Thank you. :thumb:
Mascot for University of Illinois?
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Thank you. :thumb:
Lovethechief78
- Bellevue, WA
Lovethechief78
- Bellevue, WA
I couldn't agree more. Very well said.
I'm sure it won't happen, but I would vote for the plan/agreement that the Council of Chiefs had with the Peoria Tribe about three years ago. But Chancellor unWise wouldn't even have a discussion about it with the parties involved - students, faculty, alumni, community etc..Dave Wisch. wrote about this today.
I couldn't agree more. Very well said.
I'm sure it won't happen, but I would vote for the plan/agreement that the Council of Chiefs had with the Peoria Tribe about three years ago. But Chancellor unWise wouldn't even have a discussion about it with the parties involved - students, faculty, alumni, community etc..Dave Wisch. wrote about this today.
Agreed. I think the Chief as he was was well-intentioned but ultimately not the best thing to continue to have going forward. But I absolutely think there is a way to work with local (hell even national) Native American organizations to bring back the Chief or a related mascot in a way that everyone can get behind.
And before people start complaining about the PC crowd, you're going to have people !!!!!ing about anything. But there's wiggle room between the Chief and an ear of corn for a mascot, and we'd be dumb not to explore it.
Agree. Having a Northern Plains Indian (and traditional enemy) represent the Eastern Woodlands tribes of Illinois is not a good reflection for an academic role model, and home of the author Dee Brown. But fixing the caricature to be a valid representation, while agreeable to me, seems unlikely. (A British Redcoat as the UMASS Minuteman? Tastefully done of course)
WOW!!!! I'm in shock. I believe you and the previous poster are the first ones that understood the actual historical context of our wrongdoing.:thumb: I'm not sure too many people understood the garb of our chief was more closely related to a consistent enemy tribe. I always felt there should have been a correction, but never understood why that option was totally disregarded ever since the contention first arose decades back.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Since just about everyone is carping about a mascot, why not a carp? Surely, the PC crowd won't have a problem with it. Illini-cize it, make it orange with blue eyes...BAM!
Here's my full letter to Barb and the president:
May 10, 2016
Dear President Killeen and Interim Chancellor Wilson:
I am sure you are familiar with the phrase “perception is reality.” I respectively ask you to consider that phrase and its meaning as you consider the implementation of a mascot at the University of Illinois. By way of introduction, I am a 1988 graduate of Illinois, a four year member of the Marching Illini and current member of the alumni band, a four year chimes player at Altgeld Hall, a former Illini club president, and an active member of the Illinois Connections program. I mention those connections to indicate my allegiance to and interest in the continued success of the University.
As you are already aware, the last decade or so has been a tough one for my alma mater in terms of public perception. Poor leadership, poor decision making, scandal, poor basketball and football results and other incidences have all had multiple opportunities to give the University a black eye in public perception. Rightly or wrongly, that perception has hurt the University in financial terms, in academic terms, and in general fan interest in the many valuable things the University offers the local, national and global communities.
Recently the chancellor announced the search for a first ever mascot. In her words the mascot will not be “demeaning or silly.” The president announced that it would “honor tradition.” I certainly have my own opinion about the lack of need for a mascot at Illinois, but I chose to educate myself about the issue by reading articles and listening to radio broadcasts devoted to the issue along with discussing it with fellow graduates, current students, and fans. I also went back and reviewed the campus poll conducted three years ago asking students to vote on their desire for a mascot. I came away from that brief analysis believing that while the intention may be good, the results will be divisive and negative.
All of my minor research tells me that if this mascot is introduced at a sporting event, the mascot will be soundly booed, and ridiculed. To use baseball terms, Interim Chancellor Wilson hit a home run with the hiring of Josh Whitman, and made it a grand slam with the subsequent hiring of Lovie Smith. After so much turmoil in our athletic department, and so much scandal and negative press about our administration, we finally had a great story out of Champaign for the world to hear.
At our first football game on September 3, we have a great story to tell the sporting world, which will reflect on the University as a whole. The broadcasters of that game can tell the world that we had problems, but that things are quickly on the mend and that there is a new buzz on campus. They can talk about our first African-American football coach, a super bowl coach, a person who is respected and admired by all who meet and know him. Or, we can tell a different story. We can have the announcers observe our new mascot and talk about how Illinois has once again shot itself in the foot, that the fans don’t want the new mascot, and then they can revive the discussion about Chief Illiniwek.
I believe you by now understand that I believe an institution with the prestige of Illinois has no need and no place for a mascot. We simply do not need one. The earlier announcement indicated that we need a mascot for “people to rally around.” I would point to our B1G brethren to completely discount this concept. Do we want our fans to be like Michigan football or Indiana basketball fans who somehow manage to limp along without a mascot? They seem to draw a decent crowd for their sporting events. Or do we want to be more like Northwestern, who does have a mascot, and despite football success has to lay tarps over bleachers for football games due to lackluster attendance? I think you can determine my answer to these rhetorical questions.
Please consider the perception of our great University. Please allow us one moment in the sun, where the world can think kindly about us. Please do NOT move forward with something that will do nothing more than divide our campus yet again. At the very least, conduct a survey and LISTEN to the results of students, fans, and alumni. The University deserves a good story.
Sincerely,
Illiniwek66, Class of 1988
Cc: Athletic Director Josh Whitman
Here's a mascot our bleeding-heart liberal administration would probably actually like:
Trippy McHippie ... A stoned, Birkenstock wearing beatnik who passes out flowers at sporting events. Before football games, he/she could stop by the U of I admin tailgate at Grange Grove and lead a group tree hug .
wettsten
- Chicago
Lady Lasagna
lasagna can be brutal:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...dealt-devastating-blow-by-food-poisoning.html
If you're going to make it Illinicized, that probably means turning the carp into one of the Asian carp that infiltrate the Illinois river. There's absolutely no possibility of offending anyone with stereotypes there, right?
The answer is clearly that we should seek out America's premiere mascot for hire: the legendary San Diego Chicken!
Does it make sense? No.
Will it make everyone happy? No.
Is it the best idea in this thread? Probably not.
Will it be more entertaining than whatever the school comes up with? Yes!!!
Does it make sense? No.
Will it make everyone happy? No.
Is it the best idea in this thread? Probably not.
Will it be more entertaining than whatever the school comes up with? Yes!!!
Here's a mascot our bleeding-heart liberal administration would probably actually like:
Trippy McHippie ... A stoned, Birkenstock wearing beatnik who passes out flowers at sporting events. Before football games, he/she could stop by the U of I admin tailgate at Grange Grove and lead a group tree hug .
A strawman can be anything you want!
You know, recently I read a published editorial that made an interesting suggestion for a UIUC symbol, as opposed to a mascot, and it really resonated with me. The term "Fighting Illini" gained popularity in or around 1923, when advertising was done, soliciting subscriptions and donations for Memorial Stadium. The phrase was something along the lines of "help us build this stadium so that we can honor our 'Fighting Illini,'" e.g. those 187 or so UIUC-connected people who lost their lives in the Great War of 1914-1918. Anyhow: the suggestion was to have a World War I-era "Doughboy" assume the place of the Chief. At halftimes of games, the symbolic portrayer would silently walk to mid-court / mid-field, go through the manual of arms, stand at attention, parade rest, while the band played the 3-in-1. And then, with all the dignity of the musical ceremony, continue the parade-ritual by leaving the field. It sounded extremely dignified to me, and while I know some posters don't like the concept of glorifying the military, in its original conception, that is / was the purpose of the phrase, "Fighting Illini", at least in its early-20th century incarnation (and, no, I don't know if it was popularized prior to that time). That phrase was certainly consonant with the "Memorial" portion of our football venue, and the "doughboy" would represent a hell-of-a dignified "symbol" for our university and alma mater (as opposed to the idea of a "mascot", the idea of which, to be quite frank, drives me dippy...to quote "Henry Blake", himself a notable UI alum). Of course, another thing to consider would be the degree to which such a symbol would come too close to copying the "Leatherneck" at Western, a similar symbolic concept....but, hey, it's just my two cents on the subject...ok, with inflation, it's my .0027 cents on the subject 
!!!
!!!
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Stevegarbs
- Mokena, IL
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
You know, recently I read a published editorial that made an interesting suggestion for a UIUC symbol, as opposed to a mascot, and it really resonated with me. The term "Fighting Illini" gained popularity in or around 1923, when advertising was done, soliciting subscriptions and donations for Memorial Stadium. The phrase was something along the lines of "help us build this stadium so that we can honor our 'Fighting Illini,'" e.g. those 187 or so UIUC-connected people who lost their lives in the Great War of 1914-1918. Anyhow: the suggestion was to have a World War I-era "Doughboy" assume the place of the Chief. At halftimes of games, the symbolic portrayer would silently walk to mid-court / mid-field, go through the manual of arms, stand at attention, parade rest, while the band played the 3-in-1. And then, with all the dignity of the musical ceremony, continue the parade-ritual by leaving the field. It sounded extremely dignified to me, and while I know some posters don't like the concept of glorifying the military, in its original conception, that is / was the purpose of the phrase, "Fighting Illini", at least in its early-20th century incarnation (and, no, I don't know if it was popularized prior to that time). That phrase was certainly consonant with the "Memorial" portion of our football venue, and the "doughboy" would represent a hell-of-a dignified "symbol" for our university and alma mater (as opposed to the idea of a "mascot", the idea of which, to be quite frank, drives me dippy...to quote "Henry Blake", himself a notable UI alum). Of course, another thing to consider would be the degree to which such a symbol would come too close to copying the "Leatherneck" at Western, a similar symbolic concept....but, hey, it's just my two cents on the subject...ok, with inflation, it's my .0027 cents on the subject
Fun fact, the character was a UI alum, the actor went to Northwestern. He wanted to wear the NU sweater, but it faded in the bright lights, much like the teams. (rim shot)
Stevegarbs
- Mokena, IL
I always wondered if his references to living in Bloomington, IL were a misunderstanding by the writers of the location of UIUC vs. ISU.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
This could be a lot of fun. "I'm afraid...." for penalties against the opponent and "I'm feeling better..." after a score or turnover to the benefit of the good guys. Plus, it would be calling greater attention to the great computer school at the UI.
McLean Stevenson was from Bloomington, so I believe his character was as well. I do remember episodes where he whistled Illinois Loyalty.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
That would be phenomenal. Turn a bad idea into something very clever and shine a spotlight on an academic discipline where we excel. Love it. Unfortunately, it'll never happen. Disclaimer: CS grad.
So great. Must do it.
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