Marquette goes for the 'Gold'

United Press International
Thursday, May 5, 2005 12:00 a.m. | Thursday, May 5, 2005 12:00 a.m.

Trustees at Milwaukee's Marquette University surprised the student body, alumni and fans by renaming the school's athletic teams the Marquette Gold.

The 38-member board had been under pressure for the past year to reinstate the Warriors team mascot that was abandoned for Golden Eagles 12 years ago. The vote to adopt the "Gold" nickname was unanimous after two hours of discussion.

Wisconsin Indian tribes opposed restoration of the Warriors nickname because they consider the old mascot demeaning to American Indians.

Teams were the Warriors from 1954 until 1993-94 season.

Marquette fans never warmed to the Golden Eagles name. Father Robert A. Wild, president of the Catholic, Jesuit university, said surveys found fans considered the Golden Eagles name boring, weak and common.

Marquette's teams previously were nicknamed Golden Avalanche and Gold Rush.

The Marquette Gold join the Big East Conference July 1.

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