Why did the Western Illinois Leathernecks get called the Leathernecks?
They started as the "fighting teachers."
Ray Hanson was a football coach and athletic director at
Western. He was also a decorated Marine. He pushed congress to
allow Western to change its name to the Leathernecks.
Western was granted permission in 1927, by an act of Congress
and approval of the Secretary of the Navy, to use the Marine's
seal, the phrase "Semper fidelis" and the name Leathernecks. The
mascot is a bulldog.
The privilege is permanent as long as the University does not
bring disgrace to the name. Western's althetic field is named
Hanson Field.