Sawyers Day is back! Last season the Grand Valley State athletic department announced a Faux Back themed doubleheader for the men's and women's basketball teams. Grand Valley State changed its name from Lakers to Sawyers for one day, and the teams wore custom Adidas jerseys that played along with the Sawyers theme. Well, we are doing it again!  Our second ever Sawyers Day is set for the January 25^th games versus GLIAC foe Northern Michigan at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. Tip-off for the women's game is at 1pm, while the men's game will begin shortly after.
 
The name change pays homage to what could have been and brings the history of GVSU athletics to life, while also playing tribute to the Grand Rapids area logging community that once lived. During the second half of the 19th century, the city became a major lumbering center, processing timber harvested in the region. Logs were floated down the Grand River to be milled in the city and shipped via the Great Lakes. The city became a center of premier furniture-manufacturing in the United States and was nicknamed "Furniture City". 

Fans are encouraged to wear flannel to the games and use the hashtag #FearTheFlannel on social media to talk about the faux back phenomenon.
More details regarding this year's game day and festivities will become available following the new year. 

What is a Sawyer? A sawyer is like a lumberjack, someone who saws wood.

Why the Sawyers? In 1965, Grand Valley leaders asked the public to help choose a mascot; students would vote from six final names — Bruisers, Warriors, Bluejays, Ottawas, Archers and Voyagers. A late write-in vote, Lakers, was submitted by student Annie Kate McDonald. The Lakers won by 11 votes. In 1969, there was a push by students to change the mascot and proposed names included Sawyers. By that year, Grand Valley's eight athletic teams had uniforms printed with "Lakers" and support for the name change died down.