when the 1921–22 school year began, school officials decided "normals" and "teachers" were no longer appropriate nicknames for central's athletic teams. therefore, the school's athletic committee established a contest that promised the winner a three-year postgraduate subscription of the school newspaper. more than 80 suggestions were received, but the winning entry was submitted by john thomason of chilhowee, missouri, class of 1924, who felt that at least one missouri team should be known as "mules".