Centennial Celebration Mascot Profile: Ripon Red Hawks

Contact: Michael Westemeier, Director of Athletic Communications - Ripon College, westemeierm@ripon.edu

RIPON, Wisconsin — Ripon College athletics has used many different nicknames for its teams from the department's inception in 1882 until today. Early Ripon College teams in athletics and in other activities, such as debate, were referred to as the Crimson or Crimson and White. Crimson warriors, Crimson-clad men, and even Crimson tide were popular descriptions.

It is widely believed that the name "Redmen" was adopted because of Donald "Red" Martin, who starred in football as a quarterback, and in basketball and track from 1926 to 1929, and who became a coach of freshman football and basketball in 1930. However, a College Days article of February 7, 1928 indicates that the term Redmen had been used for "several years," and indeed, sportswriters in the Days used the term "Redmen" alongside "Crimson" as early as 1923. 
 
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1930s Redmen Logo


It is commonly asserted that "Redmen" derived from "Red's men," following the convention that referred to teams by their coach's name—usually the coach's last name. A survey of the Days does not show a direct link from Red Martin to Redman (which, as stated earlier, was used in Days headlines before Martin was a student). During Martin's years, Crimson, Redmen, Doehlingmen, Doehlingites, the Reds and other phrases were used interchangeably, although the term Redmen appeared to gain in use over the term Crimson in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The Days referred to Martin as the Ripon "Redhead" and used his nickname, Red, frequently--a common practice then. The Days did not call the team "Red's men" while Martin was a player and there are only one or two instances of that while he was a coach. No published source has been found that directly links Red's men to Redmen. "Red" Martin's popularity as athlete and coach may have contributed to the increased use of the nickname Redmen, although, since Coach Carl Doehling was the dominant figure in athletics of that period, it is likely that he influenced the adoption of the name, too. Redmen probably referred, however, simply to the traditional school colors and the name Crimson.

After attention began to be paid to women's athletic activities on campus, some problems occurred with adapting the Redman name to women's teams which might not have occurred with the use of Crimson. No satisfactory nickname for women's teams seems to have been found. "Redwomen" and "Lady Red" were both used in the 1980s and 1990s.

It is not certain when the Indian-head logo was adopted, but the association of the name Redmen with stereotypical Native American imagery was well established between 1924 and 1929 in College Days sports columns, college yells, pep rallies, and homecoming events. The use of the Native American stereotypes appears to have increased as the use of the name Redman became more dominant. At that time, references to scalping the opponents, the Redmen tribe, powwows on the Square and squaws were not apparently seen as offensive, but simply added variety to a sportswriter's pool of clichés or the possibilities for Homecoming themes. Other minorities, of course, were accorded similar treatment in other contexts. These stereotypes continued in varying degrees from then through now: A publication for freshmen women published by the Women's Self-Government Association in 1945-46 was titled The Ripon Squaw; the Indian-head logo appeared on cheerleader outfits into the 1970s.

Red Martin's years as a player and coach coincide with the transition to the use of Redmen instead of Crimson for college teams, but his nickname does not appear to be the direct source of the Redman name, since it was in use before he was a student. Also, the name Redmen apparently did not originate from Native American imagery, but it did become associated with it fairly quickly. The earliest traditional college name was Crimson, a nickname that survives in the college yearbook title today, reflecting the use of Crimson for academic, social and athletic activities in the early years of Ripon College.

In the mid-1980s, the College sought to develop a comprehensive identity program. Though the seal continues to be used as a formal icon of the College, appearing on more formal college publications, stationery, plaques and banners, a more flexible and contemporary image was in demand, according to Douglas Northrop, professor of English and chair of the department and vice president and dean of the College from 1979-94.

Northrop says there was a significant push under William R. Stott Jr., president of the College from 1985-95, to produce a coherent and consistent identity for the College. "Much of the effort was designed to create and to express a pride in the institution, which had regularly kept its light under a basket or at least hidden in the trees," says Northrop.

In 1985, the College hired Rotelli Design, Inc. of Chicago to design a logo that would distinctively convey the traditional image of Ripon College yet be flexible. Rotelli worked with campus officials to produce recommendations to assist Ripon in presenting a consistent, well-defined image to the public. The Ripon College logo type, or Carolus Roman, was adopted at the recommendation of Rotelli and is still used on college publications.

"We worked for a consistent typeface and colors of ink on stationery, posters, brochures and other college objects, including plant department vehicles and other equipment," says Northrop.

Ripon has consistently had a historic affiliation with the color red. At Rotelli's recommendation, a deep red, specifically Pantone Matching System (PMS) color number 201, was adopted as the College's official color.
 
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In 1992, Ripon College officially retired the "Redman" nickname, as it was deemed offensive by American Indian groups. Ripon was known as The Red for the next two years before transitioning to its current Red Hawk moniker in 1994. The original Red Hawks logo was used until 2005 when it was replaced by the current Red Hawks logo.
 
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Current Red Hawks Logo

Although there was occasionally a quasi-mascot at athletic events wearing a jersey and Red Hawk head after the name change, Ripon did not have an official mascot until October 1, 2011, when Rally T. Red Hawk was hatched. Rally's first public appearance was at Ripon's homecoming football game against Knox College. Rally cheered the Red Hawks to victory that day, as Ripon rallied from a 17-13 third-quarter deficit to defeat the Prairie Fire, 26-20.
 
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Rally T. Red Hawk

Rally's home is located somewhere inside Willmore Center, though no one really knows where they sleep at night. They are seen often pacing back and forth in "Rally's Roost" at the top of Weiske Gymnasium. Rally is the Red Hawks biggest fan and is extremely enthusiastic and dependable. Rally is more than an athletic's mascot — Rally is the official fun ambassador of Ripon College and represents all Ripon College students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the College.
 
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Rally is neither male nor female and does not have a significant other. Rally is ambidextrous — able to use the right and left feathers equally well. Rally loves all sports, but Rally, like Ripon's student-athletes, is equally at home in Lane Library. Rally is fun-loving, likes to tease and play harmless pranks, but knows when to be serious. Rally's favorite activities include chasing squirrels, dancing, flag waving, and cheering the Red Hawks to victory. Their favorite song is "Shake A Tail Feather" by Ray Charles and "Surfin Bird" by the Trashmen. Rally "speaks" with nonverbal communication. Rally utters no words, but rather has a large nonverbal vocabulary that conveys actions and emotions without saying a word.

"Rally" now makes appearances at several different Ripon sporting events throughout the year, most notably at football and basketball games, which are Rally's first loves. "Rally" can also be seen at Ripon's annual Alumni Weekend, as well as many other community events. His resume includes competing in a mascot kickball game at Fox Rivers Stadium in Appleton, Wis. in celebration of Wisconsin Timber Rattler mascot Fang's annual birthday celebration each summer.
 

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