Growing up in Edwardsville, Illinois I recall as a kid being nonplussed about the E’ville high mascot “Tigers”. There were so many other schools that had that same mascot name around the area that it seemed uninspired and boring. Wasn’t there something more identifiable to the town? Something???...anyone??...please?

Without a unique mascot/nickname label to do the heavy brand lifting of the schools teams it was left to the students and faculty to raise their games to not just be another “Tiger” team. Maybe that’s the silver lining blessing here. Edwardsville Tiger teams have traditionally (over the last 30 plus years) excelled in the classroom, in competition and in sports.  Yes, proud “Tiger” alumni here.

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While back to school roars across the region there are plenty of school mascots with unique and singular nicknames. Did you attend any of these schools? Did you play against them?

In Missouri there are the following curious mascot nicknames:

Sacred Heart High in Sedalia being the “Gremlins” is an interesting brand especially considering it’s a Catholic High School…(???) The name of the public high school mascot in Sedalia? Yes, the “Tigers”…yawn.

Columbia Hickman High

I’ve heard a few different stories about how Hickman high in Columbia, Mo. became the “Kewpies”. Not sure which one is true or if a portion of all of them factor in. Whatever the truth is, embracing the discount carnival prize from the early/mid twentieth century as your school’s mascot is bold.

Putnam County High

Putnam County Mo. Midgets express the diminutive size of the students/players and the size of the student body itself compared with many of their larger school opponents.

In Illinois there are plenty of unique high school mascots/nicknames to giggle at or embrace and root for!

Odd Illinois high school mascot names

Cobden High school

Calling someone an “Appleknocker” in Illinois was (at one time – I was told) cause for a throw down. I guess nobody wanted to be labeled as a seasonal rural fruit harvester?? Think “Rube” or “Redneck” lingo from a century ago that Cobden embraced and owned.

Fisher high school

The “Bunnies” comes from a superstition from 90 plus years ago Fisher high when basketball players wore rabbit’s feet on the belts of their team pants for good luck during a holiday tournament…yes they won the tournament and the “Bunnies” name was cemented. Hopefully the Monty Python – “Search for the Holy Grail” scene with the killer bunny is employed…(!!)

Dekalb high school

In Dekalb they leaned into the fact that barbed wire was invented there. Civic pride elevated. Nothing vanilla about “Barbs”  Extra points awarded if you graduated from Dekalb high and your name was Barbara… (No, YOU'RE the jerk!)