017 10:26 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  Sunblazers sounds like an arena football or MLS circa 1996 team.

My former hometown Orlando had the 'Florida Blazers' in the World Football League around the early 70's. They made the championship in their one year in the league IIRC. I was a Florida Blazers fan! My boy Jack Pardee was the coach. They played at the old Tangerine Bowl.

Speaking of the Tangerine Bowl my brother and I attended this at the TB. I was stationed in NC at the time and drove down to Orlando for it. Good times.

Are the Golden Dazzlers just "Dazzlers" now ?

Still better than the Troy State Red Wave.

(08-13-2017 06:36 AM)Volkmar Wrote:  

(08-13-2017 06:23 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  I think "Sunblazers" was a bad ass nickname. Better than something generic like Panthers. I know the NHL and NFL teams didn't exist back then but that was a poor choice. Just like UCF dropping something unique for something bland.

Sunblazers is definitely different, but from what I read, the change to Panthers was taken from the Florida Panther, an endangered species of the nearby Everglades. As for UCF, their original mascot, the Citronaut (a mix between an orange and an astronaut) was unique, but kinda silly if you think about it. In their case, a 1970 student election changed the name to Knights.

Call me crazy or insane or a stain on the human condition, but I like Citronauts. If they changed their name to the University of Florida at Orlando, they could be the UFO Citronauts and their apparel sales would enjoy a, pardon the pun, astronomic rise.

(08-13-2017 01:32 PM)Dracorex Wrote:  Still better than the Troy State Red Wave.

which is an obvious ripoff from Tulane