Shockers Wichita State Shockers

the name wsu s athletic teams shockers and, collectively, students referred being shockers . name reflects university s heritage. students @ fairmount college earned money shocking, or harvesting, wheat in nearby fields. football games played on stubbled wheat field. pep club members known wheaties. tradition has in 1904, football manager , student r.j. kirk came nickname wheatshockers. although wheatshockers name never officially adopted university, caught on among fan base. newspaper writers liked because shortened shockers in headlines, , shorter name officially adopted around time fairmount became municipal university of wichita in 1926.

until 1948, university used nameless shock of wheat symbol. in 1948, junior wilbur elsea won kappa pi honorary society s competition design mascot typifying spirit of school. elsea, had been marine during world war ii, decided school needed mascot gave tough impression, serious, no-nonsense scowl. once elsea s mascot adopted, needed name. oct. 7, 1948, issue of sunflower, student newspaper, ran advertisement urging students submit names school s new mascot. freshman jack kersting suggested winning name, wushock.

in 1998, wushock, referred wu , marked 50th birthday undergoing redesign , getting pumped-up physique , revved-up attitude. mascot s costume has changed on years, well. redesign, new costume introduced in fall 1998. in fall 1999, head of new costume underwent redesign after number of supporters suggested mascot needed more intimidating look. in 2006 decided once again update wu costume. general consensus many wanted costume more accurately reflect depiction of wu in school s logo. many officials feel more professional , intimidating mascot on field bolster wsu s image.