News Nuggets, 05.07.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Dissenters simmer over Marquette name change

MILWAUKEE — About 100 students at Marquette protested the school's new ``Gold'' nickname on Friday, chanting slogans and waving banners in support of its former name, the Warriors.

The protest came two days after the board of trustees unanimously voted to shorten the Golden Eagles to just the Gold, rejecting a push started by alumni to restore the Warriors, the school's nickname when its basketball team won the NCAA championship in 1977 under coaching great Al McGuire.

The school became the Warriors in 1954, but abandoned the moniker and logo — which featured a profile of an American Indian wearing a headdress — in 1993 because the imagery and a past mascot had offended some Indian groups.

The nickname debate was sparked last May when two trustees each offered the school $1 million to restore the Warriors name.

Rev. Robert Wild, the president of the Jesuit college, told the students the Gold embodied the school's tradition of excellence and its colors, blue and gold.

``The notion that we are gold is what we've been — what all of you have been as strong fans and people who wear the color gold,'' Wild said.

Dan Maciejewski, co-chairman of the disbanded group Students for Warriors, said the decision smacked of a more rigid tradition.

``It's continuing a long tradition of Jesuit arrogance in not listening,'' he said. ``This name was forced on us, just as the Golden Eagles was in 1994.''

An online survey filled out by some 9,000 alumni, faculty, staff and students in November did not offer the Gold as a choice.

``They made it seem like they were going to change the name back,'' said Jason Tracey, a 25-year-old electrical engineering student. ``There were two options, Golden Eagles or Warriors. All of a sudden it was just Gold.''

The name change will take place when Marquette leaves Conference USA and joins the tougher Big East Conference on July 1.

Sugar Bowl a Sugar Daddy for Big Easy

NEW ORLEANS — The 2005 Sugar Bowl produced an economic impact of $209.92 million for the city and state, according to a study completed by Dr. Timothy Ryan of the University of New Orleans.

``Dr. Ryan's study once again shows the tremendous effect that championship caliber college football can have for our city, the region and state,'' said Mark Romig, president of the Sugar Bowl Committee.

On January 3, Auburn, the undefeated champion of the Southeastern Conference, and Virginia Tech, the winner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, played before a sold-out crowd of 77,349. Auburn pulled out a 16-13 victory over the Hokies.

The bowl's overall economic impact was $110.18 million in direct visitor spending and an additional $99.74 million in secondary spending, Ryan's study concluded. State and local governments also realized $15.92 million in tax revenue.

``For 72 years, the Sugar Bowl has been one of the most reliable and forceful economic engines of tourism,'' Gov. Kathleen Blanco said.

According to Ryan's study, city hotels reaped substantial benefits from the Sugar Bowl. Nearly 80 percent of those attending the game stayed in local hotels and spent a combined $32.27 million. The average length of stay was 2.94 nights.

Restaurants and bars fared well also with bowl visitors spending $17.51 million in New Orleans area restaurants and another $13.49 million in local bars. Entertainment and shopping venues realized an estimated $16.59 million in new revenue from bowl guests, the report found.

``These numbers confirm that we're doing well by our charter mission, that being to host sporting events that positively affect our state and local economies,'' said Sugar Bowl executive director Paul Hoolahan. ``Furthermore, being a member of the Bowl Championship Series offers us a platform to showcase New Orleans to national and international audiences on an annual basis.''

According to the study, in addition to a large number of students (23.1 percent), typical Sugar Bowl visitors are largely employed in professional and management positions (51.1 percent) with average household incomes of nearly $87,000.

In response to questions about their favorite things in New Orleans, the leading answers from Sugar Bowl visitors were the food (26.6 percent) and the French Quarter/Bourbon Street (25.9 percent).

The Sugar Bowl now has generated more than $1.1 billion for the local and state economies over the past decade.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:24 PM