The mascot debate

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#226      
Hard disagree, Pelicans is a fantastic name
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We're just going to have to disagree on that one, though I respect your opinion.

I suppose it's not the worst, but really, in a perfect world, the Jazz would have changed their name when they left NOLA for the least "Jazz" city in the NBA, and the Jazz name would be just sitting there for the city that ot rightfully belongs to.

I just feel like New Orleans, of all cities, could have been more creative with this. Something like the New Orleans Second Line or Crescents or anything that invokes possibly the most unique city in the entire US.
 
#227      

mattcoldagelli

The Transfer Portal
I just feel like New Orleans, of all cities, could have been more creative with this. Something like the New Orleans Second Line or Crescents or anything that invokes possibly the most unique city in the entire US.

I guess I don't know how you can ding them for not being creative or unique when they picked a name that isn't used anywhere else across the four major sports (or in major college athletics, that I'm aware of).
 
#229      
I guess I don't know how you can ding them for not being creative or unique when they picked a name that isn't used anywhere else across the four major sports (or in major college athletics, that I'm aware of).
Doesn't take much creativity to just pick a random animal that hasn't been used much. My five year old could probably come up with a list of 20+ such animals in under a minute. It's not the specific animal choice that lacks creativity but the concept of "just pick some animal" and the failure to embrace NOLA's unique character at all. The initial mascot design didn't help much either.
 
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#230      

mattcoldagelli

The Transfer Portal
Doesn't take much creativity to just pick a random animal that hasn't been used much. My five year old could probably come up with a list of 20+ such animals in under a minute. It's not the specific animal choice that lacks creativity but the concept of "just pick some animal" and the failure to embrace NOLA's unique character at all. The initial mascot design didn't help much either.
But it's not "just some animal that hasn't been used much". It's one of the most distinctive animals in the Gulf region (and a savage, to boot). It's the animal version of "Jazz."
 
#232      
But it's not "just some animal that hasn't been used much". It's one of the most distinctive animals in the Gulf region (and a savage, to boot). It's the animal version of "Jazz."
Sure, it's at least an animal that exists in the area. When you think of the city of New Orleans and does the majestic pelican come immediately to mind? If you listed the 100 most notable things about New Orleans, where would the pelican fall on that list?

Should the Knicks become the NY Pigeons? The SF Giants the San Francisco California Quails?

Like I said, it's not the worst. I know fans weren't too happy with it and the original mascot they trotted out until recently was nightmare fuel. Just think it was a missed opportunity for something better.
 
#234      
Sure, it's at least an animal that exists in the area. When you think of the city of New Orleans and does the majestic pelican come immediately to mind? If you listed the 100 most notable things about New Orleans, where would the pelican fall on that list?

Should the Knicks become the NY Pigeons? The SF Giants the San Francisco California Quails?

Like I said, it's not the worst. I know fans weren't too happy with it and the original mascot they trotted out until recently was nightmare fuel. Just think it was a missed opportunity for something better.

If a new mascot is ever selected I imagine it will be totally in the hands of marketing consultants. "Its all about bucks the rest is just conversation."
I dont think the marketing girls and boys would get to exicted about the Fighting Kingfishers

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#236      
If a new mascot is ever selected I imagine it will be totally in the hands of marketing consultants. "Its all about bucks the rest is just conversation."
I dont think the marketing girls and boys would get to exicted about the Fighting Kingfishers

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I can imagine how someone could assume from my comments I'm anti-Kingfisher, but I'm not really. I think we should have a fun mascot for kids and I'm pretty ambivalent about what it is. I just would never change the Fighting Illini name, and don't think there's any real danger of that.

There is an alternate reality out there, where the New Orleans Jazz of the NBA have a pelican mascot, and everyone is 0.1% happier as a result.
 
#238      
Would a bear be on the list for Chicago?

People put too many demands on these projects, IMO.
The Bears are a historic franchise and have had that name for a long time, so it's different. If a new franchise came into the MLB or NBA and adopt the Bears name I think people would view it as lazy. Same with Wildcats or Tigers or Lions. Those are fine names but if you have the entire English lexicon to choose from why not do better? Uniforms get nitpicked to death I don't know why the actual name of the team shouldn't be at least equally important.

In the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter. I made a throwaway joke at the expense of the Pelicans and have already spent too much time defending said joke. Did not think it would ruffle feathers to be honest (pun 100% intended).
 
#240      
Many moons ago, when the controversy was heating up, someone, probably a UI prof, wrote the News Gazoon to suggest the corn root worm as an alternative, inoffensive mascot.

As I recall the letter was hilarious. The only other detail I remember is we could call our cheering section the roto rooters.
 
#242      

2X2L

Metaluna
Male belted kingfisher in Illinois is blue-gray and white; female does have chestnut-colored band on its chest/belly, according to my Smithsonian bird book. Hardly navy blue and orange, though. Forget about it. Ringed kingfisher is in extreme southwest and tropics. Yes, orange and blue - but Florida Gators shades. Forget about it.

Re: pelicans. Fine creatures, except I saw one on some nature tv show swallow a live pigeon. Ick.
 
#243      

2X2L

Metaluna
Ringed kingfishers are more blue-gray with rufous chests. Just thought you secretly wanted to know. My bird books don't show them in Gator shades. May the great debate continue.

RIP Gordon Lightfoot, 1938 - 2023, yesterday.
 
#244      
Ringed kingfishers are more blue-gray with rufous chests. Just thought you secretly wanted to know. My bird books don't show them in Gator shades. May the great debate continue.

RIP Gordon Lightfoot, 1938 - 2023, yesterday.
awww no.
 
#245      
If we ever change our mascot / team logo away from the Fighting Illini, maybe we should consider something in reference to the sky. The day and night sky represent endless possibilities, dreams and the future. Orange and Blue are also the colors of the sunset which is uniquely large and beautiful in Illinois.
Illinois athletics have never EVER had a mascot. No reason to look for one. We're getting along just fine. The chief is still alive and well in the hearts and minds of alumni, fans, and backers. The chief was NEVER a mascot.
 
#247      

Ransom Stoddard

Ordained Dudeist Priest
Bloomington, IL
I thought they paid the Seminole tribe. Wrong?
You're correct - FSU has a financial relationship w/ the Seminole tribe. The tribe also has some degree of input (if not control) over the representations used.
 
#249      

IlliniKat91

Chicago, IL
If I'm not mistaken, didn't we have a similar opportunity with the Peoria tribe, but the administration at the time declined?
Yep. We had a deal worked out with the Peoria while Phyllis was here. If I remember correctly, they wanted to create a pipeline of Peoria students to Illinois (if they wanted to go), require a Native American studies class as part of the GE curriculum (that may have just been for student athletes), and have a Native American student portray the Chief. There would have been no dancing, just the Chief's appearance.

Phyllis wanted no part of it, and the other sticking point was that the Peoria were just one of the tribes that were part of the Illini Confederation. There was a claim that all should agree, but several of those tribes no longer exist.
 
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