The mascot debate/fandom thread

#27      
2X2L
If you just gotta have a mascot, why not a Monarch caterpillar now that Caterpillar logo is present on Zuppke Field?

The Monarch is our state butterfly.

Or, if not, a cute, huggable milkweed plant. Nah. Stick with a caterpillar and get Caterpillar to sponsor it. Great public relations: Ecology, environment, Save the Monarch kind of thing. Keep caterpillar natural colors, but stick an orange-and-blue block I on its thorax. Kids will demand Illini Caterpillar plush toys and everything!

I admire the kingfisher but not as mascot.

But what do I know? I'm in my last instar.
 
#28      
2X2L
I also considered the Tully Monster, Illinois' state fossil. Not cute. Might give kiddies the creeps.

Monarchs are alive, but they aren't doing very well.

I've got 20 milkweed plants surrounding my patio; very few Monarch butterflies laying eggs; yet to see a caterpillar. No like.
 
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#29      
myspace
2X2L said:
I also considered the Tully Monster, Illinois' state fossil. Not cute. Might give kiddies the creeps.

Monarchs are alive, but they aren't doing very well.

I've got 20 milkweed plants surrounding my patio; very few Monarch butterflies laying eggs; yet to see a caterpillar. No like.
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Not good.
 
#30      
2X2L
If it happens, I want a finder's fee re: caterpillar thing. You read it here first. On record. Could always use few extra bucks.
You too? We shall see. Fat chance.

GO ILLINI - with or without a mascot.

Bye.
 
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#32      
DReq
Any mascot tied to a sponsor will have a finite life and by definition has no chance of becoming beloved or passing through generations. I would just like to see something that kids will like and that has no limits on its utility. We need to have something around for multiple generations if it is to become a true symbol of the Illini teams.
 
#33      
MikeTisdale
DReq said:
Any mascot tied to a sponsor will have a finite life and by definition has no chance of becoming beloved or passing through generations. I would just like to see something that kids will like and that has no limits on its utility. We need to have something around for multiple generations if it is to become a true symbol of the Illini teams.
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The simplest solution here is to just keep the kingfisher the unofficial mascot but subtly have him around so kids can get attached, wait for all blue haired donors who are willfully ignorant in thinking there's a greater than 0% chance the Chief comes back to die out, then officially make the kingfisher the mascot (just moving him from outside to inside and let him run around with the cheerleaders) but keep the name Fighting Illini and generally don't change anything else.

And that's only if mascots actually matter, which I don't think they really do. It's nice to have for kids, but the most simple way to drum up enthusiasm and fan support is to just keep on winning and get over the hump for a NC in football or basketball.
 
#34      
Chief Piasa

The Piasa Bird is an Illiniwek tribal legendary bird that was painted on the cliff near Alton by the tribe, and was described by early explorers. It apparently means “devourer of men.” That would be a great mascot, since the bird is frightening and could be used in a dance similar to the Chief. It might be viewed as cultural appropriation, though.

The modern rendering isn’t necessarily what the original looked like since the original apparently washed off.
 
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#35      
Illinisam
AssemblyHallForever said:
If I had 100 million dollars to throw around, the deal I would make is, here is my huge donation, but you have to bring the Chief back at 100% capacity. No watering it down. Back to the old days where the Chief was respected and honored.
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I would do the same! With the NCAA no longer any kind of enforcing body why don’t we bring back the Chief? At least bring back the Chief logo. Stick it right at the 50 yard line. Can you imagine the roar of the crowd if the Chief did his performance at halftime?
 
#36      
DeonThomas
ugottabjoshinme said:
I don't hate it. There has been an actual kingfisher mascot at some events like the BIG 5k. There is some symbolism in the feathers that works well.

View attachment 51152
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A rather wimpy little fellow......no thanks. (Reminds me of an old, old Allan Sherman song -- The Titwillow from "The Bronx Bird Watcher." Allan attended UofI btw.)

CHIEF!!!!!!!!!!
 
#37      
3 point girl
Illinisam said:
I would do the same! With the NCAA no longer any kind of enforcing body why don’t we bring back the Chief? At least bring back the Chief logo. Stick it right at the 50 yard line. Can you imagine the roar of the crowd if the Chief did his performance at halftime?
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I agree! What would the powerless NCAA do now if we brought back the chief. They cave every time & the courts always hold against them. These kids nowadays have no idea of what the Chief was back in the day. Let them see that first dance at the 50 or halfcourt and they would go berserk.
 
#38      
the juiceman cometh
Chief Piasa said:

The Piasa Bird is an Illiniwek tribal legendary bird that was painted on the cliff near Alton by the tribe, and was described by early explorers. It apparently means “devourer of men.” That would be a great mascot, since the bird is frightening and could be used in a dance similar to the Chief. It might be viewed as cultural appropriation, though.

The modern rendering isn’t necessarily what the original looked like since the original apparently washed off.
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BOOM!

1788188428659.png
 
#39      
Illini in Italy
MikeTisdale said:
The simplest solution here is to just keep the kingfisher the unofficial mascot but subtly have him around so kids can get attached, wait for all blue haired donors who are willfully ignorant in thinking there's a greater than 0% chance the Chief comes back to die out, then officially make the kingfisher the mascot (just moving him from outside to inside and let him run around with the cheerleaders) but keep the name Fighting Illini and generally don't change anything else.

And that's only if mascots actually matter, which I don't think they really do. It's nice to have for kids, but the most simple way to drum up enthusiasm and fan support is to just keep on winning and get over the hump for a NC in football or basketball.
Click to expand...
1788307778065.gif
 
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