Long Beach State University's teams were the 49ers because the school was founded in 1949. On the campus was a massive stature of a gold-seeker named Prospector Pete. However, since the name "49ers" is somehow "racist," the name was dropped and Prospector Pete was removed, probably at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars that could have been used to buy computer equipment, library books, or something useful.
They had a contest for a new name for the team. My suggestion was 29ers because a cute girl who wore a 1929 hairdo once lived near the campus. However, the new name they adopted was the Sharks.
The SF 40 Kneelers.