Date: 1926

Title: "Spartans" is adopted as the new college nickname

Description:

After the name of Michigan Agricultural College changed to the Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in 1925, a competition was held to replace the previous nickname - the "Aggies." The winning entry was the "Michigan Staters," but George Alderton, sportswriter for the Lansing State Journal, was unimpressed. He chose "Spartans," submitted by Perry J. Fremont, to use in his stories and soon other newspapers, including the State News, began using the nickname.