The University of Missouri is in Columbia, and during the civil war, small towns were routinely raided by desperate soldiers and bandits during the war, and the people of Columbia were constantly on guard. To fight off possible raids, the community formed home guards. Rumors circulated that a guerrilla band led by Bill Anderson intended to rob the town. The citizens quickly organized and fortified the old courthouse in the town square. Apparently, Anderson's gang stayed away from Columbia on their plundering tour due to the reputation of Columbia's Tigers. When Missouri organized its first football team in 1890, the athletic department adopted the nickname Tigers as a tribute to these brave citizens who stood their ground.