The Stetson Hatters bring one of the most unusual mascot names in college sports to the NCAA men’s tournament. In a field with Peacocks, Zips, Lopes and, uh, Beach, that’s an accomplishment.
And, yes, they’re named after the guy who created the Stetson hat. John B. Stetson was not only the master of the Boss of the Plains style chapeau, but also a major benefactor to the university and a founding trustee from back when it was DeLand Academy.
DeLand, Florida, uncoincidentally, happens to be where Stetson University is located — a city of 37,000 in central Florida, roughly 41 miles north of Orlando.
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