Mascot debate

#1      

logjam

logjam
logjam
It has started bothering me we don't have a viable mascot yet. No otter or kingfisher for me. I'm submitting a few thoughts.......The Coyotes, they are all over the state.....or The Predators would look great on a helmut, liked the movie..... or The Raptors, would look good on a uniform....last one The Pitbulls .....Also we can add fighting to any of the suggestions. Let's handle this as a board for the University!
 
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#2      

nbc11

N
nbc11
logjam said:
It has started bothering me we don't have a viable mascot yet. No otter or kingfisher for me. I'm submitting a few thoughts.......The Coyotes, they are all over the state.....or The Predators would look great on a helmut, liked the movie..... or The Raptors, would look good on a uniform....last one The Pitbulls .....Also we can add fighting to any of the suggestions. Let's handle this as a board for the University!
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No.
 
#4      

sbillini

sbillini
st petersburg, fl
sbillini
Before we run down this rabbit hole again, can we all make sure we're on the same page? I think not defining what we're talking about has been an issue in the past. By "mascot" what do we mean?

1. Does the team name change (do we get rid of fighting illini and replace it with something else)?
2. Does the team logo change (i.e. replace the block "I" with something)?
3. If not official logo, will this "mascot" be on official merchandise as the an official "symbol" of the university and/or athletic dept, just not the primary one?
4. If none of the above, then will it just be a dressed up character that dances around at games but generally not used in any other way (e.g. Purdue Pete style)?
 
#5      

Zoelltron

Zoelltron
Zoelltron
sbillini said:
Before we run down this rabbit hole again, can we all make sure we're on the same page? I think not defining what we're talking about has been an issue in the past. By "mascot" what do we mean?

1. Does the team name change (do we get rid of fighting illini and replace it with something else)?
2. Does the team logo change (i.e. replace the block "I" with something)?
3. If not official logo, will this "mascot" be on official merchandise as the an official "symbol" of the university and/or athletic dept, just not the primary one?
4. If none of the above, then will it just be a dressed up character that dances around at games but generally not used in any other way (e.g. Purdue Pete style)?
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#4, please.
 
#7      

The Galloping Ghost

The Galloping Ghost
Washington, DC
The Galloping Ghost
#4 and make it something like this guy:
giphy-2.gif

There are no reasons to stop using Illini. And if we change our name to something generic like coyotes, raptors, predators, or friggin' pitbulls I will freak out.
 
#10      

TheBattleAward

T
TheBattleAward
How about something clever?

Fighting Farmers
Harvesters. A combine for a logo.
Downstaters
Staleys

These aren't all that clever, I'm relying on you folks for that
 
#11      

Go Nats 88 Illini

Go Nats 88 Illini
Fairfax, VA
Go Nats 88 Illini
Ransom Stoddard said:
Serious question--why? What does a dancing furry or big head bring to the experience of watching an athletic event?
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It does not have to be goofy, but I hope we keep Fighting Illini as the name. We can't have a mascot that references Chief-type imagary, but maybe we can come up with something. Maybe an Abe Lincoln-type. Maybe dumb, I don't know. I am fine with having no character running around.
 
#12      

Lee

L
Lee
Go Nats 88 Illini said:
It does not have to be goofy, but I hope we keep Fighting Illini as the name. We can't have a mascot that references Chief-type imagary, but maybe we can come up with something. Maybe an Abe Lincoln-type. Maybe dumb, I don't know. I am fine with having no character running around.
Click to expand...
Abraham Lincoln President GIF by Practice English with yadada
 
#17      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
The Illinois Hoi Polloi. Mascot can be 1,000 people of various socioeconomic backgrounds all wearing orange and blue, all harnessed/or fixed together in some fashion. Maybe they can do some kind of choreographed interpretive dance at half time.

Benefit: rhyming the name will discourage people from pronouncing the "s" at the end of Illinois
 
#19      

IlliniBrave75

IlliniBrave75
IlliniBrave75
sbillini said:
Before we run down this rabbit hole again, can we all make sure we're on the same page? I think not defining what we're talking about has been an issue in the past. By "mascot" what do we mean?

1. Does the team name change (do we get rid of fighting illini and replace it with something else)?
2. Does the team logo change (i.e. replace the block "I" with something)?
3. If not official logo, will this "mascot" be on official merchandise as the an official "symbol" of the university and/or athletic dept, just not the primary one?
4. If none of the above, then will it just be a dressed up character that dances around at games but generally not used in any other way (e.g. Purdue Pete style)?
Click to expand...

If you really need a mascot, I feel like the doughboy is the best option. You keep name Fighting Illini. You can use the logo on merchandise, but it doesn't have to be on everything. You can still use the Block I, but you can have a mascot at events.

Below are some previous designed ideas I found on the web...

Doughboy 1.png
Doughboy 2.png
Doughboy 3.png
 
#20      

Ghost77

Ghost77
Ghost77
IlliniBrave75 said:
If you really need a mascot, I feel like the doughboy is the best option. You keep name Fighting Illini. You can use the logo on merchandise, but it doesn't have to be on everything. You can still use the Block I, but you can have a mascot at events.
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I'm with you and agree that the doughboy or something similar military related would be the best option. It fits with the current nickname as you still keep Fighting Illini, ties in with the stadium perfectly, and you don't really have to drop any of major imagery like the Block I.
 
#22      

IlliniKrush

I
IlliniKrush
#3 if done well and tastefully otherwise #4

Does any mascot, for any team, pro or college, exist for the enjoyment of adults?

I am a split household, wife is a Hawkeye fan. Trust me it is her only flaw.
Illini games are 1000% more family friendly environments than Iowa.
Yet because of the mascot my kids were drawn to it like a flame the same as they were to Disney Characters.
Luckily as they got older and wiser I was able to bring them both back from the dark side.
Losing consistently didn’t help my cause any but I do believe a fun and entertaining mascot has its place in drawing in future Illini.

My suggestions
Bald Eagle - on state flag - US mascot - has a military presence to tie into fighting Illini - respectable and can be done tastefully. Loose affiliation to Native American history but does the Eagle feathers reference ruffle some feathers?

White Tail Deer - State animal - it hasn’t been done to death but could be done well (Milwaukee Bucks). Also a nod to Native Americans

Northern Cardinal - State bird - ISU Redbirds so we would need to be distinctive about it. Lots of well done bird mascots to reference.
 
#24      

the juiceman cometh

T
the juiceman cometh
The Galloping Ghost said:
#4 and make it something like this guy:
View attachment 12002
There are no reasons to stop using Illini. And if we change our name to something generic like coyotes, raptors, predators, or friggin' pitbulls I will freak out.
Click to expand...
I like idea of a mascot that's not really a thing, other than a mascot, like Gritty of the Phanatic. That way, there's never any temptation to make the thing anything other than a mascot. It could be some kind of orange monster with blue hair or something.

The other idea I just thought of is, if the school could get a sponsorship from Crush soda, you make an antropomorphized bottle of Crush mascot and name it OC, or OK or Crushy or something, and it can also be a nod to the Orange Krush. Maybe bring in a few dollars as well.