C-O-B-B-E-R-S: What’s that Spell?

A Post from the Past: Concordia students have had many nicknames, including the Concordians, Corncobs, Corncobbers, Lutherans, Lutefiskers, and eventually the Cobbers.

While “Cobber” has been used for more than 80 years, its exact origins are not certain.

Legend states that Concordia was surrounded by a cornfield in its early days. Because Concordia was located in the country, fields were likely part of the landscape; however, at the time of Concordia’s founding, Bogstad stated, “There was scarcely even a trace of a cornfield in the Red River Valley…and certainly none in the vicinity of Concordia College.”[1]

While the cornfield derivation is debatable, records do confirm that the students from Hope Academy, a Swedish Lutheran school and rival, played a direct role in creating Concordia’s moniker.

When Academy Hall was first built as a men’s dormitory, it also housed Commercial Hall – a room in the basement used for events. At the time, Concordia students performed literary entertainments that were well attended by the community. Unable to excel in similar endeavors, Hope Academy students were jealous and interrupted Concordia’s events with the following chant:

          “Corncobs! Corncobs!

          Hva’ ska’ Ni ha?

          Lutefisk and Lefse –

          Yah! Yah! Yah!” 

At once such event for Lincoln’s Birthday in 1893, the Swedes ambushed the program by tampering with the electric lights and yelling their chant outside the building. As a result, the Corncobs anticipated a similar attack for Washington’s Birthday celebration and planned to retaliate. When alerted that the Swedes had arrived, the “Norwegians ambushed the Swedes, who were left knee-deep in the mud of a ravine located near present-day Prexy’s Pond.”[2] Bogstad suggests that the Swedes created “corn cob” from the initials of Concordia College.

In the early 1920s, students were distraught due to the lack of a “definite and satisfactory name.”[3] In 1923, Vikings was suggested as a proper nickname because of the Norwegian ancestry connection; however, the name was never adopted. Increasingly, “Cobbers” was used for Concordia athletic teams. A sportswriter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead first used the term in 1923, but the name was only slowly adopted on campus. According to Erling Rolfsrud, The Concordian did not regularly use the term until 1928. Consistent use of the name did not occur until 1932 when the yearbook changed its name from Scout to Cobber.

The Cobber name has earned national recognition as one of the most unusual monikers both on ESPN and in the L.A. Times. While the name is undoubtedly unique, Concordia students have grown proud and fond of the Cobber name despite its origins as an insult from rivaling Swedes.

– Contributed by Lisa Sjoberg, College Archivist


[1] Rasmus Bogstad, Concordia College through Fifty Years (n.p., n.d.), 179.

[2]  Carroll Engelhardt, On Firm Foundation Grounded: The First Century of Concordia College (Moorhead, MN: Concordia College, 1991), 30.

[3]  Erling Rolfsrud, Cobber Chronicle (Moorhead, MN: Concordia College, 1976), 91.