San Diego State University is a public research university located in San Diego, California. The university's athletic teams are known as the SDSU Aztecs, paying homage to the indigenous Aztec civilization of Mexico. The university adopted the Aztec theme in the early 1920s when San Diego State College transitioned from a small teacher's college to a full-fledged state college. At that time, a local artist and student, Leonard Lesko, was commissioned to design a new logo for the college. He chose the Aztec theme as a way to symbolize strength, tradition, and energy. The design featured a warrior wearing a headdress and stood as a representation of the college's commitment to education and the pursuit of knowledge.
SDSU President Sally Roush has announced that SDSU will retain the Aztec identity. Also, the Aztec Warrior will be appropriately described as a “spirit leader” and will behave with dignity at all times and not partake in any behavior that misrepresents Aztec culture. Aztec Culture Education SDSU President Sally Roush also called for: A governing body, which has yet to be formed and named, to be chaired by the SDSU president and charged with actively addressing issues related to SDSU’s Aztec identity and the ethical and fiduciary responsibility of carrying the Aztec name. The Aztec Culture Education Committee (ACEC), formed during the 2016-2017 year, to reconvene and be formally institutionalized. The ACEC, which has been on hiatus awaiting SDSU President Sally Roush’s final decisions on the Aztec identity, is responsible for introducing additional cultural and co-curricular programming related to Aztec history and culture. SDSU will continue to adopt changes that explicitly and respectfully align the Aztec identity with the Aztec civilization’s three pillars: knowledge, strength and prowess and giving back to the community. SDSU Awards SDSU President Sally Roush also called for an immediate change to dismiss the use of the nicknames “Monty” and “Zuma,” noting that the use of such nicknames in any context is inappropriate. SDSU will immediately rename its annual awards for outstanding faculty, staff and alumni in coordination with the appropriate university committees, to eliminate the use of the nicknames. Back to Top
The original mission statement, which shaped the work of the Aztec Identity Task Force from February 2018 through April 2018, reads The mission of the 2018 Aztec Identity Task Force AITF is to consider the opinions of stakeholders associated with San Diego State University and provide recommendations related to the Aztec identity to the President of San Diego State University. Overview Members of the AITF met regularly from February 2018 through April 2018 to review and analyze source documents and survey results, including the 2001 task force report presented to then-SDSU President Stephen Weber and documents associated with that report; scholarly work related to native and indigenous peoples; and surveys that had been distributed to students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.
The design featured a warrior wearing a headdress and stood as a representation of the college's commitment to education and the pursuit of knowledge. Over the years, the Aztec mascot has undergone some changes and revisions. In the 1960s, a costumed portrayal of the Aztec warrior named "Monty Montezuma" was introduced as the official mascot of San Diego State.
It’s Time For SDSU To Bring Back A Mascot
The first season for San Diego State Aztecs football at Snapdragon Stadium has come and now has gone. In what has now been built as the sports hub for all things football and futbol, the stadium is undoubtedly a huge success.
The primary use for SDSU Aztecs and secondary uses for both San Diego Wave FC and San Diego Legion are surely raising up the profile of all the sports they perform in regionally.
Local high school recruits visited Snapdragon Stadium each Saturday and the love has been visible all over social media.
The most recent CIF San Diego Championships are also evidence of the phenomenal impact this new $310 million dollar SDSU facility can have in each San Diego community.
But it’s no secret the performance of the stadium this inaugural season was unfairly criticized. In early September the hottest Aztecs game to have ever been played kicked things off when SDSU hosted Arizona.
That first day left an impression that stuck with the fans the rest of the season. Coupled with a tough but fascinating year on the field, the atmosphere began to take form as the team also did—very slowly.
The devaluation of the game ticket added together to bring the goal of filling all the seats much more difficult than expected. With a not so full stadium environment it’s only natural that the eyes are then focused on the entertainment value that is being presented.
Not every year played in this new San Diego landmark will be a 12-2 outcome. For those lean years that may come, that is when the tradition and pageantry of College Football must kick in and take center stage.
Marching bands, cheerleaders, dance teams, majorettes and mascots are some of the elements that make collegiate athletics so wonderful. The sights & sounds either create culture for the University or tap in to the culture of the community around them to bring the faithful together in a fun and entertaining way.
For 100 years SDSU has been building their football culture and only recently made the decision to part ways with one of the most fan friendly elements of it—the mascot.
In 2019 under the unilateral decision of President Adela de la Torre, SDSU ended the use of an Aztec Warrior/Monty Montezuma mascot & representation after 88 years of service.
The move was largely criticized but lacked in any real repercussions against the University decision to side with the changing of today’s culture. The years of using live human representation as mascots seem to be over—specifically when depicting that of any ethnic or indigenous tribe or civilization.
Agree or disagree with the move, the one conclusion that all SDSU fans and alumni can agree on is that the retirement left an open job that has yet to be filled. Promises of creating new Aztec iconography and symbolisms to fill the void left by the Aztec Warrior have yet to be seen.
This leads Sons of Montezuma to ask the question of Aztec Nation … Should SDSU bring back a mascot? More directly should SDSU bring back Zuma?
The First Go Round
The furry feeline was quickly judged as a BYU knockoff and was attacked by leaders in the fanbase. Reports to the administration swelled up and unofficially had the lovable sidekick to Monty Montezuma booted away after only two years.
But now after ten years of this dismissal, is it possible that SDSU fans had it all wrong from the start?
Dress For Success
SDSU is seeking to step up their athletic brand in many different levels. The largest would be joining a Power-5 conference. The PAC-12 or BIG12 are the most attainable in this latest round of expansion currently happening.
The move especially to the regional no brainer PAC-12 would mean an increased dedication to marketing, performance, fan engagement and of course, revenues.
With such a unique, exciting, and vibrant representation as the Aztecs, one only needs to look at the peers of the PAC-12 to gain some insight as to what should be done with this all important mascot decision.
Every single institution represented in the 12 team conference has a furry, cuddly and relevant mascot for their teams. Wether it’s the Bruin of UCLA, Beaver of Oregon State, or Buffalo of Colorado, the uniforms worn are on par with that of a Disneyland production.
The only example of a live human representation is that of USC’s Trojan. However Tommy Trojan is also joined in compromise with Traveler his trusty horse, and also a costume mascot with a cartoon creation of the Trojan to be kid friendly.
Smart thinking by USC administration to find a compromise of the two styles. Could this be an option for SDSU? Only the powers that be can decide that.
One thing is for sure, this is not some unattainable mission for such a successful leadership that has reached across all political factions in San Diego County to get a stadium built that was once considered impossible.
Two Sides to An Aztec Warrior–The Eagle and the Jaguar
Ideas of dragons, quetzals and other iconography for SDSU’s spirit leader are great for exploration, but the answer is not that mysterious. The Aztecs themselves have already given us the answer.
By all signs, the human Aztec Warrior is not making a comeback any time soon. But when you consider the historical facts of ancient Mexica culture, the Warrior was represented in two animal distinctions.
Either a Jaguar or an Eagle represent the warriors in battle. Though SDSU fans may not want to face this reality—Zuma, if repurposed and executed correctly, can have a perfect fit. But it’s got to be done right.
If the mascot decision going forward is not a more historically stylized Zuma 2.0, then it is the Eagle which is the next model to aim for.
As glorious of a new home as Snapdragon Stadium is, if the in game environment is going to improve, ultimately it is up to us—the supporters. It’s time to make the call to have our mascot culture back.
It is time to bring back our mascot.
For the first time, a student portrays an Aztec in a football game skit. The character becomes known as “Monty Montezuma.” Over time, the character’s apparel is adjusted to become more historically accurate. Back to Top
However, the use of Native American imagery as a mascot has sparked controversy and debate. Some argue that it perpetuates stereotypes and is disrespectful to indigenous peoples. In the 2000s, San Diego State faced pressure to change the mascot and logo, similar to many other universities with Native American mascots. In 2018, the university officially retired the controversial "Monty Montezuma" mascot. The decision was made in consultation with tribal groups and stakeholders, who felt that the use of Native American imagery was inappropriate. The university also redesigned its logo to feature a stylized version of the Aztec temple, known as the Calmecac. The new logo aimed to reflect the university's strong ties to the local community and embrace its Aztec heritage. Moving forward, San Diego State University continues to use the Aztec name and logo, but without the use of Native American imagery. The university strives to create a respectful and inclusive environment for all students, faculty, and staff, while still honoring its history and traditions. The Aztec theme remains an integral part of San Diego State's identity and serves as a symbol of pride and unity within the university community..
Reviews for "San Diego State's Mascot Name: A Study in Historical Context"
1. Sarah - 2/5
As a long-time San Diego State University fan and alumni, I was disappointed with the choice of the new mascot name. While I understand the desire to be inclusive and respectful, I feel like "San Diego State" is a generic name that doesn't capture the spirit and uniqueness of our university. It lacks creativity and fails to represent the diverse community that SDSU prides itself on. Overall, I believe the mascot name could have been more thoughtfully chosen to better reflect the values and culture of our university.
2. Steven - 1/5
I have always been a loyal supporter of San Diego State University, but I am incredibly dissatisfied with the new mascot name. "San Diego State" is simply too plain and unoriginal. It doesn't evoke any sense of pride or excitement. I believe the university missed an opportunity to choose a more dynamic and inclusive name that would have better represented our campus community. This decision feels like a missed chance to build school pride and engage with students, alumni, and fans.
3. Emily - 2/5
I was hoping for a more creative and catchy name for the San Diego State University mascot. "San Diego State" is too generic and fails to capture the essence of our vibrant campus. It feels like a missed opportunity to rally students and alumni behind a more compelling name that could have created a stronger sense of school spirit. While I appreciate the effort to be inclusive and respectful, I believe the university could have chosen a name that better embodies the energy and excitement of being an Aztec.