Based on the proposed names for the University 50+ years ago I don't know if they could have done much better than they did by picking "Wright State University." Of all the suggested names few, if any, had a recognizable name to people outside of southwest Ohio. About the only 2 names that would have let people quickly identify where the university is located was either "Dayton State University" or "The State University of Ohio at Dayton." The use of the former--Dayton State--was adamantly opposed by...hold on...you probably guessed it...the University of Dayton. At the time Gov. Rhodes was actively referring to the proposed campus as "Dayton State." So, UD president,Raymond A. Roesch, wrote to Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Millett expressing his strong opposition to the name and Rhodes' continued use.
The mascot and related image is, in my opinion, wrong. It has no connection to the original intent of naming the University in a manner that reflects upon the community or its heritage. It's my understanding the nickname, colors, and mascot (different ones) have all been chosen in later years by the students. Perhaps our current identity issues are just another example why 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22-year-old kids shouldn't be given too much authority that has long-lasting implications.
As far as the choice of name, here's how that went down (Founding and Fulfillment : 1964-1984, Wright
State University, Dayton, Ohio
Charles W. Ingler):
On or about March 1, 1965, state Senators Charles W
Whalen, Jr., of Dayton, and Max H. Dennis, of Greene County,
introduced Senate Bill No. 210. The bill established a university to-be,
to be known temporarily as the "Dayton Campus of Miami
and The Ohio State Universities."
The two senators, seeking to bring order, formed a Name
Advisory Committee of sixteen members, with S. C. Allyn as
chairer and Oelman as one of the members. Oelman was especially
active in persuading the senators to use the name "Wright
Brothers University." (By amendment it was ultimately changed
to "Wright State University," and that was the name used in the
bill ultimately passed.)
In their letter of March 24 to Oelman the senators state their
main reason for the choice as being:
Briefly, it was the consensus of our sixteen committee
appointees that the name "Wright Brothers"
not only is associated with Miami Valley, but also is
linked with the greatest scientific achievement in
the twentieth century. Thus, as a number of the Name
Advisory Committee members pointed out, "Wright
Brothers" is a name known throughout the world.
Below are the list of potential names the committee selected over to get to Wright State.
Air Base State University
Montgren University
Air Cities State University
Mound University
Airway State University
Ohio Western State University
Allyn State University
Southwestern University
Ankeney State University
Billy Mitchel University
Oxford Regional University
Buckakin University
Rhodes State University
Buckeye State University
Robin State University
Celestial Heights University
Rolling Hills University
Dahio State University
Shawnee State University
Dayborn State University
Dayton State University
Skyway State University
Delta State University
Southern University
Dennis State University
Southwestern University
Dwight Young University
Edison State University
Southwestern Ohio
Fairborn State University
Taft State University
Fairday State University
Taft University
Four Rivers University
Tecumseh State University
Grange Hall University
The State University of Ohio at Dayton
Greene-Mont State University
Trebein Hall University
Hawthorne State University
John F. Kennedy University
University of Southern Ohio
Mad River University
University of Southwestern Ohio
Mad River State University
Martin Luther King University
Western Valley State
Maumee University
Megacity State University
Whatsamatta University
Midwestern State University
Wilbur Orville Wright University
Miova State University
Montgomery University
Wright Brothers University
Wright-Patterson University
Wright University
Wright View University
88-County State University
Wright State University