The mascot debate

AutoPoster 3000 · Jul 22, 2023

IlliniBrave75 said:
Fighting Illini

View attachment 27351

1. We keep the name Fighting Illini
2. Another way to honor our soldiers - “Memorial Stadium”
3. Way better idea than the Kingfisher…actually can be tied to the two things above!

They’re not doing something like this because it’s not inclusive of the women’s programs.

Every university that has adopted a new nickname/mascot/logo since at least the 1990s has made something gender-neutral for this reason.

This is not me endorsing or advocating for only gender-neutral branding. Just like I don’t personally advocate moving on from the fighting Illini nickname. I’m a 40-something dinosaur who likes the old traditions. But let’s be realistic. The future won’t be dictated by people my age. These trends have gone consistently in one direction for the past 50 years and the pressure to conform to an ethnicity-free, gender-inclusive identity is going to get more intense, not less.

RML · Jul 22, 2023

DeonThomas said:
From anyone who suggests such a thing, Illinois Loyalty should demand that you list for the board each of the following before being allowed to post again:

(1) our next 5 targeted offensive line recruiting targets, in order of preference, including their strengths and weaknesses in both the run and passing games

(2) consolidated analyses from at least 15 NBA scouts (both past and current) who can explain to us the talent required to accurately predict that kids like Kendall Gill in 1986 are going develop the skills, basketball IQ, and physical athletic ability to enjoy 16-year NBA careers

(3) 10-page dissertations on each of the following ----Tepper, Turner, Zook, Beckman and Lovie Smith ---- outlining why each was thought to have at the the time of their hiring that certain "it" that we're now seeing from Bret Bielema. Please include sit-down interviews with the AD's who did the hiring.

Haha! Yikes! I also said I'ld be good with a stack of pancakes as a mascot if BB thought it would help the team. Do I gotta do more for that, too?

illiniguy · Jul 22, 2023

AutoPoster 3000 said:
They’re not doing something like this because it’s not inclusive of the women’s programs.

Every university that has adopted a new nickname/mascot/logo since at least the 1990s has made something gender-neutral for this reason.

I guess that’s the final nail in the “bring back the Chief” coffin.

Ryllini · Jul 22, 2023

AutoPoster 3000 said:
They’re not doing something like this because it’s not inclusive of the women’s programs.

Every university that has adopted a new nickname/mascot/logo since at least the 1990s has made something gender-neutral for this reason.

This is not me endorsing or advocating for only gender-neutral branding. Just like I don’t personally advocate moving on from the fighting Illini nickname. I’m a 40-something dinosaur who likes the old traditions. But let’s be realistic. The future won’t be dictated by people my age. These trends have gone consistently in one direction for the past 50 years and the pressure to conform to an ethnicity-free, gender-inclusive identity is going to get more intense, not less.

I'm all on board for a soldier. I do not think it would he hard to keep the logo looking the same while making it look more female for our women's teams. Do this and make it dignified. Could bring back so much magic with the war chant and a new halftime March with our all inclusive soldiers. I really just want the war chant back. I love it so much.

Mr. Tibbs · Jul 22, 2023

Ryllini said:
I'm all on board for a soldier. I do not think it would he hard to keep the logo looking the same while making it look more female for our women's teams. Do this and make it dignified. Could bring back so much magic with the war chant and a new halftime March with our all inclusive soldiers. I really just want the war chant back. I love it so much.

you will never ever get a liberal admin & board to embrace a military themed mascot

it will never happen

Fighter of the Nightman · Jul 22, 2023

Mr. Tibbs said:
you will never ever get a liberal admin & board to embrace a military themed mascot

it will never happen

Unfortunately, you are probably right. If we adopt a mascot, it will be something intentionally silly, and many will cheer that on out of a weird sort of "anti-stubbornness" to make the point that people who liked the Chief "should move on" ... as if picking a squirrel or bird is the only way to achieve putting the Chief behind us?

I'll throw out another point, too. I have been an Illini fan without the Chief for far longer than I was one with the Chief. While I did not support getting rid of him and I wish it were still here, I am under no delusion that he will ever be back, and I see no point in arguing about it anymore; it's ancient history. With that said, I think every single Illini fan has a very understandable right to want NO mascot, and it's kind of annoying if even one person insinuates we are like stuck in the past or burying our heads in the sand if we don't want whatever dumb, intentionally inoffensive new ideas are being floated out there. Michigan and Indiana are examples of schools without mascots, and their "fan identities" are fine.

The fact that the Chief is not coming back and that we'd never be able to properly honor our ties to WWI veterans is not an argument for something silly. It's a valid opinion to want nothing. With that said, I think some type of incorporation of Abe Lincoln would be a nice middle way. It's light-hearted enough, but it actually has SOME ties to this state's history - and let's remember we are the state flagship, we also represent the state in itself, not just the U of I or Champaign. It seems like an idea that would satisfy at least SOME people on both "sides" of this debate. In fact - even though I am SURE this would somehow offend some people or at the very least make them baselessly squeamish - it would be cool if we somehow incorporated some Union Army themes into the whole "Fighting Illini" tradition, such as playing Battle Hymn of the Republic at an appropriate time.

illini80 · Jul 22, 2023

Fighter of the Nightman said:
Unfortunately, you are probably right. If we adopt a mascot, it will be something intentionally silly, and many will cheer that on out of a weird sort of "anti-stubbornness" to make the point that people who liked the Chief "should move on" ... as if picking a squirrel or bird is the only way to achieve putting the Chief behind us?

I'll throw out another point, too. I have been an Illini fan without the Chief for far longer than I was one with the Chief. While I did not support getting rid of him and I wish it were still here, I am under no delusion that he will ever be back, and I see no point in arguing about it anymore; it's ancient history. With that said, I think every single Illini fan has a very understandable right to want NO mascot, and it's kind of annoying if even one person insinuates we are like stuck in the past or burying our heads in the sand if we don't want whatever dumb, intentionally inoffensive new ideas are being floated out there. Michigan and Indiana are examples of schools without mascots, and their "fan identities" are fine.

The fact that the Chief is not coming back and that we'd never be able to properly honor our ties to WWI veterans is not an argument for something silly. It's a valid opinion to want nothing. With that said, I think some type of incorporation of Abe Lincoln would be a nice middle way. It's light-hearted enough, but it actually has SOME ties to this state's history - and let's remember we are the state flagship, we also represent the state in itself, not just the U of I or Champaign. It seems like an idea that would satisfy at least SOME people on both "sides" of this debate. In fact - even though I am SURE this would somehow offend some people or at the very least make them baselessly squeamish - it would be cool if we somehow incorporated some Union Army themes into the whole "Fighting Illini" tradition, such as playing Battle Hymn of the Republic at an appropriate time.

I learned this 4th of July that Honest Abe is not so universally revered as I thought, so anything regarding him is also off the table. I’m with you. No mascot is just fine.

Ryllini · Jul 22, 2023

Mr. Tibbs said:
you will never ever get a liberal admin & board to embrace a military themed mascot

it will never happen

You are probably right. I really just want the war chant back and in my @pruman91 type - "I really do"

DeonThomas · Jul 23, 2023

RML said:
Haha! Yikes! I also said I'ld be good with a stack of pancakes as a mascot if BB thought it would help the team. Do I gotta do more for that, too?

It's similar to the reverence we feel toward our WWII veterans the homage we pay to their service.

Please let the Chief live in peace until the last of his devoted supporters has passed.

illiniguy · Jul 23, 2023

DeonThomas said:
It's similar to the reverence we feel toward our WWII veterans the homage we pay to their service.

Please let the Chief live in peace until the last of his devoted supporters has passed.

I think you mean “rest in peace”

1970 John · Jul 26, 2023

The people who objected to Chief Illiniwek also objected to the War Chant. They also object to the Three-in-One. They object to faculty having Chief memorabilia in their offices. And most of all, the object to “Fighting Illini.”

And they won’t give up until they have their way. The five-ounce solution is not to have a mascot to have a mascot but to use a mascot to block the Chief.

chiefini · Jul 30, 2023

Tate | What's in a nickname?

The University of Illinois, in its infinite wisdom, retired Chief Illiniwek in February of 2007 after an 80-year run.

The Native American dance won’t be allowed to return, not even for a memorial one-time performance. The mere mention raises hackles in the president’s office.

Tate | What's in a nickname?

Well, a lot, actually. Just take a look at the past (Chief Illiniwek) and the future (please, no kingfisher) regarding Illinois athletics

www.news-gazette.com