Why is our Club Name Old White?

[Michael Aaron]

Why is our name Old White? How did we get it and what does it mean? I
have been thinking about this for a while and wanted to see what some
guys thought about the name. Feel free to reply with any insights you
might have.

For a brief history lesson on the club and the naming you can read
here (3rd Paragraph):
http://www.atlantarugby.com/abouttheclub/owhistory.html

When ever wearing the Old White Rugby shirt, often I get the question,
series of questions, or the bewildered stare in which the person is
thinking, "What does Old White mean? Is he being racist?" The
confusion party arises from a Black guy wearing a white shirt, that
says Old White in black. At any rate, I've started to create a generic
response to the look or the questions:

"When the founding fathers of Atlanta Rugby came together they wanted
to give us a name that had a legacy and tradition behind it. In
following suit from the All Blacks of New Zealand, Old Blue of New
York, Old Grey of Columbia, SC, and Old Red of DC, they named the club
Old White of Atlanta and that is how we got our name."

I was also thinking that Old White now thirty years later could have a
more deeper meaning. With our symbol the Phoenix, which is also the
bird on the seal of Atlanta, I think that Old White could be the name
of the Phoenix that rises out of the ashes. Our passion on the pitch
and off for rugby burn in our hearts "White" hot and we are the Old
White: born anew from the white hot flames of our will to win every
time we take the field.

That doesn't sound so racist.