Stevegarbs
- Mokena, IL
Mascot for University of Illinois?
- Status
I only know two people who have Native American ancestry. Both object to Native American imagery in sports. That is obviously a ridiculously small sample size, and I don't mean to suggest that this is the prevailing thought. I don't know what the prevailing thought is. But the objection by my two friends was sufficient for me to change my stance.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
We have a mascot and always will----------CHIEF ILLINIWEK
Mascots run around the sideline and throw tshirts into the crowd. Chief was a symbol.
And Chief isn't coming back, but I don't want a fuzzy creature that runs around the sideline high-fiving 7 year olds.
I have been championing for this for about a year. I was in Krush and there for his last dance. I love Chief and always will, but we are losing out on market opportunity and branding being without a symbol or mascot. My personal preference is something that I thing both sides of the aisle can rally around. The birthplace of the term "Fighting Illini" comes from when we were raising funds for Memorial stadium. I think that a WWI doughboy would be most fitting. I would love to figure how to contact the committee with this. Here are a few examples of images from google already out there:
Not a WWI doughboy, but I still like the imagery
Not a WWI doughboy, but I still like the imagery
Last edited:
So just when we're all basking in the goodwill of the Whitman and Lovie hires, we're going to blow all that up by bringing up the thing that divides this fanbase more than anything else.
Just in case Lovie made you forget, we're still Illinois.
Just in case Lovie made you forget, we're still Illinois.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Though people will spin it that way, this really doesn't have much to do with the Chief. This is about branding. It's about having a figure that can attend media events, and that kids can take pictures with. It's something that can be in commercials when Capitol One does its whole mascot thing.
I'll give you an example. I'm in Chicago and am running the B1G 10K in August. I went to the website to sign up and noticed this image:
No Illinois representation there (except maybe one cheerleader in the far right?). What would we currently put in this picture? Cheerleaders and...... more cheerleaders?
Personally, I'm with Dom above. I think the mascot should be a WWI soldier. It's something that already has a deep connection to the university and something that won't be scoffed at by long time fans who are now very skeptical (see the last 40 or so posts). Something along these lines:
My only concern with the soldier is that it won't be quite as warm and cuddly as the other mascots. Pretty tough to make a soldier cute without it becoming pretty farcical.
Another option I think would be something along the Flying Illini theme. Some sort of hawk or something. I'm less into that idea, but it would probably be easier to create a fuzzy mascot from that.
Generally, I'm on board with this because it's something that will help our marketing and give the kids (who don't have any connection to the Chief) something to get excited about. Does it do much for me personally? No.
I'll give you an example. I'm in Chicago and am running the B1G 10K in August. I went to the website to sign up and noticed this image:
No Illinois representation there (except maybe one cheerleader in the far right?). What would we currently put in this picture? Cheerleaders and...... more cheerleaders?
Personally, I'm with Dom above. I think the mascot should be a WWI soldier. It's something that already has a deep connection to the university and something that won't be scoffed at by long time fans who are now very skeptical (see the last 40 or so posts). Something along these lines:
My only concern with the soldier is that it won't be quite as warm and cuddly as the other mascots. Pretty tough to make a soldier cute without it becoming pretty farcical.
Another option I think would be something along the Flying Illini theme. Some sort of hawk or something. I'm less into that idea, but it would probably be easier to create a fuzzy mascot from that.
Generally, I'm on board with this because it's something that will help our marketing and give the kids (who don't have any connection to the Chief) something to get excited about. Does it do much for me personally? No.
Stevegarbs
- Mokena, IL
I would prefer to reserve mascots that evoke military imagery to the service academies and other related schools. Our connection to the doughboy, to me, is for the remembrance of the sacrifices of the Illini who fought in the first world war, and is not appropriate for consideration as a mascot.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Thanks, Matt.
I agree with you. We need to do something for marketing reasons, even though it will leave the older alums sort of cold.
And I'm an older alum myself, class of '78
Last edited:
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
Blue and Orange Man Group?
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
I agree 100%, plus I have a feeling that the SJW's out there will object to anything with the remotest connection to violence, ethnic and gender exclusivity, or political affiliation. Not to mention that the US Military is seen as a symbol of oppression/genocide by some of the same groups that object to the Chief.
How about UNC and there Ram
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
The Morrow Plot...?
I think we need to work in something to represent the West wind, when someone asks how we picked such a stupid mascot/mascot name it would at least be fun to explain it is because Indiana sucks & IA/MO blow.
I have been championing for this for about a year. I was in Krush and there for his last dance. I love Chief and always will, but we are losing out on market opportunity and branding being without a symbol or mascot. My personal preference is something that I thing both sides of the aisle can rally around. The birthplace of the term "Fighting Illini" comes from when we were raising funds for Memorial stadium. I think that a WWI doughboy would be most fitting. I would love to figure how to contact the committee with this. Here are a few examples of images from google already out there:
Not a WWI doughboy, but I still like the imagery
I like the bottom picture. To make it short, we've got the shield, may as
well do some type of Captain America knock off. Then at games have individuals from Illinois in the armed forces hold the shield etc. No gun needed so it would be hard to offend people that way.
My thought was some sort of captain America knock off as well. Use the shield. We have it now, so might as well use it and make it our thing.
I know I am in the minority on this one, but I believe we need to find a new nickname and mascot.
Future Walk-On
- Peoria, IL
We could get a female gargoyle to go with Bradley's Kaboom 
Thank you Orange. I have never actually seen or heard objection from anyone who has Native American ancestry so it is good to hear. I have never really had a strong opinion one way or the other but often thought that it might even hurt eliminating all of it because once it is gone it becomes forgotten. I've always felt that it was running away from heritage and should remain as long as it was not distasteful and disrespectful but my perception of what is distasteful and/or disrespectful probably differs as well.
- Status