So frustrating. It would have made most people happy (there's bound to have been a few people that still would've wanted him completely gone)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.
What I found most frustrating at the time is that the majority of people pushing to oust him were from outside the university. We were an easy target since we didn't have a relationship with the tribe like FSU and they didn't have the cash to go after pro teams.So frustrating. It would have made most people happy (there's bound to have been a few people that still would've wanted him completely gone)
If we have to have a mascot, this is the best choice and there is no close second
I think it's possible to let go of the past and also think that the Kingfisher feels forced and out of place.Y'all are missing the point- we are old. The students of today have spoken. The Kingfisher is going to happen at some point.... embrace it. Let a new generation of fans come up with the mascot. Make it fun and stop dreaming of the past.
I mean I'm not that old ... I'm 30. The Doughboy is actually cool and unique, and I'm 100% in favor. I really don't buy at all that we NEED a mascot ... this debate gained the most steam when we were in the desert for sports - circa 2012, IIRC. A vibrant Illini program can survive just fine without a mascot; Michigan fans are plenty proud, for example.Y'all are missing the point- we are old. The students of today have spoken. The Kingfisher is going to happen at some point.... embrace it. Let a new generation of fans come up with the mascot. Make it fun and stop dreaming of the past.
I'm not sure we should rely on people whose prefrontal cortices are not yet fully developed to make this decision.Y'all are missing the point- we are old. The students of today have spoken. The Kingfisher is going to happen at some point.... embrace it. Let a new generation of fans come up with the mascot. Make it fun and stop dreaming of the past.
I am a man in my 30's with humble means and no influence, but I will do everything I can to prevent the Kingfisher from becoming the mascot of the University of Illinois. This is a hill I am prepared to die on, as a Kingfisher mascot would be an absolute travesty.Y'all are missing the point- we are old. The students of today have spoken. The Kingfisher is going to happen at some point.... embrace it. Let a new generation of fans come up with the mascot. Make it fun and stop dreaming of the past.
Alma Otter.If we're ever going to have a mascot (which I don't think is needed), I'd still prefer something humorous, like Blocky the I, or Abe Lincoln the Vampire Hunter. Because f$@# it.
and in this new woke world, that’s doa tooIf we have to have a mascot, this is the best choice and there is no close second
I could at LEAST get behind a humorous incorporation of Lincoln being somewhat tied to our state and a unique sense of pride that should come with being an Illinoisan and/or Illini alum/fan. That could solve the aforementioned issue with a lack of an identity. However, picking a random-!!! thing like a bird almost just makes it worse.If we're ever going to have a mascot (which I don't think is needed), I'd still prefer something humorous, like Blocky the I, or Abe Lincoln the Vampire Hunter. Because f$@# it.
I never thought of going full MiLB team.Illinois Vampire Hunters? Sounds good.
when kingfishers and other ideas are thrown around are people saying/expecting we change our name? Like Illinois Fighting KingFishers? Personally, I'm against any name change.
Yes, I think this is what proponents of a new mascots envision.We can have someone in a colorful suit high-fiving children and an occasional alternate logo of a bird or something else while maintaining Fighting Illini. Sort of like the bama elephant