Do You Know UNO? The Story of the "Mavericks"

Nearly 50 years ago the UNO student body was faced with a monumental decision:

Demons, Roadrunners, Unicorns, or Mavericks?

Following approval by the UNO Student Government on Aug. 5, 1971, a vote was held where the student body was asked to choose a new mascot for the university. The move not only signified a change in cultural thinking, moving away from the racially-charged "Indians" nickname, but also the birth of a new chapter in the university's history as it became part of the University of Nebraska system just three years prior.

In the final vote, the "Mavericks" won out by just 51 votes over the Unicorns, with the final tally shaping up like this:

• Mavericks 566
• Unicorns 515
• Roadrunners 397
• Demons 346
• Indians 0

The change was announced prior to the Homecoming football game against Northern Colorado that October complete with the introduction of a new mascot - not Durango, but Victor E. Maverick, a live steer that would run onto the field in celebration with the team.

Ultimately, Victor became too difficult for handlers to manage and Durango was dubbed the new mascot several years later.

Now, nearly five decades later, the UNO Mavericks have outlasted any of the university's previous monikers, which included the Shetlands/Ponies (1912-1913); the Crimson and Black (1913-20); the Maroons (1920-1924); the Cardinal (1925 - 1938); and the Indians (1939 - 1971).

While the thought of a red-and-black-clad, one-horned horse galloping down the Milo Bail Plaza before sporting events does make for an entertaining "what-if" scenario, there truly is no replacing the one and only Durango.

Access the Durango GIF collection on GIPHY