🏈 10 Retired College Mascots You’ve Probably Never Heard Of (But Should)

College mascots are more than just sideline cheerleaders — they’re symbols of tradition, pride, and school spirit. But as times change, so do mascots. Many schools across the NCAA have retired their beloved (and sometimes controversial) mascots in favor of modern rebrands. Some were changed due to cultural sensitivities, others to reflect a new era — and a few simply faded into history.

At Gametime Vintage, we believe in preserving the legacy of college sports — including the forgotten heroes of the past. Here are 10 retired college mascots that are as fascinating as they are rare in vintage merch.

1. Chief Illiniwek – University of Illinois

Retired in 2007 after 80 years, Chief Illiniwek was a highly debated symbol of the University of Illinois. While the university kept the “Fighting Illini” name, the mascot was officially removed following NCAA pressure.

🧱 Collector Alert: Vintage Illinois gear featuring Chief Illiniwek is now ultra-rare and highly sought after.

2. The Fighting Sioux – University of North Dakota

North Dakota retired the Fighting Sioux name and logo in 2012 due to NCAA restrictions. After years of back and forth, they rebranded as the Fighting Hawks.

👕 Why It Matters: The Sioux logo was iconic in college hockey culture — pre-2012 UND gear is now vintage gold.

3. Colonel Reb – Ole Miss

Once the face of Ole Miss, Colonel Reb was officially sidelined in 2003. His Southern plantation-style image made him one of the more controversial mascots in NCAA history.

đŸ”„ Hard to Find: Vintage Ole Miss gear with Colonel Reb is banned from new production, making old merch extremely collectible.

4. The Redmen – St. John’s University

St. John’s dropped the Redmen name in 1994 due to its Native American associations and rebranded as the Red Storm.

🧱 Vintage Gold: Redmen-era hats and tees are hard to come by and have serious nostalgia value.

5. Warriors – Marquette University

Marquette changed from the Warriors to the Golden Eagles in 1994. The decision stirred controversy among alumni, but the school held firm.

đŸŽœ Why It’s Hot: Original Warriors jackets and sweatshirts with the spear logo are now rare finds.

6. Indians – Arkansas State University

In 2008, Arkansas State dropped the Indians nickname in favor of the Red Wolves to comply with NCAA regulations.

đŸȘ¶ Rare Gear: Vintage ASU Indians apparel is hard to locate and treasured by longtime fans.

7. Angry Wave – Tulane University

Tulane’s old “Angry Wave” mascot was phased out in favor of a more modern green wave logo. The original design lives on in throwback form and has recently regained cult popularity.

💚 Bring it Back: We love when vintage makes a comeback — this is one of those cases.

8. Sam the Minuteman (Old Version) – UMass

While Sam still exists, the original iteration of the UMass Minuteman mascot was retired and redesigned in the 2000s. The newer version looks more cartoonish, while the original was more historically accurate.

🎯 Fun Fact: Vintage UMass gear from the 70s–90s still features the OG Sam.

9. The Indians – Stanford University

Before becoming the Cardinal, Stanford was known as the Indians. The change occurred in the early 1970s after Native American students voiced concerns.

📘 Legacy Merch: Stanford “Indians” gear is extremely rare — pre-1972 collectors only.

10. The Fighting Christians – Elon University

Until 2000, Elon’s teams were known as the Fighting Christians. They’ve since become the Phoenix to reflect a broader, more inclusive identity.

đŸ”„ Deep Cut: You’ll rarely find Elon gear from the Fighting Christians era — it’s true collector material.

🧱 Why This Matters for Vintage Fans

If you own or wear any gear featuring these retired mascots, you’re not just wearing a logo — you’re preserving sports history. These logos are:

  • No longer in production

  • Often tied to legendary eras of college athletics

  • Emotional anchors for alumni and collectors alike

At Gametime Vintage, we specialize in uncovering and curating these rare relics of NCAA history. From defunct mascots to old-school logos, we’ve got the vintage college sweatshirts, hats, and tees that tell stories modern merch can’t.

📣 Final Word

Looking to own a piece of discontinued college sports history?
đŸ”„ Use code GPT25 for 25% off your first order
🚚 Free U.S. shipping always
🧱 New vintage drops weekly!

👉 Shop Rare College Vintage Gear

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.