re: University mascots being Demons/Devils

Most mascot/nicknames derived from some innocuous story like that. Generally they stuck because society had more important things to do than search for reasons to feign “outrage”…even the leftists!

Arizona St initially were the Owls. Then they became the Bulldogs. Then, in the 40’s, the track coach allegedly saw a dust devil arise and decided “Sun Devils” might be a good nickname. Evidently the students liked it a pushed for the change. It literally has nothing to do with religion.

LSU’s Tiger nickname came from a group of Louisiana soldiers in the Civil War nicknamed the “Tigers”.

Crimson Tide grew out of a sportswriter describing the Alabama football team as an playing like a “Crimson Tide” because their white uniforms were all stained with red clay during a game