The Chanticleer – a proud and fierce rooster – is the unique moniker for
the Coastal Carolina University mascot and athletics teams. The Chan-
ticleer is derived from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, specifically
The Nun’s Priest Tale. In the early 1960s, Coastal’s athletic teams were
known as the Trojans until a group of Coastal students and their English
professor-basketball coach Cal F. Maddox brought up the idea of a
new mascot. It helped that the Chanticleer was from the same family
of the animal kingdom as the Gamecock, the mascot of Coastal’s parent
institution at the time, which was an important consideration in those
days. Thus, the Chanticleer was born, giving the growing college its own
identity and one of the most unique mascots in college athletics.
For the best description of Chanticleer, we turn to Chaucer’s words:
For there was not his equal in all the land
. His voice was merrier than
the merry organ that plays in church, and his crowing from his resting
place was more trustworthy than a clock. His comb was redder than
fine coral and turreted like a castle wall, his bill was black and shone like
a jet, and his legs and toes were like azure. His nails were whiter than
the lily and his feathers were like burnished gold.
On July 1, 1993, Coastal Carolina became an independent public
university, ending a 33-year relationship with the University of South
Carolina. Some thought that was the time to send the Chanticleer pack-
ing andmake a complete split fromUSC. As he had before Coastal Carolina
gained its independence and as he has since that time, the Chanticleer
continues to overcome the battles and reigns supreme. The Chanticleer
has made a name for himself and Coastal Carolina University around the
world and has captured a place in the hearts of CCU fans.
The proper pronunciation of Chanticleer is SHON-ti-clear. You may
also hear Coastal’s athletic teams referred to in abbreviated form as the
Chants (SHONTS). The mascot is called Chauncey. As part of 2011 football
Homecoming game, a new tradition began at Brooks Stadium when
Maddox, the “live” mascot made his debut. The new mascot received
his name via student vote – and honors the legacy of former Coastal
basketball coach and English professor Cal F. Maddox.
THE CHANTICLEER
Coastal Carolina University’s unique mascot
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