I have a theory how Augusta got their name. Since they got the colors because the gym or school was dedicated the day before Halloween (orange and black). Maybe they got Panthers because of black cats or something like that.

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong on this one about Bracken County Polar Bears. I understand that the original gymnasium was a good trek from the school across an open field. The basketball team would make the trip across the frozen field everyday for practice and someone remarked "there go the Polar Bears".

 

Again, I have no clue on the accuracy of the story, but liked it.

They used to practice outside. During winter they practiced and played inside and old tobacco barn. There was a fence around the middle of the floor that looked like a cage. After going to state in 1925, they players said they deserve something better than a Polar Bear cage to play in. In 1926 they were called the Polar Bears. That's the story I've heard from the natives

Anyone know what the school colors were for Wayland & Carr Creek?

 

Is there any reference to schools that have been closed in regards to colors, mascots, etc........

Wayland: blue & white

Carr Creek: blue & white

 

Info from Jeff Bridgeman's "Kentucky High School Basketball Encyclopedia"...has all that stuff. Fantastic book...available from Amazon.

Apollo opened in 1969 as a junior high school. It was named after the Apollo space program and it's mascot Eagles was after the lunar module from Apollo 11. Their colors are red, white, and blue for obvious reasons.

Bowling Green Purples

 

Lots of jokes over the years about the "Purples" although some talk about the purple spirit as the mascot, the name "Purples" was named after the color of the 1st place ribbon (Purple). Not many are aware of this fact but it is what it is.

Did Mason County get theirs from the Cincinnati Royals?

Did Mason County get theirs from the Cincinnati Royals?

 

I just assume everyone in KY makes their colors Blue and White so people can wear UK gear to games.

I've always wondered why Campbell County didn't go with the Colts (if you're going with the alliteration thing). Alexandria = farmland = horses = camels?

I stumbled across the KHSAA's list of all-time member schools and saw quite a few unique ones - some moreso than others:

Aeroplanes - Onton High School - Onton, Webster County, KY
Apes - Great Crossing High School (1913-1953) - Scott County, KY
Arrows - St. Vincent Academy - Flournoy, Union County, KY
Bank Mules - Van Lear High School - Van Lear, Johnson County, KY
Bees - Beelerton High School - Beelerton, Hickman County, KY
Big Trains - Silver Grove High School - Silver Grove, Campbell County, KY
Blue Terrors - Marion High School - Marion, Crittenden County, KY
Bonnies - Bonnieville High School - Bonnieville, Hart County, KY
Boxers - Boxville High School - Boxville, Union County, KY
Bullfrogs - Flippin High School - Flippin, Monroe County, KY
Caney Jays - Caney Creek High School - Pippa Passes, Knott County, KY
Cavemen - Horse Cave High School - Horse Cave, Hart County, KY
Circuit Riders - Wesley Christian School - Allen City, Floyd County, KY
Cobras - Riverview High School - Hickman, Fulton County, KY
Coonrangers - Lewisburg High School - Lewisburg, Logan County, KY
Daredevils - McDowell High School - McDowell, Floyd County, KY
Diplomats - Franklinton High School - Franklinton, Henry County, KY
Elks - Elkhorn High School - Forks Of Elkhorn, Franklin County, KY
Farmers - Hamilton High School - Hamilton, Boone County, KY
Flying Fleet - Parmleysville High School - Parmleysville, Wayne County, KY
Guerillas - Morganfield High School - Morganfield, Union County, KY
Hoot Owls - Worthville High School - Worthville, Carroll County, KY
Horsemen - Assumption Academy - Walton, Boone County, KY
Hustlin’ Owls - Howell High School - Howel, Christian County, KY
Mud Turtles - Ed Davis High School - Georgetown, Scott County, KY
Navajos - MC Napier High School - Darfork, Perry County, KY
Peacocks - Smithfield High School - Smithfield, Henry County, KY
Peacocks - St. Paul High School - Florence, Boone County, KY
Perches - Sunfish High School - Sunfish, Edmonson County, KY
Polar Bears - Memorial High School - Hardyville, Hart County, KY
Racehorses - Blackford High School - Blackford, Webster County, KY
Roadrunners - Gasper High School - Gasper, Logan County, KY
Rogers - AJ Jolly Memorial High School - California, Campbell County, KY
Roughnecks - Fidelity High School - Fidelity, McCreary County, KY
Rough Riders - Symsonia High School - Symsonia, Graves County, KY
Scalpers - West Side High School - Harrodsburg, Mercer County, KY
Spires - St. Maur's Academy - South Union, Logan County, KY
Squirrels - Locust High School - Locust, Carroll County, KY
Stampers - Stamping Ground High School - Stamping Ground, Scott County, KY
Tarantulas - Nicholasville High School - Nicholasville, Jessamine County, KY
Tarzans - Lincoln High School - Middlesboro, Bell County, KY
Terrors - Dunbar High School - Mayfield, Graves County, KY
Thunder - Tiline High School - Tiline, Livingston County, KY
Tornado - Kirkland High School - Seaville, Washington County, KY
Trappers - Independence High School - Independence, Kenton County, KY
Warhorses - Pilot Oak High School - Pilot Oak, Graves County, KY
Wasps - Wayland High School - Wayland, Floyd County, KY
Whirlwinds - Knob City High School - Russellville, Logan County, KY
Zebras - Summer Shade High School - Summer Shade, Metcalfe County, KY

4 hours ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

I stumbled across the KHSAA's list of all-time member schools and saw quite a few unique ones - some moreso than others:

Aeroplanes - Onton High School - Onton, Webster County, KY
Apes - Great Crossing High School (1913-1953) - Scott County, KY
Arrows - St. Vincent Academy - Flournoy, Union County, KY
Bank Mules - Van Lear High School - Van Lear, Johnson County, KY
Bees - Beelerton High School - Beelerton, Hickman County, KY
Big Trains - Silver Grove High School - Silver Grove, Campbell County, KY
Blue Terrors - Marion High School - Marion, Crittenden County, KY
Bonnies - Bonnieville High School - Bonnieville, Hart County, KY
Boxers - Boxville High School - Boxville, Union County, KY
Bullfrogs - Flippin High School - Flippin, Monroe County, KY
Caney Jays - Caney Creek High School - Pippa Passes, Knott County, KY
Cavemen - Horse Cave High School - Horse Cave, Hart County, KY
Circuit Riders - Wesley Christian School - Allen City, Floyd County, KY
Cobras - Riverview High School - Hickman, Fulton County, KY
Coonrangers - Lewisburg High School - Lewisburg, Logan County, KY
Daredevils - McDowell High School - McDowell, Floyd County, KY
Diplomats - Franklinton High School - Franklinton, Henry County, KY
Elks - Elkhorn High School - Forks Of Elkhorn, Franklin County, KY
Farmers - Hamilton High School - Hamilton, Boone County, KY
Flying Fleet - Parmleysville High School - Parmleysville, Wayne County, KY
Guerillas - Morganfield High School - Morganfield, Union County, KY
Hoot Owls - Worthville High School - Worthville, Carroll County, KY
Horsemen - Assumption Academy - Walton, Boone County, KY
Hustlin’ Owls - Howell High School - Howel, Christian County, KY
Mud Turtles - Ed Davis High School - Georgetown, Scott County, KY
Navajos - MC Napier High School - Darfork, Perry County, KY
Peacocks - Smithfield High School - Smithfield, Henry County, KY
Peacocks - St. Paul High School - Florence, Boone County, KY
Perches - Sunfish High School - Sunfish, Edmonson County, KY
Polar Bears - Memorial High School - Hardyville, Hart County, KY
Racehorses - Blackford High School - Blackford, Webster County, KY
Roadrunners - Gasper High School - Gasper, Logan County, KY
Rogers - AJ Jolly Memorial High School - California, Campbell County, KY
Roughnecks - Fidelity High School - Fidelity, McCreary County, KY
Rough Riders - Symsonia High School - Symsonia, Graves County, KY
Scalpers - West Side High School - Harrodsburg, Mercer County, KY
Spires - St. Maur's Academy - South Union, Logan County, KY
Squirrels - Locust High School - Locust, Carroll County, KY
Stampers - Stamping Ground High School - Stamping Ground, Scott County, KY
Tarantulas - Nicholasville High School - Nicholasville, Jessamine County, KY
Tarzans - Lincoln High School - Middlesboro, Bell County, KY
Terrors - Dunbar High School - Mayfield, Graves County, KY
Thunder - Tiline High School - Tiline, Livingston County, KY
Tornado - Kirkland High School - Seaville, Washington County, KY
Trappers - Independence High School - Independence, Kenton County, KY
Warhorses - Pilot Oak High School - Pilot Oak, Graves County, KY
Wasps - Wayland High School - Wayland, Floyd County, KY
Whirlwinds - Knob City High School - Russellville, Logan County, KY
Zebras - Summer Shade High School - Summer Shade, Metcalfe County, KY

WELL, who wouldn't want to be called the "Apes"? 

On 10/14/2016 at 12:39 PM, Jumper_Dad said:

 

This is our Legend...

 

The Somerset High School Team that took the field on that Saturday in October 1916, was optimistic, even though they had been greeted by 700 fans of the Louisville High School, with accompanying good nature jeers and shouted predictions of the gruesome fate they were going to encounter. The Louisville Boys High School had established an impressive record and was predicted to win the game by several touchdowns. Much to blue-clad Louisville's surprise, that purple and gold Somerset team showed NO MERCY. When the last play had been played, and that last whistle sounded, the score board displayed the unbelievable score of SOMERSET 51, LOUISVILLE 6. The tale of that days events were fully described in Louisville papers for days to come. The story, told in simple terms, is that a certain young man by the name of "Gooch", a sorrel topped mountaineer by the name of "Roberts", and a fully mature Irishman by the name of "McMillan" created high school football history on the banks of the Ohio.

 

Louisville sportswriters were knocking themselves out trying to describe the drubbing that was perpetrated. One writer, Mr. Johnny Head, who had fully recovered from the shock, was frantically searching for some previous occurrence with which to compare the extraordinary athletic speed and skill used to evade Louisville tacklers. That is when he remembered the story of Uncle Remus, the briar patch, and the elusive ways the Somerset team had of getting around or evading, obstructions. He also remembered the expression "Bawn and bred in de briar patch". Immediately he christened the Somerset team "Briar Jumpers" because they too were quick, swift-footed, masters of evading obstructions - and "Briar Jumpers" at home in their "Briar Patch" it has been ever since.

 

Of course home court and home fields are known as The Briar Patch. I'm not sure how Purple and Gold became our colors, maybe another Briar Jumper can help me out with that. It seems as if it started out Purple and White and changed later to Purple and Gold, but I could be mistaken.

Second generation Briar Jumper here.  I played basketball, track and cross country (early 70’s) and my dad played football and track in the early 40’s.  I could literally throw a rock and hit Clara Morrow field and grew up on Somerset sports.  I heard that story from a very young age.  As my dad and uncle (also a Jumper, late 30’s) told it, the forward pass had just been legalized and the Somerset coach bought in all the way.  The Louisville coach, on the other hand, thought it was just a fad and didn’t prepare his defense to stop it.  That was supposedly the reason for the lopsided score.

Now, was there any truth to that?  I have no idea since they were both known to embellish a story to make it more interesting.  

Bank Mules - Van Lear High School - Van Lear, Johnson County, KY

 

Well I looked this up because I assume it had something to do with Johnson County and the community, etc and it actually is a money launderer ?.

On 11/19/2025 at 12:00 AM, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

I stumbled across the KHSAA's list of all-time member schools and saw quite a few unique ones - some moreso than others:

Aeroplanes - Onton High School - Onton, Webster County, KY
Apes - Great Crossing High School (1913-1953) - Scott County, KY
Arrows - St. Vincent Academy - Flournoy, Union County, KY
Bank Mules - Van Lear High School - Van Lear, Johnson County, KY
Bees - Beelerton High School - Beelerton, Hickman County, KY
Big Trains - Silver Grove High School - Silver Grove, Campbell County, KY
Blue Terrors - Marion High School - Marion, Crittenden County, KY
Bonnies - Bonnieville High School - Bonnieville, Hart County, KY
Boxers - Boxville High School - Boxville, Union County, KY
Bullfrogs - Flippin High School - Flippin, Monroe County, KY
Caney Jays - Caney Creek High School - Pippa Passes, Knott County, KY
Cavemen - Horse Cave High School - Horse Cave, Hart County, KY
Circuit Riders - Wesley Christian School - Allen City, Floyd County, KY
Cobras - Riverview High School - Hickman, Fulton County, KY
Coonrangers - Lewisburg High School - Lewisburg, Logan County, KY
Daredevils - McDowell High School - McDowell, Floyd County, KY
Diplomats - Franklinton High School - Franklinton, Henry County, KY
Elks - Elkhorn High School - Forks Of Elkhorn, Franklin County, KY
Farmers - Hamilton High School - Hamilton, Boone County, KY
Flying Fleet - Parmleysville High School - Parmleysville, Wayne County, KY
Guerillas - Morganfield High School - Morganfield, Union County, KY
Hoot Owls - Worthville High School - Worthville, Carroll County, KY
Horsemen - Assumption Academy - Walton, Boone County, KY
Hustlin’ Owls - Howell High School - Howel, Christian County, KY
Mud Turtles - Ed Davis High School - Georgetown, Scott County, KY
Navajos - MC Napier High School - Darfork, Perry County, KY
Peacocks - Smithfield High School - Smithfield, Henry County, KY
Peacocks - St. Paul High School - Florence, Boone County, KY
Perches - Sunfish High School - Sunfish, Edmonson County, KY
Polar Bears - Memorial High School - Hardyville, Hart County, KY
Racehorses - Blackford High School - Blackford, Webster County, KY
Roadrunners - Gasper High School - Gasper, Logan County, KY
Rogers - AJ Jolly Memorial High School - California, Campbell County, KY
Roughnecks - Fidelity High School - Fidelity, McCreary County, KY
Rough Riders - Symsonia High School - Symsonia, Graves County, KY
Scalpers - West Side High School - Harrodsburg, Mercer County, KY
Spires - St. Maur's Academy - South Union, Logan County, KY
Squirrels - Locust High School - Locust, Carroll County, KY
Stampers - Stamping Ground High School - Stamping Ground, Scott County, KY
Tarantulas - Nicholasville High School - Nicholasville, Jessamine County, KY
Tarzans - Lincoln High School - Middlesboro, Bell County, KY
Terrors - Dunbar High School - Mayfield, Graves County, KY
Thunder - Tiline High School - Tiline, Livingston County, KY
Tornado - Kirkland High School - Seaville, Washington County, KY
Trappers - Independence High School - Independence, Kenton County, KY
Warhorses - Pilot Oak High School - Pilot Oak, Graves County, KY
Wasps - Wayland High School - Wayland, Floyd County, KY
Whirlwinds - Knob City High School - Russellville, Logan County, KY
Zebras - Summer Shade High School - Summer Shade, Metcalfe County, KY

The AJ Jolly Rogers is pretty fantastic school name/mascot combo.