When it was announced that athletics was coming to Louisiana State University of Alexandria in the Spring of 2008 with baseball & softball, one of the first questions asked was what would be the team name. Quickly, one identity that was unique to central Louisiana became obvious, the "Generals".
| HISTORY OF THE "GENERALS" |
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| As America geared up for the potential of joining into World War II, central Louisiana was a hub of training areas for the United States Army. Due to that fact, in 1940 & 1941, the area was chosen to host the "Louisiana Maneuvers". During the time of the Louisiana Maneuvers, more than 350,000 soldiers flooded into the area to take part in mock battles that took place from Alexandria westward into east Texas and northward towards Shreveport.. Those mock battles helped lay the groundwork for the battle plans that would be taken into the European theater. With so much preparation going on, it attracted the attention of the Army's top brass, and plenty of the officers made their way to central Louisiana to guide the Louisiana Maneuvers. Among those who came to lead the Louisiana Maneuvers were a number of officers who were or would later achieve the rank of General, including Omar Bradley, Mark Clark, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Walter Krueger, Ben Lear, and George S. Patton. |
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| Even today, LSU Alexandria continues to maintain a close relationship with the area's military, namely, the Louisiana National Guard training ground at Camp Beauregard. The National Guard has been an integral part of LSUA's continued growth as Guard crews helped construct three of the playing fields on which the Generals currently play, the baseball, softball, & soccer fields. Recently, the Guard was on hand to assist with the construction of LSUA's "Icon Corner" along Highway 71, and currently, Guard crews are helping improve the land along Tom Bowman Dr. right across from the Baseball & Softball Complex, tennis courts, & Ag Center. |
| INSPIRATION OF THE MASCOT: WILLIE - GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON'S BULL TERRIER |
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| If there was one thing General George S. Patton loved more than his military career and leading American forces into battle, it was his pet bull terriers, of which he had several throughout his life. His most favorite was the one seen in the pictures above, Willie. Willie traveled with General Patton all over the world during World War II, and was so beloved by the hardened career soldier whose nickname was "Old Blood & Guts" that the General even threw Willie birthday parties. |
| HOW DID "TANK" GET HIS NAME |
| After the bull terrier mascot logo was revealed, the committee that came up with the logo took submissions from the LSUA community on names for the new bull terrier. The committee, which consisted of representatives from Athletics (administration and student-athletes), Marketing & Strategic Communications, Admissions, First Year Experience, Student Life, Finance and Administration, LSUA Foundation, Generals Athletic Association, and Student Government was flooded with suggestions, but four stood out and those four names was put up for a vote by the LSUA student body. When the final vote was tallied, one name rose above them all, "Tank". "Tank" was officially given his name on November 20, 2018. |
