On this day in 1926, we remember how Michigan State University fans avoided the nickname "Staters" in 1926. Thanks to George Alderton and Stephen Scofes, the team became known as the Spartans, reflecting the ancient warriors' athletic prowess and courage.
TRANSCRIPT
On this day in 1926, Michigan State University fans were saved from being stuck with a clunker of a nickname, the Staters. Originally Michigan Agricultural College, the team was nicknamed the Aggies. So, when it became Michigan State College, a call went out for new suggestions. Staters won out among the submissions which included Bearcats, Pioneers and the Fawns. And so, State’s fate seemed to be sealed until George Alderton, the long time sports editor for the LSJ disliked it so much and all but banned it from the sports pages. Alderton is frequently credited with replacing Michigan Staters with the Spartans. But he got the idea from his friend, Stephen Scofes [SKOH-ffs], whose family came up with the name during a dinner table conversation about the family’s connection to Sparta, in Greece.
On April 13, 1926, Alderton wrote: “Out of a clear sky a nick name has descended upon the Michigan State college athletic camp. ‘Spartans’ is the sobriquet that will be attached the wearer of the Green and White in the field of intercollegiate sports competition.” He then went on to write about the ancient Spartans’ athletic prowess and courage.