My dad passed along this story from the Toledo Blade today, noting that the Toledo Mud Hens, owners of one of the classic nicknames in sports history (with bonus points because of the history of the name that dates back decades before coming up with a random nickname and not letting it end in “s” became fashionable) have reserved the nicknames “Walleye” and “Woodpeckers” with hopes of landing an Arena League football team and/or an developmental league hoops team.

The Walleye name works. Them fishes are huge in the area, and I’d say the Maumee River is probably nationally known for its walleye season. Woodpeckers, though? I guess I can see it, but unfortunately, the contingency plans for alternative nicknames takes all creativity away from the reader:

Filings with the patent and trademark office also show that the Mud Hens are staking claims on “Woodpeckers” and its deviations — “Peckers” and “Peckerheads”— for an arena football franchise.

Really? Someone thinks they could get “Peckers” through? On the brightside, I know of a slightly used mascot costume they could use if they go that route….