Two universities use the antelope as their sports symbol.

Kearney State (University of Nebraska at Kearney) calls its teams the "Lopers" for short, while Grand Canyon U shortens "antelopes" to "Lopes."

Kearney State is located in Kearney, Nebraska. It was established in 1903 as the Nebraska State Normal School, and it joined the University of Nebraska system in 1991. http://www.unk.edu/

The Antelope name became associated with the school thanks to the student newspaper. In December of 1910, the staff chose the creature, calling it "the swiftest, most beautiful, and most graceful animal in the western plains." The paper continued, in its first edition, "(Antelope) appeals as a fitting emblem of the school located on the broad prairies of Nebraska, where the antelopes once roamed so freely."

Adopted soon after by the athletic department, the short term of "Lopers" didn’t appear until the 1950’s when the local daily paper, The Kearney Hub, began using the term. The student paper quickly picked up on "Lopers" and the word has stuck ever since.

http://www.lopers.com/Pressbox/whyLopers.htm

Kearney State is an NAIA school. Its colors appear to be blue and gold.

I shall continue with Grand Canyon U another day; I know, I know -- you can hardly stand the wait.

I can hardly stand the wait, so please bring us the gnus as soon as possible.

give me a nudge ;) when you get to the Salukis, 'kay?

'kay!

Grand Canyon University is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and was established in 1949. It is an NCAA Division II school, and its colors are purple and white. The University's website doesn't explain the origination of the nickname, but just acknowledges the customary use of "Lopes." http://www.grand-canyon.edu/Athletics/quick_facts.htm

Ohhh, you guys are SOOO silly! Ante is the Latin word meaning before, and Lopes is the Portugese equivalent of Lopez. Thus, Antelopes is a Brazilian or Portugese family patriarch. Of course, they Do play football there, which is defined as placing two teams on a field, who then mill around as those who are not on the field destroy all that surrounds the field for about 1/2 kilometre.

Don't know about pronghorns an' such, but do y'all know what college sports team has a mascot/team name created by Walt Disney?

I feel you're perhaps being a tad US-centric here....I understand "antelope" to be a family of animals (the majority of which live in Africa) rather than any one species.

I must also mention the Springboks Rubgy team - though I'd rather not. Another antelope mob.

On another note, I reckon that there's more sports teams named after birds than any other type of animal. This is a WILD guess based upon NO research!!

stales

what college sports team has a mascot/team name created by Walt Disney?
College, Geoff? I thought it was professional which I'd bet that belM would know - or is there one of each?

College, Geoff? I thought it was professional... - or is there one of each?

Since I eschew professional sports, I don't know about any such pro team, but Walt Disney himself permitted Oregon State University to use the likeness of Donald Duck as its symbol. I've heard it said that present Disney boss man Michael Eisner fumes about their being able to use it for free, since the Disney empire is now all about making bucks (not of the antelope variety).

I give you now the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (hockey).
http://www.mightyducks.com/home.asp. But in fairness to Geoff, I believe the name was created not by Walt Disney, but by the Disney corporate empire long after Walt's death.

I reckon that there's more sports teams named after birds than any other type of animal.

If my collection of US and Canadian college nicknames are any indication, I think there are more mammals than any other class of animal. And more felines than any other family. There are plenty of eagles, but many lions, tigers, leopards and panthers.