The Braves

THE BRAVE AND THE RED-TAILED HAWK
The UNC Pembroke athletics nickname is Braves while the mascot is the red-tailed hawk. UNCP’s athletic teams have had the nickname, Braves - a term, which echoes our Native American past - since the 1940’s.The red-tailed hawk was added as a companion to the brave in 1991. The red-tailed hawk is indigenous to Robeson County.

UNCP does not use an Indian mascot, but uses the “Braves” nickname and an athletic logo bearing the image of an American Indian. An NCAA committee investigated the issue for two years and required reports from 18 universities, including UNCP, in late 2004. The NCAA ruled on Aug. 5, 2005, that UNCP is the only school that will be allowed to use an American Indian mascot, nickname or imagery at NCAA-sanctioned postseason events. Seventeen universities were banned from using their American Indian athletic symbols in postseason tournaments because they were judged “hostile or abusive.”

BLACK AND GOLD
Since the 1940’s, UNCP’s official colors have been black and gold, though the color gold has been associated with the school since the 1920’s.