Name Game

Skyhawks Replace Pacers at UTM

The Pacers have been put out to pasture at UT Martin. Yes sports fans, henceforth the UT Martin athletic teams will be known as "Skyhawks," ending an intensive search for a new athletics program image that began when Benny Hollis became UTM athletics director in May 1994. The Pacer horse had been the symbol of UTM athletics teams since 1970.

Hollis noticed that an assortment of athletic logos and mascots represented UT Martin. He found little merchandise displaying any of the UTM athletics symbols, and learned that merchants were confused about what the UT Martin logo actually was.

Last September, Hollis suggested to UTM's Student Government Association that a change of identity was in order. The students agreed, and the search was on for a new logo, team name, and mascot that would be gender neutral and a symbol of strength. "Skyhawks" was the winning choice.

The UTM football and volleyball teams will be the first to display the new Skyhawks logo.