Mississippi College athletic teams have been known as the "Choctaws for many years, but not many people know from whence it came. The late Rev. Montie A. Davis of Pascagoula, Miss. was the man that brought it into being and was proud of it, too.
In fact, Davis believed providing the school the nickname for the athletic teams brought him more recognition than almost a half-century of service as a Baptist minister or the fact that he was wounded three times in combat during World War I.
Davis entered Mississippi College shortly after World War I, and although he had played football while in high school, he was not able to do so in college. Wounds from combat prevented it.
He did not lose interest in athletics, however. The 1921 football team, which included legendary Edwin (Goat) Hale, now a member of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and one of the greatest backs ever to play at the college, marched through a 7-2-1 record against stiff opposition. Hale led MC to wins over Tulane University (14-0), Louisiana College (68-0), Union University (35-0), Birmingham-Southern (27-6), University of Mississippi (27-7), and Millsaps (56-0), plus a 7-7 tie with the University of Florida.
Prior to that great year, the college football team was known as the "Collegians." The students got together and decided that the name collegians just didn't fit such a great team.
A contest was announced and students were to submit possible nicknames which were to be voted on. "I looked around me and I found that one of the old Choctaw trails actually crossed the college campus marking the site," said Davis. It was part of the original Natchez Trace. Thus, he entered the name "Choctaws."
His suggestion, plus three other --- Yellowjackets, Dutchies and Warriors --- were among the final four to be voted on. Davis was quick to point out to his fellow students why three of the names would not be acceptable. "Yellowjackets," he said, "were good only in dry weather and just the week before the football team had played on a muddy and wet field. Dutchies was in honor of the president of MC, Dr. J.W. Provine, and wouldn't mean anything to people outside the school. Warriors? What Warriors?
"I studied up on the Choctaws and knew what they could do. I let the students know that Choctaws were noted for their bravery and fair play and they had speed to burn and could run like a deer. They could also swim like a fish, if necessary."
His research and persuasion paid off, for when the final vote was taken, the name "Choctaws" won by a clear majority. Since that 1921 season athletic teams have been known as the Choctaws.
