Argonaut Chosen for Team Names at UWF (Again), 1985

In October 1985, a selection committee was formed to look for a new name for the athletic teams.  While Argonauts and Argos had been in use since the beginning of the University, Joe Ellenburg, athletic director and chairman of the name change committee, felt these names were confusing to visitors and did not generate much enthusiasm.  Seventy new names were suggested, whittled down to four on October 30, and submitted to students, alumni, administrators, faculty, and the Pensacola community for input.

  &nnsp; By November 15, the committee and Ellenburg announced there had been an enormous groundswell of support for the name ‘Argonauts’ based on the Greek mythology saga of Jason and his Argonauts and their ‘Search for the Golden Fleece.’  As a result, the committee voted to retain the name “Argonauts” for the athletic teams.  The Committee also urged the athletic department to develop a logo and a possible mascot to go along with the Argonaut name.