From 1954 to 1994 Marquette athletics nickname was officially the Warriors for all sports. Prior to that period, athletic teams were known as the Blue & Gold unofficially, then the Hilltoppers officially, but then eventually the Golden Avalanche was used for the Men's Football team only.

In 1993-1994 Father DiUlio, who was the president of the university at the time, made a decision for Marquette to be on the forefront of political correctness in doing away with the Warriors nickname and the American Indian logo that went along with it.

At commencement in 2004 things got stirred up a bit. Wayne Sanders who was the vice chair of Marquette's board of trustees offered $2 million – $1 MM from himself and another $1 MM from an anonymous trustee – if Marquette would change it's nickname back to Warriors before joining the Big East Conference. The monetary gift was immediately declined, but Father Wild, the new president of the university, was courageous enough to consider the proposal.

The debate went on for a year from May 2004 to May 2005, during which time the board of trustees passed a resolution stating that “Marquette will prohibit the use of Native American references, symbolism or imagery in its athletics logo, nickname, or mascot ”. A survey was offered up to the entire Marquette community – the results of which indicated that “even 10 years after its introduction, the Golden Eagles nickname, logo and mascot have not generated with the Marquette community a strong sense of pride or identity”. However, instead of using this data to select either Warriors or Golden Eagles, they concluded that the new nickname should be Gold.

Gold? This took the entire Marquette community by surprise, and the university experienced a backlash they never could have imagined. In less than a week, the Marquette Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting and decided that Gold would not be the nickname, but rather a vote would be held to determine the new nickname. However, Warriors would not be accepted as a vote so the incumbent Golden Eagles were primarily pitted up against old nicknames of Hilltoppers and Golden Avalanche.

In late June 2005 the board of trustees proudly proclaimed that Marquette community “decisively opted for Golden Eagles in a voting process carried out during the past five weeks”.

• Circa 1892-1916 – Football team is known as “blue and gold” or “football squad.”

• 1917-1954 – Marquette nicknamed “Hilltoppers” because of its original location on a hill between North 10th and State streets.

• 1924-1937 – Marquette nickname “Golden Avalanche” used for football team while all other teams referred to as “Hilltoppers.”

• May 1954 – Name “the Warriors” is adopted at the first meeting of the Student Senate, replacing names Golden Avalanche and Hilltoppers

• Oct. 28, 1960 – Marquette Tribune article reports that at the Student Senate meeting on Oct. 26, 1960 a motion passed to form a committee to effect the Warrior caricature

• Feb. 1961 – name of Willie Wampum emerges from a student who won $5 in a “Name the Warrior” contest

• Feb. 24, 1961 – Willie Wampum first appears at a Marquette basketball game

• Feb. 15, 1971 – Student Senate passes resolution requesting the administration permanently retire the character of Willie Wampum as soon as possible (16 to 9 vote)

• April 1, 1971 – memo from James H. Scott, vice president for student affairs to Dr. Samuel P. Sauceda, director of athletics, stating it is his “conclusion that Willie Wampum as he is currently known, named, and symbolized, be retired now and the designation of ‘Warriors’ be retained.”

• Nov. 7, 1978 – Marquette Tribune article notes that the Committee on Student Life “approved a proposal last week to develop an ‘American Indian Symbol’ that would represent Marquette University primarily at athletic events.”

• Feb. 10, 1980 – “First Warrior” makes his debut at the Duke basketball game;

• Official memorandum from the First Warrior Advisory Committee to Dr. James Scott, vice president for student affairs, (dated February 1987) states that “the First Warrior was selected in the late 1970s to be a symbol of Marquette’s relationship with Indians and to visualize the university’s commitment.”

• 1986 – 1987 Season – First Warrior abandoned after season when Native American students no longer wish to participate

• 1984 to 1990 – Bleuteaux is in place by the 1984 – 1985 basketball season; remains in place through 1990

• Sept. 26, 1990 – “Last Warrior” was the winner in a student referendum, but athletics department rejects proposal of Associated Students of Marquette University Mascot Selection Committee (per Tribune article Dec. 4, 1990)

• Oct. 1993 – Marquette announces its decision to discontinue the use of the Warriors name and logo

• April 1994 – Students vote on new nickname, choosing between Lightning and Golden Eagles

• July 1994 – Golden Eagles logo is unveiled

Nickname Timeline and History, Marquette University

• Heated war of words over Warriors - (12/08/2004)
• Marquette may discuss Warriors nickname again - (09/22/2004)

• Marquette won't rule out return to warriors nickname - (09/22/04)

• Debate continues at Marquette: Warriors vs. Golden Eagles - (12/02/2004)

• Decision nears on MU nickname - (12/07/2004)
• Marquette should stay on the path of progress - (12/04/2004)
• Stick with Golden Eagles - (11/23/04)
• MU tests waters on 'Warriors' name - (11/17/04)
• MU gives glimpse into nickname deliberation - (10/16/04)
• A logical take on MU nickname debate - (09/24/04)
• Trustees vote to study MU nickname - (09/22/04)
• MU name debate continues - (09/20/04)
• Nickname flap needn't have taken flight - (05/18/04)
• An old nickname's new life - (05/17/04)
• MU rejects money, not debate of name - (05/17/04)
• Stunning plea to MU;Alum makes offer to bring back Warriors - (05/16/04)

• Debatable -- Are American Indian mascots appropriate for sports teams? - (09/23/04)

• A logical step on MU nickname - (09/24/04)