Status and Name Changes

Dixie College Sign, 1998. From 1999 D, p. 1.

Dixie College became a four-year college and changed its name to “Dixie State College of Utah” in 2000.[1] That year they began offering their first bachelor's degrees, Business Administration and Computer and Information Technology. The college was also actively pursuing degree additions for Education and Speech Pathology. Bill Fowler, Vice President of Student Services at the time, wrote that the transition was difficult and “very political...it was by the other institutes of higher education and many of the legislators.”[2] Many of the concerns revolved around fundraising capabilities and potential competition with Southern Utah University.[3] In contrast, many in the community were excited by the change and helped fund it. They believed it would enhance St. George’s economy, provide residents with further educational opportunities, and attract companies to relocate to the region.[4]

Reb, the red hawk mascot for Dixie State College of Utah. From dixieathletics.com, February 18, 2006.

Starting in 2000, the college went through several mascot changes. In 2002, the college revealed a rebranded “Rodney the Rebel” mascot, inspired by Indiana Jones and featuring a “brown safari hat, Khaki’s, boots, and even a whip.”[5] Apparently, the mascot was “axed before the year’s closing.”[6] It was later changed to a red hawk named Reb in 2005. The Dixie Sun student newspaper reported a survey of 100 people and found that 60% approved of the new mascot, but some students had reservations about using a bird mascot because of similarities with other Utah schools.[7] Southern Utah University’s mascot was a Thunderbird, and the University of Utah had a red-tailed hawk. The university changed the teams’ name in 2009 from Rebels to Red Storm with a bull for the new mascot named Ragin’ Red – later renamed Big Dee.[8] Though some embraced the change, many protested the new branding.[9]

Dixie State University (2013)

Brooks the Bison mascot at the "Battle of the Fans," February 9, 2019, by Alex Santiago. From Dixie State University Photography.

In 2013, the Utah State Legislature approved the bid to make Dixie State College of Utah into a university.[10] Proponents for the bill argued that university classification would attract more students both within and without Utah. When the school was planning its university rebranding, the board of trustees hired a marketing agency to “determine the public’s preferences” about what to name the school.[11] Some expressed concern that keeping Dixie may “brand the school as an institution with ties to America’s pre-civil rights racism,” but community members and students were “overwhelmingly for ‘Dixie State University’.”[12] Based on these results, the trustees voted to name the institution Dixie State University.  

Within a few years, the university again changed its athletic identity. Raptors and Sun Warriors were in the running, but in the end Trailblazers was chosen as new name.[13] As of 2025, the athletic logo features a white bison. The mascot is a brown bison named “Brooks,” after Samuel Brooks, whom local legend claims slept on the stairs of the school to be the first student to sign up for classes.[14]

Utah Tech University (2022)

Sign highlighting Utah Tech University Dixie Campus, June 22, 2022. From Utah Tech University Photography.

The term Dixie continues to be debated. The university hired the Cicero Group to conduct a survey of various groups to determine focus groups’ perceptions of Dixie for the school.[15] The results highlighted a difficult scenario. They found that “the ‘Dixie’ brand is strong in Southwestern Utah, and somewhat strong throughout the rest of the state, but is potentially problematic outside of Utah.”[16] Many, including faculty and staff, and African Americans, were more likely to view Dixie as having a negative impact.[17] Conversely, many Southwestern Utah residents believed that removing the name would negatively affect local support.[18] This view was particularly prominent among alumni who graduated prior to 2009. Eventually, the university board of trustees and the Utah System of Higher Education decided to change the name and remove the term Dixie over concerns that the name impacted recruitment, donations, and job placements.[19] The university also felt that it was “important to have a name that is not only inclusive, but also avoids any confusion about the location of the institution.”[20] Initially, the board of trustees recommended Utah Polytechnic State University, but after a strong negative response, the name was shortened to Utah Tech University.[21]