Duke University

Have you ever sat and thought about where some of the team nicknames have come from and why? If you are like me you have and some have a very interesting and all but forgotten reason for a particular name. In this episode we discover the reason of why the teams at Duke are called the Blue Devils, and it may surprise you.

Duke University and the moniker Blue Devils have a rather interesting connection and story behind the mascot name. According to GoDuke.com The symbolism comes from a French combat group during World War I, the Chasseurs Alpins, nicknamed "Les Diables Bleus," were well known French soldiers. They became quite renowned for their fierce fighting and heroism. When the US entered the war these French freedom fighters toured America to help raise funding for the war effort.

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons of Thomas Edison and Mina Edison with the French Chasseurs Aplins (Alpine Hunters) aka Les Diables Bleus (The Blue Devils) an elite mountain infantry force of the French Army.

Their popularity increased, even more, when popular songwriter Irving Berlin placed lyrics about these devils in blue into one of his hit songs. As the war ended the board of trustees at Duke, which at that time was called Trinity College decided to overturn a rule at the school and allow for a football team to form. In September 1921, the student newspaper, the Trinity Chronicle, launched a campaign for a "catchy name, one of our own possessions that would be instantly recognizable nationwide in songs, yells, and publicity."

Nominations included Catamounts, Grizzlies, Badgers, Dreadnaughts, and Captains which was in honor of the well-liked Coach W. W. "Cap" Card. Believing a choice utilizing the school colors of dark blue and white to be appropriate, the newspaper editors urged a selection from among the nominations of Blue Titans, Blue Eagles, Polar Bears, Blue Devils, Royal Blazes, or Blue Warriors. None of the nominations won strong favor but Blue Devils apparently had enough support to elicit the criticism that it would arouse opposition on the Methodist campus "for obvious reasons," of it being a Methodist school. After nearly a year of debate William H. Lander, as editor-in-chief, and Mike Bradshaw, as managing editor, of the Trinity Chronicle began the academic year 1922-23 referring to the athletic teams as the Blue Devils in honor of the men that fought so bravely in Europe. And the name stuck despite the devilish name at a Christian-founded university.

For more history on Duke football find out more at Duke Football Historya.

The banner photo is of A logo for the Duke Blue Devils football team from Duke University courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

A Very Special thanks to information obtained from GoDuke.com.