The Kingfisher

[whatahack]

You could dress up a worm with an Iowa jersey or whatever and the bird could attack it

 

[Deleted member 29907]

This day and age is all about cute and cuddly. Little babies, dressed in their orange and blue onesies, should want to hug and cuddle with Mama Kingfisher, in all her orange and blue splendor.

The proportional 3 ft long sharp beak could be a problem.... not sure why we just wouldn't go with an (orange and) blue marlin and go all out.

 

[McBrush]

So only 7,819 students voted? This was open to all the students on campus correct? Seems like the university could use a better way to get the student's opinion on campus.

 

[GraingerDanger]

So only 7,819 students voted? This was open to all the students on campus correct? Seems like the university could use a better way to get the student's opinion on campus.

All the students had the opportunity and ability to vote. I don't think that it's the university's fault that the majority don't seem to care one way or the other on this issue.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

I don't think that it's the university's fault that the majority don't seem to care one way or the other on this issue

Actually speaks really well of the students

 

[ChocolateThunder]

With that mascot there is good change the team would be referred to in the media as the Kingfishers.
I think that would set the program back decades.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

With that mascot there is good change the team would be referred to in the media as the Kingfishers

This would never happen.

 

[BMoreIllini]

With that mascot there is good change the team would be referred to in the media as the Kingfishers.
I think that would set the program back decades.

Does anyone refer to the Miami Hurricanes as the Ibises or the Iowa State Cyclones as the Cardinals?

 

[Homecoming 2019]

Does anyone refer to the Miami Hurricanes as the Ibises or the Iowa State Cyclones as the Cardinals?

Alabama Elephants, Stanford Trees. The list goes on.

 

[DrewD007]

With that mascot there is good change the team would be referred to in the media as the Kingfishers.
I think that would set the program back decades.

View attachment 5858

Virginia Tech Turkeys or whatever the hell it is.

 

[ChocolateThunder]

This would never happen.

Yet there the No. 11 Bluejays were Saturday, the players mobbed by court-storming students after a 77-60 victory over No. 8 Seton Hall. Moments later, the banner was unfurled from the rafters on the north end of the arena.

• Blackbirds.
• Blue Jays.
• Cardinals.
• Ducks.
• Gamecocks.
• Gulls.
• Herons.
• Larks.

and lets not forget the Great Lake Loons

It could happen _

 

[Krush 2010]

Alabama Elephants, Stanford Trees. The list goes on.

I do refer to Stanford as the trees sometimes. And Indiana State for that matter. But it is tongue in cheek.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

I consider myself a pretty outdoorsy fella. In my 45 years, I've lived in the East, West, Central and Southern parts of Illinois. I've visited the Northern part many times.
I've never seen this bird.

 

[Hoppy2105]

I consider myself a pretty outdoorsy fella. In my 45 years, I've lived in the East, West, Central and Southern parts of Illinois. I've visited the Northern part many times.
I've never seen this bird.

Which is exactly how the Kingfisher wants it.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

Yet there the No. 11 Bluejays were Saturday,

 

[AustinIllini]

I do refer to Stanford as the trees sometimes. And Indiana State for that matter. But it is tongue in cheek.

I wouldnt mind referring to it as the bird. We could then flip the bird at teams like Iowa and indiana.

 

[TMC999]

Some days you’re the kingfisher, some days you’re the Alma Mater.

 

[Deleted member 656517]

If we make a stupid asz bird our mascot it’d be a national article that everyone will rip on and make fun of. I‘d prefer not to be the laughing stock of college sports. It’s either Chief or nothing period... And since the US can’t get anymore pc I’ll go with the latter

 

[1970 John]

If the Fighting Illini is meant to pay homage for the WWI soldiers, then I think that's a worthy symbol.

Again, we were using Illini in 1872 when the student newspaper, The Student, was replaced by The Illini. We were Illini that early. “Fighting” was added after WWI. The Native American had already been firmly established by then, with a Chief’s head in profile used in stadium fundraising. That didn’t appear out of thin air.

You can’t separate Illini from Native Americans. You can pretend but it just ain’t so. And those who got rid of the Chief won’t rest until all Native American imagery is eradicated from the university in some bizarre recreation of the Indian Wars.

If you want to save Fighting Illini you need to embrace its full meaning and find a way to make it unimpeachable. Or be ready to be five ounce birds.

 

[Chilliniwek]

Hear me out please? I'm on board with the Kingfisher for a couple of reasons and this could be a great opportunity to bring the Chief back in a subtle way. If you don't know the St. Joseph's Hawk and its story, watch the first link. If you do, go to the second link. Can you see the Kingfisher doing the Chief's dance? I can.

https://www.ncaa.com/video/basketba...ions-saint-josephs-hawk-will-never-die-mascot

 

[Epsilon]

If we make a stupid asz bird our mascot it’d be a national article that everyone will rip on and make fun of. I‘d prefer not to be the laughing stock of college sports. It’s either Chief or nothing period... And since the US can’t get anymore pc I’ll go with the latter

Russian troll?

 

[1970 John]

You could dress up a worm with an Iowa jersey or whatever and the bird could attack it

The kingfisher eats little fish. You know, little fish in the big pond. Cream puffs too, probably.

 

[Poe's Law]

As long as we are still the Fighting Illini, I don’t care what they have flying around the stadium. (Or on the sidelines)

If they change our name, though, I’ll join whatever movement puts a stop to it.

(And, IMO, that is not a far fetched idea...in the next few years, someone WILL try to take away the Fighting Illini name again)

time is a flat circle

 

[1970 John]

If we make a stupid asz bird our mascot it’d be a national article that everyone will rip on and make fun of. I‘d prefer not to be the laughing stock of college sports. It’s either Chief or nothing period... And since the US can’t get anymore pc I’ll go with the latter

I can imagine my friends from other B1G schools laughing. Oh, the humility. Yeah, even the Big Rodent people. But I’m thinking of one Michigan State fan who will razz me unmercifully.

Are you ready for Hawkeye fans to make fun of you? Their hawk is going to eat your little five-ounce bird for breakfast and poop its bones before lunch. Never mind that “Hawkeye” honors a Native American chief of some renown, Black Hawk. I’m surprised the p.c. crowd hasn’t latched onto that yet. Maybe we should let them know. Hey, Jay Rosenstein...

So go ahead and make Kingfish your mascot and get ready to be laughed out of arenas and stadia even when we win. Please, don’t fall for this.

 

[Illwinsagain]

Hear me out please? I'm on board with the Kingfisher for a couple of reasons and this could be a great opportunity to bring the Chief back in a subtle way. If you don't know the St. Joseph's Hawk and its story, watch the first link. If you do, go to the second link. Can you see the Kingfisher doing the Chief's dance? I can.

https://www.ncaa.com/video/basketba...ions-saint-josephs-hawk-will-never-die-mascot

Thank you for the video of Chief's last dance. My daughter is a freshman at UI and thinks that the Chief was racist. I have tried to explain the love and respect for Chief, that he was a symbol, not a mascot, but she just sees a suburban white boy dancing around in a costume. (no offense meant to anyone, I was a suburban white boy) Watching this video brought tears to my eyes. I forwarded to her, hopefully she will see the emotion. Won't likely work, but, I can't let it go.