Mascots: The Nittany Lion is accounted for,
Bob Magnan
National On-campus Report
What's in a name? According to
Shakespeare, a rose by any other name
would smell as sweet - and have just as
many thorns. But what about the names
colleges choose for their teams and the
mascots that represent them? Now, that's
a different story.
Mascots tend to be animals: The
world of college mascots is teeming
with lions and tigers and bears - and
other such ferocious beasts.
Some schools are particular, with an
animal representative of the state or
region: the University of Michigan
Wolverines, the University of Arkansas
Razorbacks, the University of Florida
Gators, and the University of Texas
Longhorns - to name only a few. But
what region do the Nittany Lions
represent? Are they indigenous to the
Pennsylvania State University campus?
And for regional animals, you can't beat
the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kangaroos. No geography majors at
UMKC, it seems.
These are all some tough critters. But
what about the Texas Christian
University Horned Frogs? It's enough to
strike fear in the hearts of ... the
University of Oregon Ducks, the
University of South Carolina
Gamecocks, the University of Maryland
Terrapins, or the Temple University
Owls!
Some push their animal instincts
into unusual realms. For instance, take
the Evergreen State College (Wash.)
geoducks. Webster says it's a large edible
clam with siphons several feet long, that
lives deep in the sandy mud along the
Pacific coast. Maybe so, but it makes
one ugly mascot.
Then there are schools that bug their
opponents with six- and eight-legged
mascots. We find for example, the
Kalamazoo College Hornets, the
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets, and the University of
Richmond Spiders.
Some nicknames are serendipitous.
For example, the University of
Wisconsin-Stevens Point decided on the
obvious - Pointers. But what if the
campus had been located a few miles
away in Junction City - the Junkers?
There are some interesting regional
representatives. A few favorities: the
University of North Carolina Tarheels,
the University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Runnin' Rebels (running far from the
Old South!) and the West Virginia
University Mountaineers.
But sometimes regionalism can raise
questions. Are there still Boilermakers
around Purdue University? Can the
Buckeyes of Ohio State University
terrify anyone? (And how does a horse
chestnut overcome its adversaries
anyway?) And why the Hoosiers for
Indiana University? What's a Hoosier
anyway? Webster says "an awkward,
unhandy or unskilled person, an ignorant
rustic." Now that's a mascot to inspire
students to greater heights!
Some mascots are historic artifacts.
Michigan State University continues the
jury still out on many others
file photo
George Young, Coordinator of the PSH Residence Living Program, and Brian
Humble, former Assistant Coordinator, visit the Nittany Lion Shrine at University
Park in this 1988 photo.
Penn State's mascot is named for the mountain lion that roamed Mt
Nittany and Nittany Valley near the University Park campus before Penn
State was founded in 1855.
Spartan tradition after 2000 years - but
where are the archrival Athenians? - and
the University of Southern California
keeps Trojans on our minds.
But why should history be limited to
facts, when it can be rewritten on the
playing fields? For example, we have the
Beloit College Buccaneers: Just how
close did pirates actually get to south
central Wisconsin? And the University
of Idaho Vandals? When you're done
conquering Europe, got to Moscow ...
Idaho?
Another point: nobody wants a
wimpy mascot. At least not at the
University of Central Florida. Recently
student government leaders at UCF have
been pushing to replace the current Mac
the Knight - who has an image problem
since a recent ad campaign for a national
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fast-food chain - with Knightstalker, a
big burly individual with spikes on his
shoulders and a big club.
A few recent name changes have been
in response to charges of racism, as
when the University of Wisconsin-La
Crosse changed from "Indians" to
"Eagles." At their cousin campus, in
Whitewater, the Warhawks have been in
hot water to change their name. Last
year, St. John's University and
Northeastern State University replaced
their Indian mascots as well, while St.
Mary's College (Minn.) Cardinals
dropped their nickname, Redmen.
Other schools have had problems
with another type of mascot - the
satanic. Some people have voiced
opposition to such mascots as the Blue
Devils of Duke University or the
November 15, 1989, CAPITAL TIMES
Arizona State University Sun Devils. If
Duke can't convince critics that blue
devils are just a type of flower, maybe
they might be converted to another
inspiration, along the lines of the Mount
Senario College (Wis.) Fighting Saints.
Or join the ranks of the Crusaders - with
the College of the Holy Cross,
Valparaiso University and a small army
of others.
How about mascots that are really
wild, dangerous, out of control? We're
talking about the weather - and we can't
do anything about the University of
Miami Hurricanes or the lowa State
University Cyclones. Then there's the
awesome force of the sea in the
University of Alabama Crimson Tide.
But Mother nature turns from power to
peacock with the University of Hawaii
Rainbows. Go, 'Bows, go!
No matter what mascot is chosen,
there's always the question of live
performances at sporting events and
rallies. The Lakeland College (Wis.)
Muskies can dress a fan in fins and
scales - or opt for a large aquarium and
the real thing. But what costume can
you devise for a Hurricane.
If you decide to go with a real
animal, there may be problems. The
death last year of Shasta V, the cougar at
the University of Houston, has split the
campus community. The Alumni
Association wants to replace Shasta,
while the Faculty Senate has voted to
oppose replacement. And if dorms don't
allow cats or dogs, is campus really a
good home for a cougar?
But perhaps the biggest problems for
most of us are philosophical. What are
the Georgetown University Hoyas
anyway? Are they related to the Virginia
Tech Hokies? And what about the St.
Louis University Billikens - animal
vegetable, or mineral? But such names
have a certain obscure charm.
What about colleges in other
countries? In Japan we find the Doshiba
University Hamburgers. Hmmm ... it
probably loses something in the
translation.