Ripon Red Hawks

The Ripon Red Hawks are the athletic teams of Ripon College. A total of 21 Red Hawks athletic teams compete in NCAA Division III.

History

Redmen

Early Ripon College teams in athletics, and in other activities such as debate, were referred to as the Crimson or Crimson and White. Crimson warriors, Crimson-clad men, and even Crimson tide were popular descriptions, just as opposing teams were referred to as Maroons and Blue and Gold or Navy, in the style of the times.

It is widely believed that the name "Redmen" was adopted because of Donald "Red" Martin, who starred in football as a quarterback, and in basketball and track from 1926 to 1929, and who became a coach of freshman football and basketball in 1930. However, a College Days article of February 7, 1928, indicates that the term Redmen had been used for "several years," and indeed, sportswriters in the Days used the term "Redmen" alongside "Crimson" as early as 1923.

It is commonly asserted that "Redmen" derived from "Red's men," following the convention that referred to teams by their coach's name—usually the coach's last name—"Rippe's men" or "Kolfmen," for instance, after coaches of 1924 to 1930. In fact, College Days articles can be found which refer to the Martinmen for Martin's basketball teams. Coach Doehling was the athletic director and coach of football and other sports when Martin was a player and coach, and those teams were often called the Doehlingmen or Doehlingites. According to George Miller, however, Coach Doehling made his objections to this practice quite clear.

A survey of the Days does not show a direct link from Red Martin to Redman (which, as stated earlier, was used in Days headlines before Martin was a student).