Mascot for University of Illinois?

[Peoria Illini]

You may be on to something! Change the chief imagery with the doughboy

, and bring the image to life with a Captain America-esque mascot. Even the stripes on his uniform can be switched out for the stripes on the front of the new football jerseys (but more pronounced, like the Red Grange era jerseys).

Can he be a Chief Warrant Officer? That way we can still yell "CHIEEEEEFFFFF" and not be offensive to anyone... LOL

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

I think the only thing that would be remotely cool would be a soldier from WWI. That would cement "Fighting Illini" from ever being destroyed (IMO), and it truly would honor our "heritage." Not to mention, it would be pretty darn cool and unique. You could do it in a classy way (like the Chief) and not turn him into another lame Herky the Hawkeye.

 

[Sal Iacuzzo]

I'm anti-mascot but the WWI idea is the only thing I've heard so far that makes any sense.

 

[Peoria Illini]

I think the only thing that would be remotely cool would be a soldier from WWI. That would cement "Fighting Illini" from ever being destroyed (IMO), and it truly would honor our "heritage." Not to mention, it would be pretty darn cool and unique. You could do it in a classy way (like the Chief) and not turn him into another lame Herky the Hawkeye.

Agreed. BTW, cool logo Oskee67! Well done!

 

[Illwinsagain]

I think the only thing that would be remotely cool would be a soldier from WWI. That would cement "Fighting Illini" from ever being destroyed (IMO), and it truly would honor our "heritage." Not to mention, it would be pretty darn cool and unique. You could do it in a classy way (like the Chief) and not turn him into another lame Herky the Hawkeye.

After years of hoping for a comeback of the Chief, I finally came to this same conclusion. No dancing on the sidelines, just a half time, walk out the mid-filed/court and salute the flag. Stand at attention, until the music ends. Walk back to the locker room.

 

[Oskee67]

Agreed. BTW, cool logo Oskee67! Well done!

It is definitely a cool design, but, unfortunately, I'm not creative enough to come up with something like that. I've seen it posted on loyalty and around the interwebs in the past, so I just reposted it.

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

I attended undergrad commencement for Georgia Tech over the weekend (my daughter made it through!!!) and their silly mascot Buzz was at the ceremony, running around being stupid like it was a football game. It was only moderately annoying until s/he was performing distracting antics during the addresses by the university president and the keynote speaker--who happened to be the President of Panama (a Tech alumnus).

This is one of the reasons I don't like mascots. They're just not needed and they're an irritant to people over the age of 6 or who have a triple-digit IQ who want to enjoy the event.

And GET OFF MY LAWN!!!

 

[Illiini]

This is one of the reasons I don't like mascots.

And that's why Chief Illiniwek isn't a "mascot." People don't understand that. Even Chief Osceola with that whole flaming spear routine, regardless of the Seminole tribe's support, is less respectful.

And congrats for your daughter...and you STAY OFF MY LAWN, YOU NAUGHTY KIDS!

 

[Deleted member 29907]

Can he be a Chief Warrant Officer? That way we can still yell "CHIEEEEEFFFFF" and not be offensive to anyone... LOL

Nice

 

[Deleted member 16340]

After years of hoping for a comeback of the Chief, I finally came to this same conclusion. No dancing on the sidelines, just a half time, walk out the mid-filed/court and salute the flag. Stand at attention, until the music ends. Walk back to the locker room.

Maybe a gun salute by thr ROTC Cadets with in?

 

[Bleed O and B]

After years of hoping for a comeback of the Chief, I finally came to this same conclusion. No dancing on the sidelines, just a half time, walk out the mid-filed/court and salute the flag. Stand at attention, until the music ends. Walk back to the locker room.

I agree 110%.
Captain Illini ...a wwI image cements the real meaning of fighting illini in memorial stadium. He only comes out at half time. However he is part of the 3:1. Marches in front of the band and lead the fans in the singing. Can also be a logo for merchandise but no need for anyone to stand on the sideline for the whole game mugging for the camera

How do we get the momentum behind this before some bureaucrat makes the squirrel a mascot.
I'm not really a social media person, but I assume many here are....how do we get this "trending"!!!!!!!!

 

[bigtiny]

I like the WWI idea. What about combining the past (Chief) a bit with that. Native American language was used for code communication in both world wars. I wonder if some imagery of that - Native Americans in service in the World Wars - could be an updated image that hearkens back to the Chief and the inspiration of the Illini Nation.

 

[Mike]

My two cents:

Since we are named after the Illini indians, imo we need real Illini indian decendants to design us and sign off on a mascot that somehow connects us to our name without the pc police having a meltdown. Either that or just dont have a mascot.

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

My two cents:

Since we are named after the Illini indians, imo we need real Illini indian decendants to design us and sign off on a mascot that somehow connects us to our name without the pc police having a meltdown. Either that or just dont have a mascot.

Chief wasn't a mascot. We don't need a mascot.

 

[breadman]

No military worship. The columns are more than enough.
I'm with Ransom Stoddard: We don't need no stinkin' mascot.
It's simple: Bring back the Chief!!

 

[RedRocksIllini]

+1. I'm with you both. The Chief was never a mascot; he was a symbol. We don't need any mascot. Just bring back the Chief.

Huh? A mascot is a symbol. He wasn't the cartoonish buffoon type that one might ordinarily associate with the current use of the word mascot (Phillie Phanatic, San Diego Chicken, White Sox Southpaw, etc etc) but per the below definitions of the word, I have a tough time seeing how The Chief was not a mascot.

Definition of mascot (from Merriam-Webster):

A person, animal, or object adopted by a group as a symbolic figure especially to bring them good luck. The team had a mountain lion as their mascot.

From the Cambridge English Dictionary:

A person, animal, or object used as a symbol and believed to bring good luck.

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

Huh? A mascot is a symbol. He wasn't the cartoonish buffoon type that one might ordinarily associate with the current use of the word mascot (Phillie Phanatic, San Diego Chicken, White Sox Southpaw, etc etc) but per the below definitions of the word, I have a tough time seeing how The Chief was not a mascot.

Definition of mascot (from Merriam-Webster):

A person, animal, or object adopted by a group as a symbolic figure especially to bring them good luck. The team had a mountain lion as their mascot.

From the Cambridge English Dictionary:

A person, animal, or object used as a symbol and believed to bring good luck.

Per every press release, university document, interview, etc. Chief Illiniwek was always referred to by the University as a symbol, not a mascot. This was a significant talking point during the entire time there was opposition to the Chief. For those who were in the Greek system, it was probably ingrained into them (I know it was for us in the 80's) that Chief was not a mascot and should not be referred to as such.

Mascots are fuzzy and do stupid crap on the sidelines. Chief only ever appeared at games when he was an official part of the university, and maybe a few other official functions, and only with the band if memory serves. Chief did not interact with fans, pose for unofficial photos, or anything else "mascot-like."

Chief also isn't coming back, ever IMO, but the U of I doesn't need a mascot.

 

[RedRocksIllini]

Per every press release, university document, interview, etc. Chief Illiniwek was always referred to by the University as a symbol, not a mascot. This was a significant talking point during the entire time there was opposition to the Chief. For those who were in the Greek system, it was probably ingrained into them (I know it was for us in the 80's) that Chief was not a mascot and should not be referred to as such.

Mascots are fuzzy and do stupid crap on the sidelines. Chief only ever appeared at games when he was an official part of the university, and maybe a few other official functions, and only with the band if memory serves. Chief did not interact with fans, pose for unofficial photos, or anything else "mascot-like."

Chief also isn't coming back, ever IMO, but the U of I doesn't need a mascot.

I guess I'm just old school and still hang on to the idea that words actually mean something. The Chief was very much a mascot based on the definition of the word. The Chief was a symbol that represented the University and the Athletic Department in particular. The statement I bolded in your response
makes that pretty clear. There even seems to be some belief that The Chief brought us luck (curse of The Chief?).

There is nothing in the definition of the word mascot that implies "fuzzy" or "does stupid crap". A university could have a banana slug working out complex equations on the sidelines of their games. If that slug is a symbol of the university and maybe brings the team good luck then it is a mascot.

I get that UI did not want Chief to be considered a mascot. But all their PR does not change the definition of the word. Or maybe I just need to get with the times and accept that, no matter how false or insane the talking point, if it is repeated enough, it becomes the truth if enough people are willing to go along.

 

[riffraff]

I guess I'm just old school and still hang on to the idea that words actually mean something. The Chief was very much a mascot based on the definition of the word. The Chief was a symbol that represented the University and the Athletic Department in particular. The statement I bolded in your response

makes that pretty clear. There even seems to be some belief that The Chief brought us luck (curse of The Chief?).



There is nothing in the definition of the word mascot that implies "fuzzy" or "does stupid crap". A university could have a banana slug working out complex equations on the sidelines of their games. If that slug is a symbol of the university and maybe brings the team good luck then it is a mascot.



I get that UI did not want Chief to be considered a mascot. But all their PR does not change the definition of the word. Or maybe I just need to get with the times and accept that, no matter how false or insane the talking point, if it is repeated enough, it becomes the truth if enough people are willing to go along.

Unfortunately, that is exactly how language evolves.

 

[RedRocksIllini]

Unfortunately, that is exactly how language evolves.

Yes, that's true. I was being rather facetious. However, as far as I can tell, the definition of "mascot" has not evolved in any substantial way. If people want to somehow convince themselves that The Chief is not a mascot, great. Hopefully our marketing folks can work up some talking points on all our wonderful past football national championships so we can embrace that reality too.

 

[laillini]

Mascot

Professor Barnes should stay in her "safe space" far away from Memorial Stadium if the music offends her. It's unfortunate that Josh Whitman has to even waste his time having to deal with such lunacy.
It's political correctness gone amuck. Since when did she get appointed as the "thought police"?

Do you know what the word Oklahoma means?... It means - "Red men". The Sooners need to change the name of their state... Pretty stupid huh?


The Chief is the symbol of the University of Illinois and it will always be the Chief. He was revered, never humiliated or made fun of.


Sure maybe they will come up with a "mascot' but we all know who represents the Illini.

 

[lexwaldez]

Wow...

Yes. I'm sure the Prof. Barnes and her colleagues are the fans we're looking for at the football game each weekend...

LOLOLOLOL

I'm afraid the sport might be rather upsetting to her. I think she should probably stick to badmitten or Krannert. Nothing wrong with badmitten or Krannert, just don't see why someone who never HAS purchased a seat and probably never WILL purchase a seat determines what I'll see at the game.

Whatever. I don't care at this point... I just want to see the team do well in a year or two. But honestly, if we're going to give everything these asshats want can we lower academic eligibility to NCAA minimums please? We're Illinois, academics bla bla bla. No point making this more difficult than it needs to be. We wave academic eligibility requirements all the time for lower income kids from the wrong side of Chicago, we have tutoring, we have admin staff dedicated to these kids... why can't we do same for underprivileged kids that happen to be great at football? Just saying... grumble grumble grumble.

Who even wants to sit in a section full of faculty anyway? Are they going to petition to get wine and cheese served in the stadium too? No wait... vegan brats. I can see it now. How about diversity seminars out in the tailgate lots?

 

[CaptainHindsight]

I am please to tell you I have solved the mascot issue for the University. After attending the Ball State victory, my group was chatting in the parking lot when someone shared a story with me. The punchline of the story was the line "You can't stop the Harvest". This hit me as the perfect mascot for the University. "The Harvest". Its perfect on many levels.

-The Harvest embraces our past as an Agricultural university. No other school that I am aware of uses The Harvest as a name. It would be 100% identifiable to the University Illinois from the start.

-"The Harvest" is a 100% PC, non-offensive name. There is nothing -ist about The Harvest (racist, sexist, etc)

-The Harvest has lots of imagery that can be used for marketing. From a golden field with the sun setting behind it, to the edgy grim reaper for the students, there is something there for all markets.

-Mascot would be a big orange tractor that comes out at half time to mow down a replica of whoever we are playing that game. This works perfectly with almost all the big ten universities ... Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, Purdue ... The tractor would have a large train horn to get the crowd going.

-People already consider the University to be "county", so lets swerve into it and own it. -Nothing we do will change the perception of Chicago folks that we aren't country, so lets embrace it.

-State FARM Center fits with The Harvest word play...

-The puns are endless for the media / announcers. How's the Harvest look on the field? Big gain there from The Harvest. Are you ready for Harvest Hoops season? Looking for a big year from The Harvest. Possibilities are endless ...

-You have the built in cheer of "You can't stop The Harvest!".

-Only real downside is how do we include "Fighting Illini" into all this.... to be figured out.

-University of Illinois Illini Harvest has a nice ring to it.

I have ran this idea past several illini friends of mine and everyone seems to come away liking it. I think we have a winner with The Harvest. I hope you agree.

You can't stop the harvest! Go Illini!

 

[icengineer]

lol

 

[OrangeSoda]

That is the corniest thing I have ever heard. Pun intended.

If the mascot is ever changed it will be the doughboy no doubt.