The official nickname of all Pottsville Area High School athletic teams is the Crimson Tide.

Pottsville was first called the Crimson Tide in 1943 in a recap after a game with Allentown High School.

Through the years Pottsville has been known by several other nicknames:
       Crimson Terrors – 1935
       Crimson Wave – 1937
       Crimson Tide – 1943
       Crimson Warriors, Crimson Tide, Crimson Wave – 1945
       Bulldogs, Fighting Bulldogs, Crimson Tide – 1946
       Crimson Bulldogs – 1947
       Big Red, Bulldogs – 1964

The 1901 team was the first PHS team to wear the same uniform. Crimson and white stocking and crimson, turtle-neck sweaters with white waist bands, white cuffs and a white turtle-neck border. The uniforms were purchased with fund raised by students from cake and candy sales. All 16 members of the team wore the same uniform.