Allegheny College Athletics

Even though Allegheny shares its nickname with two other NCAA schools - the University of Florida and San Francisco State University (their Gators are Golden) - it seems the least likely to identify its student body with "gators". An alligator in Meadville, Pa.? 

Through 1925, Allegheny teams have been referred to as Hilltoppers, Methodists, Timothians (in deference to College founder Timothy Alden), and the Blue and Gold. In April of 1925, a group of Allegheny students published the first issue of humor magazine title the Allegheny Alligator. The editors explained the reasoning behind the title thus:

"The name, Alligator, was selected not because the alligator is noted for its sense of humor, nor because the haunts of the above-mentioned critter are located in this vicinity, but purely and simply because of the 99.44% alliterative value of its orthography."

A column in that first issue was title "Gator Gossip", and in the fall of 1926 an organization called the Go-Get-'Em Gator Club appeared on campus. The club made its presence known at football games by occupying a reserved section of the bleachers and serving as a nucleus for the cheering section. By the end of the decade, Allegheny's athletic teams were referred to as the Gators. 

It wasn't until the 1970's that the name took on a face. It was then that a group of students started a publication evaluating faculty and courses. An illustration of a gator used in one of those publications was adopted by the College administration and evenutally evolved into the nameless gator most Alleghenians are familiar with - posed in a tough but friendly stance and proudly wearing a varsity letter sweater. 

In 1980, the Golden Gator Club was formed, an organization that remains an important link between the Athletics Department and alumni. The gator graphic has retained its strong identity with athletics and in the fall of 2004, it was redesigned to give it more a contemporary look. A new mascot costume unveiled and "Chompers" made its debut.

After 12 years, a new "Chompers" was unveiled in February 2015.  The appearance of the "new look" Chompers was decided upon a vote of the Allegheny College community, and the new mascot made his debut during the Allegheny basketball doubleheader against Ohio Wesleyan University in the David V. Wise Center on Feb. 14, 2015.