r/cfbmemes

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https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cwy2pnpqjl7o

For my flairs, Iowa is named the Hawkeyes for two main reasons, because the Iowa people closely resembled the skilled, nature-loving woodsman character “Hawkeye” in the Last of the Mohicans, which came out in 1826. It’s also to honor Chief Black Hawk who was a Sauk Chief who in 1832 fought to reclaim native land in that area. The local people did not forget his bravery and sacrifice despite fighting against him, and in 1838 “Hawk-eye” became popularized and eventually became Hawkeye so when the school needed a mascot the choice was obvious.

But my other flair I would say is far more interesting. For Northwestern College who many of you don’t know, we are the Red Raiders (the original Red Raiders btw). The picture attached portrays the story of early Dutch settlers in Iowa, which at the time in 1872 was forming its final counties and county seats in NW Iowa. The Dutch settlers felt firmly that their community deserved the county seat, the government felt otherwise, since there was already a town in their county that had an acting “courthouse” and a safe (which legally at the time deemed that town the seat). The Dutch didn’t like this so in the dead of winter, they rode to that other town with 55 armed men, a slew of horses, and wagons and a sled. They arrived, held those town folk at gun point, broke down the “courthouse” brick by brick, and loaded it up on their wagons. The safe which was about as large as the picture portrays was then loaded up on the sled. Nothing was left of that building when they were done. The towns folk they stole from in the state newspaper called the Dutch, the “Red Raiders”, ‘red’ meaning angry, and the name stuck. 10 years later in 1882 when NW was created, they took that nickname with pride. The county seat still resides in NW’s town today, which is still very Dutch, and the safe is still prominently displayed downtown despite being stolen again in 1882 and being found in a barn much later in 1982.

Bonus fact, the Dutch got blown off course on their way back with the safe and arrived in another rival Dutch town. A skirmish ensued there as well but the Red Raiders won. Later on, that town also formed a NW’s rival college and their nickname has since been the Dordt Defenders. It’s also my unbiased vote for best rivalry nickname combo, Red Raiders vs Defenders.

What’s your guys’ favorites?