Why is Stetson called the Hatters? Explaining the origin of unique nickname, mascot history

David Suggs

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Why is Stetson called the Hatters? Explaining the origin of unique nickname, mascot history image

The NCAA tournament is underway, and it already has some folks feeling about as mad as a hatter.

It's been a memorable competition in the early stages, chock-full of close calls, blown leads, memorable shots, and plenty and plenty of whistles. The theatrics should only continue as the competition wears on, especially if Division I minnows Stetson have anything to do with it.

Stetson is among the smallest schools taking part in this season's festivities, and yet, it very well may have the loudest nickname, one which captivates some and mystifies others: the Hatters.

Was the founder of Stetson a fan of Premier League side Luton Town, or did they just really like the way a cap fit on his weary head? The Sporting News gives you the scoop on just why Stetson's basketball team is introduced as the Hatters.

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Why is Stetson called the Hatters?

Stetson's cap-inspired nickname stems From its association with a famed hat-maker and the school's namesake, John B. Stetson.

During the late-19th century, Stetson was one of the most prolific hat manufacturers in the country. He produced a seemingly endless supply of his beloved Stetson hats, a flat-billed lid typically made out of animal felt. It became a symbol of the Old West, a time when prospectors and cowboys voyaged across the country in the hopes of finding new riches and prosperity for themselves.

The story of the connection between Stetson and the school that bears his name actually began in 1883, when the university (and town it was located in) was founded by Henry DeLand, a citrus farmer and baking soda manufacturer.

DeLand established DeLand Academy in the town of DeLand, formerly known as Persimmon Hollow. By 1889, he had grown weary with the venture. The market in citruses was busting, prompting DeLand to look elsewhere for investment. He eventually found it in fellow DeLand resident Stetson, who was named the chairman of the Board of Trustees before eventually being granted the university's sole name.

Stetson gained prominence on account of his hatting business. When the school started forming sports teams in the early 1900s, it wanted to address its founder's success in a different way. So, they went for Hatters, an apt pseudonym given (John B.) Stetson's penchant for the hat industry.

Not much has changed in the 120 years since, it seems.

What is Stetson's mascot?

So, just what is Stetson's mascot? Is it a tawny felt lid with arms and legs attached to it, or could it be just the hat itself?

Neither, as it turns out. Rather, Stetson's mascot is John B., a strong-jawed, muscular cowboy who has frequented Stetson athletic events for much of the past decade or so.

John B., named after the school's famous founder, was the brainchild of a 2011 mascot challenge the school conducted in the hopes of rebranding its ever-changing lucky charm. The general public voted in the slick-dressing frontiersman, and after a few alterations, he's become something of an icon across the Florida panhandles.

Prior to John B.'s reign, there were a host of silhouettes that took center stage under the blazing DeLand sun. At one point, the school employed a 10-gallon hat as its symbol of terror. At another, the university opted for a leprechaun-coded structure.

John B. was preceded by another rhinestone cowboy, a real Mad Hatter who shared a striking resemblance with "Back to the Future's" Doc Brown and reportedly scared children.

The future appears bright for Stetson, and although John B. certainly can't claim all the credit for that, he's helped foster in a new era of Hatters Athletics. For a Texas Pete-looking man, that isn't too bad of a recognition.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.