Lubbock Christian University Athletics

History of the Chaparral

When LCC opened its doors in 1957, the original mascot was the Pioneer. The Pioneer was chosen because the school wanted a mascot that had a connection to West Texas. Although the phrase “modern pioneers” remains in the school song, the college began to search for a new mascot in 1964 because a neighboring university had the same mascot. The choices were narrowed down to a gopher and a chaparral. After a long debate, the Chaparral emerged as the new mascot.

The Chaparral was chosen because the fast-moving bird (sometimes called a roadrunner) was once plentiful in the South Plains of Texas. The term “chaparral” was shortened over the years, and the student body and its sports teams are now branded as the “Chaps.”

                                                                                       


The Making of a Legend

Since the designation of the Chaparral mascot, the costume itself has undergone various renovations and name changes over the years. When it first emerged in 1965, it was named “Chappy.” In 2004, two LCU students, Tiffany Morris and Aaron Dawson, came up with the name “Scratch” in a naming contest. In light of the new mascot sponsorship from Happy State Bank, it has been deemed appropriate to refer to the chap as “Happy Chap.”