How was CCSU's "Blue Devils" nickname chosen and by whom?
How was CCSU's "Blue Devils" nickname chosen and by whom? Good afternoon, My name is Eli Powell and I'm a college sports writer and historian. My current project, the Name-a-Day Calendar, is focusing on the athletics nickname history for all current NCAA Division I institutions (you can find it here: https://thelowmajor.substack.com/p/the-name-a-day-calendar). Mostly, I'm looking for when the current nickname was adopted, how, and by whom. I am currently researching the history for Central Connecticut's "Blue Devils" nickname and coming up short of a satisfactory history. I've found a 1998 article from the Hartford Courant that states the nickname was adopted in 1946, but that's all the information I can find on this topic. This article speculates on where this nickname might have come from, but doesn't give any specific explanation. I've also looked through the school's yearbook archive from that time period to no avail. Any information you may have on the "Blue Devils" nickname would be greatly appreciated. Central Connecticut's entry in the Name-a-Day Calendar is scheduled to publish on December 19, so I do have a deadline on this, but it's not immediate. Thank you for your help.
Answer
UPDATED: Per 2011 post at https://ccsubluedevils.com/athletics/kizerthebluedevil:
"A contest was run on the new CCSUBlueDevils.com, and fans, students and staff all had the chance to submit their new name for the Blue Devils. Over 300 submissions were registered online, with over 250 unique names for the new Blue Devil.
In the end, it was a name from the past that was chosen: Kizer the Blue Devil. A committee of CCSU staff and student-athletes helped pick the name, which honors the late Harrison Kaiser, the “Father of CCSU Athletics”. The name was submitted by a CCSU staff member.
Kaiser was school’s first chairman of physical education department and later served as the athletics director for the college. He coached several sports for the Blue Devils, including baseball, basketball, football and track and field. In nine seasons as football coach he won 63 percent of his games, the third-best percentage in school history. He won a total of 30 games.
He was a member of the first CCSU Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979. He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1958. Kaiser is commonly referred to as the “Father of CCSU Athletics”, and the building that houses the athletics department bears his name (Harrison J. Kaiser Hall). Kaiser was a member of the athletics department for almost 30 years.
“This is a great way for us to honor someone who got it all started for the Blue Devils,” Director of Athletics Paul Schlickmann said. “Harrison J. Kaiser is a name synonymous with CCSU athletics, it is only appropriate that the Blue Devil now bears his name. Every student-athlete who competes for CCSU is familiar with Harrison Kaiser. This is a great way to connect our past, present and future.”
The Harrison J. Kaiser Alumni Service Award is given to a CCSU alumnus/alumna who participated in intercollegiate athletics at CCSU and who, since graduation, has distinguished himself or herself and the University by his/her accomplishments and service. The award is given each year during the Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame ceremonies."
-- CCSU Welcomes Kizer the Blue Devil to the Family: Central's mascot gets a new name that honors the past, https://ccsubluedevils.com/athletics/kizerthebluedevil
Hi Eli,
The University Archivist, Renata Vickrey is off this week. I spoke with Christopher O'Conner, the Athletics Communication Director, and he sent me an old email with some information regarding the origination of CCSU's Blue devils. Renata's assistant, Gretchen, also found some supplemental information, but not exactly what you were looking for. Both are attached. I hope this is helpful. If you have any other questions, I can be reached at slagas@ccsu.edu OR 80-832-2095.
Best,
Susan Susan Slaga-Metivier
Reference and Instruction Librarian