Origin of mascot still a mystery

By Brandon Volbrecht | gargoyle@flagler.edu

St. George: a street, a saint, but do you know what he looks like? But often mistaken for a horse, he is actually a lion.

The newly adapted name for Flagler’s mascot fuels the debate for representation of the saint nickname.
John Jordan, Sports Information director said, “Where the Saints came from; I have never been able to decipher where that ever came from.”

The nickname is commonly confused with the lion that appears on the Flagler College crest.
Why then, are we not the Flagler Lions?

“I have even brought that to people’s attention,” Jordan said. “You know this is a little awkward that the nickname does not reflect the mascot.”

The new logo of the lion was so confusing to staff at St. Thomas University, they wrote the Flagler Flames on a press release.

This unsolved mystery continues to confuse students, visitors and other schools.

One of Jordan’s theories is that the Saints nickname came from the late St. Augustine Saints minor league baseball team.

Another theory from Athletic Director David Barnett is the nickname was derived from the town of St. Augustine since the school’s beginning in 1968.

Whether or not Flagler will ever see change in the nickname to make it the same as the mascot is open for discussion.

Until then, St. George must continue to roar and lead the Saints into battle.