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UW-L Athletic Traditions - Eagle Mascot
The Eagle Mascot
UW-La Crosse's athletic teams sport a contemporary Eagle in the L and caricature created in 1989, right before the fall sports teams took to the field as the Eagles for the first time.
Dave Christianson, a 1973 art major graduate, penned the images after the UW-L men's teams took the Eagles moniker. It was the seventh moniker for the men's athletic teams. They had previously been called Indians, Red Raiders, Hurricanes, Racqueteers, Peds and Maroons.
Women's teams started sporting the Eagles moniker in November 1990. They had been previously known as the Roonies, which was derived from the university's school colors - maroon and gray.
The Eagle in the L is a simple design, but not overly obvious. "At first glance, people see either the L or the eagle," explained Christianson at the unveiling of the Eagle in the L. "Later, they see both." The optical illusion, the element of surprise built right into the design makes the image contemporary and popular.
The eagle caricature has a link to the past. The eagle's sweater sports the traditional block-style "L" that has been used by university teams for decades.
Both the Eagle in the L and the eagle caricature were unveiled in a ceremony at Veterans Memorial Stadium in August 1989. Go Eagles!
