I think this is true for essentially all animal mascots. There is very little in the way of big wildlife in most of the country outside your average deer, rabbits, snakes, etc. I very much doubt 99% of Michigan fans have ever seen a wild wolverine for instance lol.
The mascot debate
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I really don't like the WWI idea or the Alma Otter. I think the doughboy is just far too serious and not very appropriate for sports. Most of the logos I've seen also look too complicated. It's also just a very generic and non-unique idea considering every major public university sent tons of their young men to fight. Memorial stadium is already a sufficient tribute. As for the Otter I just think it's kind of cringey and there would be nothing more embarrassing than naming your mascot after a pun IMO.
The only idea I like is the Kingfisher, which I think is a decent idea but one I'm not sure the fanbase is ready for. I don't really mind the status quo of "don't ask don't tell" on the Chief since it means mostly everyone can be somewhat happy. The thing which bothers me most actually are the changes to the music we've seen with the Chief's removal. I miss the war chant a lot.
At the end of the day I don't think we need a mascot. The dirty Hoosiers don't need one, so why should we?
The only idea I like is the Kingfisher, which I think is a decent idea but one I'm not sure the fanbase is ready for. I don't really mind the status quo of "don't ask don't tell" on the Chief since it means mostly everyone can be somewhat happy. The thing which bothers me most actually are the changes to the music we've seen with the Chief's removal. I miss the war chant a lot.
At the end of the day I don't think we need a mascot. The dirty Hoosiers don't need one, so why should we?
I don't think we *need* a mascot, but if we go for one I think the best option is just some dumb orange creature that means absolutely nothing outside of some furry thing running around to entertain kids. That would steer clear of this whole debate about whether the name is in danger (it isn't). I'm envisioning something like the Philly Phanatic, or Gritty. Just put together some weird orange fuzzy thing wearing an Illini jersey and name it Orgi Krush or something dumb and have it take pictures with kids and fight opponent mascots. Or don't.
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
Gritty is absolutely nightmare fuel.
I'm in if we can get something along those lines.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
I do agree that Orgy would probably be popular with thousands of alumni/fans --- but perhaps offensive to some.......
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Put me down for the Galloping Ghosts.
MustangWally
- Mayfield
How about this for a mascot.
The girl who proposed the kingfisndr said she wants something “goofy on the sidelines.” A three ounce bird that strikes terror in the hearts of minnows is a great place to start.
The next choice would be anyone who thinks the kingfisher would be a good idea.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
True. You’d have to call it a theyfisher
Hey, that’s not nice…
Have you seen this? National Congress of American Indians, butt out.
NCAI wants to tell you what you will have, not only what you can't.
NCAI wants to tell you what you will have, not only what you can't.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Ridiculous.
Have you ever heard of the Orange and Blue Bird? Probably not. That was a disaster of an attempt to foist a manufactured mascot on the university that was such a disaster that not even a picture of the O-B Bird exists. I wish it did. Those who want a "goofy" mascot for the University of Illinois should know what happened before.
Yes, it was long ago, and I graduated from Illinois more than a decade before the O-B Bird was (literally) trotted out. But I don't believe its part of the University of Illinois' identity to have anuything goofy. Penn State has its saggy baggy lion, Minnesota has its grinning rodent, and Ohio State has that...nut. If anything contrived as those, perhaps as right as they may be for those institutions, were inflicted on Illinois, I expect the result would be the same as it was for the O-B Bird. At least I hope it would, because if it were embraced, the University of Illinois would have lost all respect for itself.
medium.com
Yes, it was long ago, and I graduated from Illinois more than a decade before the O-B Bird was (literally) trotted out. But I don't believe its part of the University of Illinois' identity to have anuything goofy. Penn State has its saggy baggy lion, Minnesota has its grinning rodent, and Ohio State has that...nut. If anything contrived as those, perhaps as right as they may be for those institutions, were inflicted on Illinois, I expect the result would be the same as it was for the O-B Bird. At least I hope it would, because if it were embraced, the University of Illinois would have lost all respect for itself.
It’s not a new mascot that Illinois needs
University leadership needs to look to the past rather than pursue a future folly
medium.com
illini80
- Forgottonia
I was there and proudly booed along with 16000 others that day.Have you ever heard of the Orange and Blue Bird? Probably not. That was a disaster of an attempt to foist a manufactured mascot on the university that was such a disaster that not even a picture of the O-B Bird exists. I wish it did. Those who want a "goofy" mascot for the University of Illinois should know what happened before.
Yes, it was long ago, and I graduated from Illinois more than a decade before the O-B Bird was (literally) trotted out. But I don't believe its part of the University of Illinois' identity to have anuything goofy. Penn State has its saggy baggy lion, Minnesota has its grinning rodent, and Ohio State has that...nut. If anything contrived as those, perhaps as right as they may be for those institutions, were inflicted on Illinois, I expect the result would be the same as it was for the O-B Bird. At least I hope it would, because if it were embraced, the University of Illinois would have lost all respect for itself.
It’s not a new mascot that Illinois needs
University leadership needs to look to the past rather than pursue a future folly
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
I was in school then - went to just about every basketball game as I worked as an usher at AH, but totally forgot about the “bird” mascot thing until I read about this . I may have missed that game . I do recall it being a total bomb . It was the DIA’s attempt to get a character on the sidelines and NO ONE wanted it .
I'm not sure the young lady who got the bird thing going understands anything about sports. She thinks it's important to have "something goofy on the sidelines"? Honest to God? We've never had a mascot and don't need one now.
Wow, I didn't think there would be so many--any--people here even on this forum who would remember the O-B Bird. We need your voices.
And I doubt the creator of the proposed kingfisher mascot has likely never been to a game of any sort and has only seen other schools'/professional teams' "goofy" mascots on TV. She doesn't understand that the University of Illinois is different, we have our own attitudes and self-perception, and it doesn't include "goofy." It's just not.who.we.are.
Chief Illinwek was repected, loved and even revered.
It's often said that we need a friendly, funny mascot for the kids. You think so? Show me one kid who didn't have a "wow" experience when they first saw the Chief. You won't find one, at least one not prepped to dislike him. And that's who we are. Kids can learn honor and respect. Anmd even like it.
It seems like we tried this idea once before, but maybe we need to resurrect the idea.
Tim Beckman, your table is ready!
Those who think we don't need a mascot are being short-sighted and will find one foisted upon them at some point in time. As much as I agree that a goofy bird is not the way to go, that is where we are headed if someone doesn't come up with a better alternative. If you google winged warrior, you will see some fearsome respectful humanoid examples of what we could have as an alternative to the Chief. Someone with some art skills need to put together an example using orange and blue colors.
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