The nickname "The Battling Bishops" dates to 1925; before then Ohio Wesleyan University's teams were simply known as "The Red and Black," or sometimes as "The Methodists." Ohio Wesleyan is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, and long has produced many of its bishops.
By April, 1925, according to that issue of the alumni Magazine, the present name had finally been derived. "Ohio sports writers have been at a loss," the magazine reported. "There are countless colleges throughout the country claiming red and black as their colors, and 14 Methodist colleges in Ohio alone." Pi Delta Epsilon journalism fraternity therefore sponsored a contest, and the winning nickname, "The Battling Bishops," was "placed before the sports writers of the state as the teams' official title." Senior Harold Thomas of Lima submitted the winning entry.
The new nickname must have provided inspiration. The 1925 football team, under George Gauthier, "The Little Giant," went 7-1-1. Its only loss came to Ohio State by a 10-3 score, and it tied Syracuse, 3-3, en route to winning the Ohio Conference championship.
