On a December day, excitement pulsed through the halls of Springbrook. Excitement that did not involve the cheery holiday season, the newest fashion trends, or the latest drama. It was excitement that would change the identity of Springbrook forever.

In the  Joseph Bierman gymnasium, students swarmed in, eager and ready to nominate their mascot.  The only thing left to do was write on their ballot “Blue Devil” or “Saint”.

This day was not just any special occasion or a typical pep rally. This day was the day that Springbrook’s identity would be created.

Going back 54 years, Springbrook could have been the Springbrook “Saints” rather than Springbrook “Blue Devils”, at the other end of the mascot spectrum. Though the school officially opened on Dec. 5 of 1960, it still needed  a mascot and matching colors.

The now beloved Columbia and dark blue colors to match the “Blue Devil” could have been purple and white to complement the “Saints”.

According to alumnus Robert Harmon (‘65), “They had nominations for the mascot, and people submitted different names. And the two names that surfaced on the final ballot were the Springbrook Blue Devils and the Springbrook Saints.”

The top choices completely contrasted one another. Many appreciated the alliteration of the Springbrook Saints while others liked the Blue Devil because of the current popularity of the Duke University’s Blue Devils.

Similar to an election, Harmon explained that posters and flyers were placed around the school instructing students to vote for their favorite mascot.

“All of the students rallied to one side or another, there were posters all over the school, and the students would decide,” Harmon said.

After the selection was made, a mascot still needed to be created. Class of ‘64 alumnus Gary Marathon designed the Blue Devil that was originally painted onto the gymnasium floor. This Blue Devil had a rounded face, curved horns and had an entirely different appearance than the current mascot.

The school also needed official names for yearbook and newspaper publications. Students thought it would be clever to have the newspaper be the “Blueprint” to match the color of the Blue Devil. Students then decided that the yearbook would be named the “Trident” to go along with the trident that the Blue Devil carries.

Could you imagine being the purple and white Springbrook Saints, rather than the beloved Columbia and light blue? We definitely made the right choice, Springbrook Blue Devils.