http://www.statenews.com !http://www.statenews.com/media/00/00/02/84/28404_MUG_Carpenter_Jacob_022107.jpg! Sports reporter Jacob Carpenter examines sports issues from the past and present. en-us Gryphon 2.2.3b-tsn (woodward)/Foundry5 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:07:20 -0500 webmaster@statenews.com http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28526 Mr. Carpenter, I am a proud DIRTBAG fan, class of ’88 alum, Long Beach State. In the future you might want to do some research before you make assumptions. Here is the story behind the nickname: “The moniker was first coined for Coach Dave Snow’s first team in 1989 which was comprised of nearly all new players. Playing without a home field, and practicing at a local all-dirt Pony League Field, that team won its first 18 games and advanced to the 49ers first College World Series appearance. “Then-infield coach Dave Malpass would take his infielders to the all-dirt field for their rigorous workout. The infielders would return to the regular practice field after their sessions covered in dirt. Thus the name “Dirtbags” was born.” (http://longbeachstate.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/dirtbagmeaning.html) All 49ers are proud to be Dirtbags! Kind Regards, Richard Barrett La Mirada, CA Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:07:21 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28526 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28532 Richard, not everyone knows the origin of college’s nicknames. When you scan the list of schools and see one that sounds goofy you just think “wow, that’s a dumb nickname.” People aren’t going to look up the origin of everything before they make a judgement. That’s all Jacob’s doing here, showing the ones he thinks are the dumbest. While “dirtbags” might have come from something that is a source of pride for your school, all anyone else sees is the nickname, not the history. He said we was listing the 5 dumbest nicknames, not the 5 dumbest reasons for the nicknames. If you’re suggesting that he should have looked up the origin of 300+ nicknames before he decided which ones to list, that just wouldn’t make any sense. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:20:49 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28532 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28559 This is kind of a stupid article. Carpenter should do some research. Not on all 300 nicknames, but perhaps on the 5 best and worst that he picked. Basically laziness and a filler article. What else is new for the SN… Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:15:02 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28559 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28567 Why does he need to do research? That’s my point. Anyone that sees “Long Beach State University Dirtbags” and thinks it’s dumb is not going to take the time to look up where it came from. That’s the point of a nickname, it’s the shorthand label that you are known by, and it’s what people view/judge you by. That’s why teams pick intimidating nicknames, that’s the first thing that gives someone an impression of you. So unless you want to change your nickname to “Long Beach State University Dirtbags from the dirt fields that our infielders practiced on when we won all our games before our first CWS appearance” you’ll just have to deal with people looking at our nickname and thinking it’s dumb. The article is for entertainment, not a fact-finding history lesson. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:01:53 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28567 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28568 I meant “looking at Your nickname” Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:03:08 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28568 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28582 Does Mr. Carpenter know that there are MAN-EATING Jackrabbits? Next, he’ll make fun of the University of Southwestern Arizona State University Killer Cacti. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:09:05 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28582 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28587 Isn’t one of the Louisiana schools called the ‘Rajun Cajuns’? That is the coolest nickname. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:42:07 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28587 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28594 That’s Cannoneer, since they use cannons. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:58:15 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28594 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28599 There really are man-eating jackrabbits, huh? Are there jackalopes, unicorns, and ligers too? Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:21:00 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28599 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28679 There actually are ligers, see here: http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/10/31/2059244-liger-attack-kills-animal-handler Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:25:43 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28679 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28712 The spelling of “Bearkat” was decided to be spelled that way because it is a mythical animal. It comes from an old East Texas saying, “tough as a bearkat!” We happen to like it that way because it is UNIQUE. Now go on and worry about the “Nittany Lions”! Kary Gentry Spring, TX SHSU Alumnus and Proud BEARKAT! Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:07:20 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/28712