I have the utmost respect for bulldogs. They are fine canines. Despite their gloomy mugs, bulldogs are, in fact, one of the most amiable breeds of dogs.
While Bulldogs are usually laid back, don’t tease them too much. When you get on their bad side, they are a force to be reckoned with.
Bulldogs are loyal and smart, but also tough as nails when they need to be. Which makes them a great name for a sports team.
That’s why there are so many teams named the Bulldogs. We have the Mississippi State Bulldogs, the Georgia Bulldogs, the Gonzaga Bulldogs, the Butler Bulldogs, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, the Fresno State Bulldogs, etc. The list goes on and on. In fact, 51 colleges in the country have named their teams the bulldogs.
Which got me thinking.
What about all the other great types of dogs in the world? Why didn’t more schools name their teams after these fine animals?
Some colleges are sporting their own breed of canine. Both Connecticut and Washington call themselves the Huskies. The University of Indianapolis is known as the Greyhounds. There are the Great Danes at the University of Albany,and the Retrievers (awesome name) from Maryland-Baltimore County.
There are a few more but, by and large, it’s either bulldogs or bust.
This makes sense in some ways.
A team named the chihuhuas or the poodles doesn’t sound too frightening. And, even a team named the Beagles or the Basset Hounds may be a little too cute for a team wanting to conjure up a certain amount of tenaciousness.
Still, there are plenty of tough dogs out there that have been passed over. Rottweilers, pit bulls and dobermans certainly could give opposing teams the jitters.
Meanwhile, there are other dog breeds that could fit a team’s image perfectly, just like bulldogs. How could anyone quibble with a team called the California Golden Retrievers?
Or the Denver Dalmations, wearing all black and white of course?
The Jacksonville State Border Collies also has a nice bark to it.
There are so many great breeds of canines that have been passed over by athletic teams for far too long. It just ain’t right.
Doggone it.
David W. Healy is sports editor of the Delta Democrat-Times. He can be reached at dhealy@ddtonline.com.
