Wichita State Shockers

The American Athletic Conference logo in Wichita State's colors

Original Shockers logo from 1980 to 2009

Current Shockers logo 2009–present

The name for WSU's athletic teams is the Shockers and, collectively, students are also referred to as being "Shockers". The name reflects the university's heritage. Early students at what was then Fairmount College earned money by shocking, or harvesting, wheat in nearby fields. Early football games were played on a stubbled wheat field. Pep club members were known as Wheaties. Tradition has it that in 1904, football manager and student R.J. Kirk came up with the nickname Wheatshockers.[2] Although the Wheatshockers name was never officially adopted by the university, it caught on among the fan base. Newspaper writers also liked it because it was easily shortened to "Shockers" in headlines, and the shorter name was officially adopted by around the time Fairmount became the Municipal University of Wichita in 1926.

Until 1948, the university used a nameless shock of wheat as its symbol. In 1948, junior Wilbur Elsea won the Kappa Pi honorary society's competition to design a mascot typifying the spirit of the school. Elsea, who had been a marine during World War II, decided that "the school needed a mascot who gave a tough impression, with a serious, no-nonsense scowl." Once Elsea's mascot was adopted, all that was needed was a name. The Oct. 7, 1948, issue of The Sunflower, the student newspaper, ran an advertisement urging students to submit names for the school's new mascot. It was freshman Jack Kersting who suggested the winning name, "WuShock."[3]

In 1998, WuShock, also referred to as "Wu", marked his 50th birthday by undergoing a redesign and getting a pumped-up physique and revved-up attitude. The mascot's costume has changed over the years, as well. With the redesign, a new costume was introduced in fall 1998. In fall 1999, the head of the new costume underwent another redesign after a number of supporters suggested the mascot needed a more intimidating look. In 2006 it was decided to once again update the Wu costume. The general consensus was that many wanted the costume to more accurately reflect the depiction of WU in the school's logo. Many officials feel that a more professional and intimidating mascot on the field will certainly bolster WSU's image.

NCAA

• Missouri Valley Conference (1949–2017)
• American Athletic Conference (2017–present)

WSU competes in 15 intercollegiate athletic teams:[4] Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, tennis and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball. Also, it offers club sports such as crew, bowling, shooting sports, and other intramural sports. Women's bowling will be elevated to full varsity status in 2024–25.[5]

The NCAA has cited Wichita State University with 8 NCAA rules infractions. Following the 1983 infractions decision, WSU was the most penalized school in NCAA history.[11] This is no longer the case as SMU holds that honor with 10 major infractions.[12]

This list was taken from The Wichita Eagle and The Hour.

• Oct. 25, 1955 – Football program reprimanded for paying costs for a recruit's visit.
• Jan. 6, 1958 – Football program placed on probation for one year for excessive aid to players via external slush fund during the 1954–56 seasons.
• Oct. 21, 1963 – Basketball program reprimanded for paying transportation for a scout.
• April 30, 1968 – Football program placed on probation for two years, postseason ban for two years, and a TV ban for three years for improper recruiting, improper aid, improper out-of-season practice, and poor ethics.[13]
• Sept. 16, 1974 – Basketball program placed on probation for one year, postseason ban for one year, and a TV ban for two years when a team official changes a transcript for a recruit. (The Missouri Valley Conference also gave the basketball program probation for two years in Dec. 1973 for the same violations.)
• Jan. 11, 1982 – Basketball program placed on probation for three years, postseason ban for two years, reduction of scholarships for two years for 44 violations (32 under Harry Miller, 12 under Gene Smithson).[11]
• Jan. 5, 1983 – Football program placed on probation for two years, postseason ban for one year, and TV ban for two years for paying meals and transportation for recruit, and unethical conduct.
• Jan. 29, 2015 – Baseball program placed on probation for one year and vacation of victories (currently under appeal) for extra benefits to athletes, failure of administration to monitor the baseball program, and recruiting inducements. Over a two-year span, 21 players purchased non-baseball apparel using an impermissible 50-percent discount from the team's apparel manufacturer.[14]

• Official website