Comments on: Lamenting the loss of nicknames http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2007/10/26/lamenting-the-loss-of-nicknames/ Thoughts from The Oklahoman Sports Columnist Berry Tramel | NewsOK.com Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:07:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Dick Bourne http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2007/10/26/lamenting-the-loss-of-nicknames/comment-page-1/#comment-1751 Dick Bourne Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:40:18 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2007/10/26/lamenting-the-loss-of-nicknames/#comment-1751 Great list, and a deserving choice at the top spot - “Chief Wahoo” McDaniel. Wahoo was part American Indian, and proud of his Choctaw/Chickasaw heritage. The nickname was passed on to him by his father, Hugh “Big Wahoo” McDaniel, a legend in the west Texas oil fields around Midland in the 1960s. McDaniel was called “Little Wahoo” by family and friends until grade school where he became simply known as Wahoo McDaniel. He was an all-state and all-American running back for Midland High School (TX) in 1956. In his senior yearbook, you’ll never find the name Edward McDaniel….he is listed throughout as “Wahoo” McDaniel. I think he still holds the record at Oklahoma for the longest punt, 91 yards against Iowa State in 1958. In 1964, his first year with the New York Jets (and the Jet’s first year at Shea Stadium), he made so many tackles in his first game, the public address announcer would say “Tackle by who?” and the crowd would respond “Wahoo!” The legend grew. After pro football, Wahoo McDaniel became one of the country’s top draws as a professional wrestler, most famous in Texas and the Carolinas, but wrestled in almost every regional territory in the country and held numerous regional, national, and world wrestling titles. Great list, and a deserving choice at the top spot – “Chief Wahoo” McDaniel. Wahoo was part American Indian, and proud of his Choctaw/Chickasaw heritage. The nickname was passed on to him by his father, Hugh “Big Wahoo” McDaniel, a legend in the west Texas oil fields around Midland in the 1960s. McDaniel was called “Little Wahoo” by family and friends until grade school where he became simply known as Wahoo McDaniel. He was an all-state and all-American running back for Midland High School (TX) in 1956. In his senior yearbook, you’ll never find the name Edward McDaniel….he is listed throughout as “Wahoo” McDaniel.

I think he still holds the record at Oklahoma for the longest punt, 91 yards against Iowa State in 1958. In 1964, his first year with the New York Jets (and the Jet’s first year at Shea Stadium), he made so many tackles in his first game, the public address announcer would say “Tackle by who?” and the crowd would respond “Wahoo!” The legend grew. After pro football, Wahoo McDaniel became one of the country’s top draws as a professional wrestler, most famous in Texas and the Carolinas, but wrestled in almost every regional territory in the country and held numerous regional, national, and world wrestling titles.

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