Osceola and Renegade
The Osceola and Renegade mascots were conceived by Bill Durham, a Tallahassee businessman and Florida State alumnus. He came up with the concept of a horseback-riding Seminole mascot as early as 1962, when he was voted into the school's homecoming court. He returned to the idea in 1977, and won the support of Ann Bowden, wife of head football coach Bobby Bowden, who helped make the idea a reality. Durham contacted the Seminole Tribe of Florida about the project, and chairman Howard Tommie had tribe members make the first costume for Osceola. Durham provided the horse, while Bowden helped acquire the various permits necessary to allow a horse onto the field.
Ace the Warhawk
Prior to 2006, the University's athletic teams were nicknamed the "Indians," and their mascot was Chief Brave Spirit; an anthropomorphic Native American caricature who performed live at all University athletic events. In 2005, as part of the ongoing NCAA controversy over the use of Native American names and symbols, Louisiana–Monroe was one of 19 colleges and universities throughout the United States who were cited by the NCAA for having "hostile or abusive" team names, mascots, or images. The 19 schools were told that unless they changed their nicknames or got permission from local tribal leaders to use the name, they would be banned from participating in NCAA postseason tournaments. In an attempt to placate the NCAA, the University retired Chief Brave Spirit, and replaced him with a live Native American, dressed in period-appropriate clothing and riding on horseback, in a manner similar to Florida State mascots Osceola and Renegade. However, the NCAA refused to remove Louisiana–Monroe from its list of abusive team nicknames, and on January 30, 2006, the University announced that they would be renaming the school athletic teams, and removing all Native American symbolism and imagery from the campus. Through online voting, the public was asked to suggest and choose a new nickname for the team. A list of twelve semi-finalists was produced that included "Aviators," "Bayou Bruins," "Bayou Gators," "Bayou Raiders," "Marauders," " Thunderbirds," "Bayou Bandits," "Bayou Buccaneers," "Bayou Hawks," "Bayou Storm," "Thunder," and "Warhawks." From this, the list was whittled down to three finalists, "Bayou Gators," "Bayou Hawks," and "Warhawks," before a selection committee chose "Warhawks," as the new team nickname. The name was chosen in honor of Maj. Gen. Claire Chennault, a Waterproof, Louisiana resident. Chennault commanded the American Volunteer Group of pilots during World War II, whose Curtiss P-40 fighter planes were dubbed "Warhawks." On August 30, 2006, the school officially introduced Ace the Warhawk as the new team mascot. In honor of Chennault and Louisiana's contribution to aviation, Ace is always seen wearing a black bomber jacket and flight goggles.