Minnesota State University, Mankato has become a destination for those seeking higher education. The University is experiencing its highest enrollment in a decade with more than 14,000 students enrolling in fall 2003. In addition, 1,300 faculty and staff; approximately 600 international students who represent 70 countries; and more than 94,000 alumni from around the world are proud to be a part of the Mavericks tradition.
Founded in 1868, MSU is a four-year, comprehensive university in south central Minnesota approximately 85 miles from the Twin Cities. The University provides high-quality education with 24 programs accredited by national professional organizations. In addition to quality, variety is one of the many attractions at MSU which offers more than 150 programs in six undergraduate colleges, and 82 programs in the College of Graduate Studies. The school's most popular majors are: Business, Education, Health Professions, Computer and Information Science, and Criminal Justice/Corrections.
Student organizations are abundant at MSU including more than 150 department clubs, political organizations, recreation clubs, intramural athletics, social clubs, service and religious organizations. The University also offers 22 intercollegiate men and women's sports activities including: hockey, volleyball, soccer, softball, tennis, golf, swimming, football, cross country, basketball, track and field, wrestling and baseball. The University has exciting opportunities for freshmen to enhance their academic and social experience on campus through Learning Communities, First Year Experience program and residence hall living/learning environment.
Located on 300 acres overlooking the Minnesota River Valley, MSU is the third largest higher educational institution in the state and is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
On Sept. 18, 1998, citing a goal of making MSU "the other great public University in Minnesota," then-president, Dr. Richard Rush announced that Mankato State University would become known as Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Changing the name of the institution is not unprecedented at MSU with several tweaks taking place during the course of time. Here's a quick look at the evolution:
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1868 | Mankato Normal School |
| 1921 | Mankato State Teachers College |
| 1957 | Mankato State College |
| 1975 | Mankato State University |
| 1998 | Minnesota State University, Mankato |
Since 1977 MSU athletic teams have been called the Mavericks. Prior to that our teams were called the Indians beginning in 1935, but before that the teams were known, variously, as the Peds (short for pedagogue "meaning school teacher or educator"), the Orangemen" and the "Purples."
The 2005-06 season marks the 29th year for MSU teams to be called the "Mavericks." The sporting teams from Mankato State prior to July 1, 1977, were called the "Indians" and it took 10 years of debate to decide whether or not to retain this moniker.
The old name, "Indians," was dropped for several reasons, the main objection coming from Native Americans. Another reason was that the school had switched conferences, joining the Northern Intercollegiate and it was felt that it was a good time for a fresh start. Douglas Moore, MSU's president at the time, asked University Relations Director John Hodowanic to begin working on changing the title and a group composed of interested students, faculty, and alumni brainstormed for a list of nearly 75 nicknames. The name "Mavericks," originally suggested by MSU Education Professor Roy Cook, was ultimately chosen over other popular tags such as "Muskies" and "Lightning."
The first design of the nickname was a horse, but Moore maintained that the design too closely resembled the "Golden Mustang" used by Southwest State - another NIC school. Eventually Moore, a native of Texas, suggested it be changed to a steer. It may have had something to do with the many Maverick longhorn steer in the Lone Star state, but the idea stuck and was accepted.
The MSU Athletics logo, itself, has gone through a transition of sorts, with the original design - the words "Mavericks" inside a line drawing of a bull, used from 1977 until 1995. The next logo featured a line drawing of a bull and was first used in the fall of 1995. The third generation design was incorporated in the spring of 2001 and a new rendering was unveiled in the fall of 2004.
Originally our school colors were purple and gold, just as they are now. But in a homecoming game in 1936, MSU lost a coin toss to Winona State, who had the same colors. Our teams then wore orange and black or orange and dark blue until 1956 when purple (PMS 269) and gold (PMS 108) was officially reinstated as the official colors for our teams.
