AP: William & Mary mascot ideas include an asparagus

[UNI Pike]

The fightin' phalli xthumbsupx

Yahoo link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090622/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_william___mary_mascot_1)



WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The College of William & Mary in Virginia is looking for a mascot and ideas have ranged from a feathered horse to an asparagus stalk.

The school said Monday more than 400 nominations have been submitted. William & Mary for decades was known as the Indians, but the school changed its nickname to Tribe in the 1980s.

The NCAA ruled in 2006 that the college could keep the Tribe nickname but its feathered logo was demeaning to Native Americans and had to go.

The school's athletic teams will still be called the Tribe, but the college wants a mascot that may — or may not — match the nickname.

The asparagus stalk supporter notes that if served with cheese, the vegetable represents the school colors.

The school's president will make the final decision.

___

On the Net:

http://www.wm.edu/about/mascot/

[Tribe4SF]

Many of us are fearful of the final decision because some of the same people who picked our new logo are on the mascot committee. The athletic department has divorced itself from the logo, refusing to use it, and just putting Tribe on everything. It will be bad if they have to do the same with the mascot.

Let's hope they don't have to do that. My suggestion was an osprey.

[phoenixphanatic21]

[QUOTE=UNI Pike;1359986]WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The College of William & Mary in Virginia is looking for a mascot and ideas have ranged from a feathered horse to an asparagus stalk.

The school said Monday more than 400 nominations have been submitted. William & Mary for decades was known as the Indians, but the school changed its nickname to Tribe in the 1980s.

The NCAA ruled in 2006 that the college could keep the Tribe nickname but its feathered logo was demeaning to Native Americans and had to go.

The school's athletic teams will still be called the Tribe, but the college wants a mascot that may — or may not — match the nickname.

The asparagus stalk supporter notes that if served with cheese, the vegetable represents the school colors.

The school's president will make the final decision.

___

On the Net:

http://www.wm.edu/about/mascot/


xlmaox

I really hope Sports Illustrated picks this as this week's sign of the apocolypse.

[greenG]

It appears that the restoration of Ebirt is the best option.

[andy7171]

It appears that the restoration of Ebirt is the best option.

http://web.wm.edu/news/images/dcwill/Ebirt2.jpg?svr=www

[93henfan]

Asparagus could work. Mr. Celery has had pretty good staying power with the Wilmington Blue Rocks: http://minorleaguedugout.com/mrcelery.php

[jimbo65]

Here are the definitions of the word tribe from Merriam Webster's dictionary. Not sure what the first one means but perhaps the mascot could be a "preliterate". Dress him up as a Hokie.

▸ noun: (biology) a taxonomic category between a genus and a subfamily
▸ noun: a federation (as of American Indians)
▸ noun: a social division of (usually preliterate) people
▸ noun: group of people related by blood or marriage

[Lehigh Football Nation]

You know, I really like the horse w/ feathers on it as an idea. Unfortunately I don't think the asparagus suggestion/joke is particularly helpful, and it's exactly the sort of nihilist choice that college kids would try to push.

You could call the mascot an "Iron Horse":

http://www.history.org/Foundation/journal/Winter08/horses_slideshow/images/2.jpg

[Umass74]

The school's president will make the final decision.

Is this still the same guy who removed the cross from the William & Mary chapel?

If it is, then I'm sure he'll make a great choice. xrolleyesx

[darell1976]

I just don't get it. Your nickname is the Tribe why can't you have a mascot that is related to Native Americans?? Its like in 1993 when UND had Thunder The Bleacher Creature as our mascot a big goofy looking gorilla. Yes it had nothing related to the Fighting Sioux (kids loved it). But it was deemed offensive to Indians. Wouldn't an asparagus be deemed offensive to Indians since your nickname is the Tribe?

[EPJr]

Royals

you deserve it much more than KC

[Cobblestone]

How about something colonial? Sorry but I don't think Ebirt qualifies. Since the college is near colonial Williamsburg wouldn't it make sense to have something similar to the UMASS Minuteman?

http://www.masslive.com/images/weblogs/zoo/minuteman1.jpg

C'mon, anything is better than an asparagus!

[Jackman]

I've heard that back when UMass changed its name from Redmen to Minutemen, one of the other names in the final poll was "Artichokes". It's just something that college kids do for "lolz", even back before "lol" was invented. You just have to hope that nobody on the committee is into lolz. Or vegetables.

Edit: and please no more colonial looking dudes, there's too many in this part of the country already. The horse is a better choice.

[Libertine]

Here are the definitions of the word tribe from Merriam Webster's dictionary. Not sure what the first one means but perhaps the mascot could be a "preliterate". Dress him up as a Hokie.

▸ noun: (biology) a taxonomic category between a genus and a subfamily
▸ noun: a federation (as of American Indians)
▸ noun: a social division of (usually preliterate) people
▸ noun: group of people related by blood or marriage


xlolx

[andy7171]

I just don't get it. Your nickname is the Tribe why can't you have a mascot that is related to Native Americans?? Its like in 1993 when UND had Thunder The Bleacher Creature as our mascot a big goofy looking gorilla. Yes it had nothing related to the Fighting Sioux (kids loved it). But it was deemed offensive to Indians. Wouldn't an asparagus be deemed offensive to Indians since your nickname is the Tribe?

HOLD UP!

Not to hijack this thread, but...

UND had Thunder the Bleacher Creature and NDSU has ThunDAR? xeyebrowxxoopsx

[darell1976]

HOLD UP!

Not to hijack this thread, but...

UND had Thunder the Bleacher Creature and NDSU has ThunDAR? xeyebrowxxoopsx

Yep. Thunder was unvailed in 1993 as UND's new mascot through private donations, then was retired that same year do to an outcry of Indians. I think Thundar (NDSU's mascot) was around before 93.

[chrisattsu]

http://www.deltastate.edu/images/housing/Okra.JPG

Delta State (D2) has the Fightin' Okra

[93henfan]

http://www.deltastate.edu/images/housing/Okra.JPG



FAIL

You'd think if they were going to make some poor slob wear a costume that bad, they'd at least get him some shoes for it.

[tribe_pride]

Is this still the same guy who removed the cross from the William & Mary chapel?

If it is, then I'm sure he'll make a great choice. xrolleyesx

Nope. His contract was not renewed for that and other reasons although he resigned when he heard his contract was not being renewed. Let's just say that President Nichol did not handle that too well publicly. He went back to teaching at UNC law school.

[carney2]

William & Mary...hmmmm...

How about the Sybils? Link:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075296/

[soccerguy315]

there are over 400 ideas, so 'asparagus' should be safely out of the running... hopefully.

[Ivytalk]

A pickle!xthumbsupx:D

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Royals

you deserve it much more than KC

I just thought of how ironic it would be to call William & Mary the Royals when Colonial Williamsburg is right there...

[TheValleyRaider]

How about something colonial? Sorry but I don't think Ebirt qualifies. Since the college is near colonial Williamsburg wouldn't it make sense to have something similar to the UMASS Minuteman?

http://www.masslive.com/images/weblogs/zoo/minuteman1.jpg

Other schools have tried that. I'm not sure it's such a good idea xwhistlex xoopsx xwhistlex :D

http://www.gocolgateraiders.com/images/gen/2006/8/24/Mascot%20004.JPG

[Jackman]

Royals

you deserve it much more than KC

The W&M Royals would fit in well with the ODU Monarchs and JMU Dukes. "Marquis" might roll off the tongue better with "Mary", but then you're setting up a hierarchy with the other two schools.

By the way, someone should let the Virginians know that we won that war against the British.

[bkrownd]

Unfortunately I don't think the asparagus suggestion/joke is particularly helpful, and it's exactly the sort of nihilist choice that college kids would try to push.


That (student interest) would make it far more legitimate than some generic animal that the marketing staff would probabably push! The marketing staff at UMass tried to change our Minuteman to a freak'n generic wolf one year to make it more neutral and "kid friendly", and it made me sick!

[tribe_pride]

The W&M Royals would fit in well with the ODU Monarchs and JMU Dukes. "Marquis" might roll off the tongue better with "Mary", but then you're setting up a hierarchy with the other two schools.

By the way, someone should let the Virginians know that we won that war against the British.

We aren't changing our nickname, we are just getting a mascot to finally replace Ebirt. I say we go back to the indian.

[ngineer]

I'd go with broccoli---great emphasis on colon cancer prevention.

[EPJr]

We aren't changing our nickname, we are just getting a mascot to finally replace Ebirt. I say we go back to the indian.

I second that
especially if you can find another buxom coed in buckskin like the last one xsmiley_wix

[greenG]

I second that
especially if you can find another buxom coed in buckskin like the last one xsmiley_wix

Back when I was at W&M we had two buckskin-clad mascots running around in the stadium. One was the comely sister of an obscure TV star. I say lets go back to having two mascots, one King William and one Queen Mary. They could even look stoned like the Burger King. The mascots would be gender correct and represent the name of the college and be colorful as all hell.

[The Cats]

Many of us are fearful of the final decision because some of the same people who picked our new logo are on the mascot committee. The athletic department has divorced itself from the logo, refusing to use it, and just putting Tribe on everything. It will be bad if they have to do the same with the mascot .

Never fear..... ASU has an older version of Yosef not currently in use..... it's yours for a small fee....

http://theapp.appstate.edu/archives_99-00/99-09-09/the%20appalachian/ysefandcheerleader.jpg

[soccerguy315]

well... the debacle got W&M onto sports center...

not sure if that's good or not.

[jimbo65]

Back when I was at W&M we had two buckskin-clad mascots running around in the stadium. One was the comely sister of an obscure TV star. I say lets go back to having two mascots, one King William and one Queen Mary. They could even look stoned like the Burger King. The mascots would be gender correct and represent the name of the college and be colorful as all hell.
To be even more politically correct and "inclusive", how about Queen William & King Mary, though that might go better at the Univ. of San Francisco.:)

[ngineer]

To be even more politically correct and "inclusive", how about Queen William & King Mary, though that might go better at the Univ. of San Francisco.:)

As Lou Holtz said many years ago on why he left William and Mary; "Too many Marys and not enough Williams". Actually the Queen and King is not a bad idea. They could dress as the King and Queen of hearts, etc. Years back when Veterans Stadium opened, the Phillies had two mascots "Phil and Phyllis":Dxrotatehx

[Cobblestone]

Back when I was at W&M we had two buckskin-clad mascots running around in the stadium. One was the comely sister of an obscure TV star. I say lets go back to having two mascots, one King William and one Queen Mary. They could even look stoned like the Burger King. The mascots would be gender correct and represent the name of the college and be colorful as all hell.

Make it really colorful and just refer to them as Bill and The Bitch. I'm sure ESPN would have a ball with that one. xlolx

[BDKJMU]

How about something colonial? Sorry but I don't think Ebirt qualifies. Since the college is near colonial Williamsburg wouldn't it make sense to have something similar to the UMASS Minuteman?

http://www.masslive.com/images/weblogs/zoo/minuteman1.jpg

C'mon, anything is better than an asparagus!

Agreed. Why doesn't the UMass Minuteman have a musket? After all, the Minuteman carried them.

I think a Colonial is a great idea. But you would definitely need to give him a musket like the WVU Mountaineer.
http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/news/gallery/4442/1489/

[BDKJMU]

In colonial times quill pens were utilized. They are used in the Colonial Williamsburg historic area. So W&M could keep the feathers and just add an ink bottle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quill_pen

[andy7171]

Back when I was at W&M we had two buckskin-clad mascots running around in the stadium. One was the comely sister of an obscure TV star. I say lets go back to having two mascots, one King William and one Queen Mary. They could even look stoned like the Burger King. The mascots would be gender correct and represent the name of the college and be colorful as all hell.

I like this idea. Two mascots with the big smiling BK heads.

[citdog]

the episode of south park where the two choices for the schools new mascot were a giant douche, or a turd sandwich comes to mind

[andy7171]

I think a tall stack of pancakes running around Zable would be most appropriate.

[Eight Legger]

I mean this only in good humor to my W&M friends, but you are missing out on a great marketing effort that will give you an infusion of $$ too. Partner with these guys...they already use the same initials you do and have the same colors too. Call your mascot Dumpy the Dumpster or Oscar the Grouch. Perfect!!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_YZF8hY__8ck/ScGkMsU5jpI/AAAAAAAAIBA/Ix0nkDAaPUA/waste%20management%20garbage%20truck.jpg

[93henfan]

I mean this only in good humor to my W&M friends, but you are missing out on a great marketing effort that will give you an infusion of $$ too. Partner with these guys...they already use the same initials you do and have the same colors too. Call your mascot Dumpy the Dumpster or Oscar the Grouch. Perfect!!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_YZF8hY__8ck/ScGkMsU5jpI/AAAAAAAAIBA/Ix0nkDAaPUA/waste%20management%20garbage%20truck.jpg


The new team name would be the William and Mary Sanitators.

[LeopardFan04]

As Lou Holtz said many years ago on why he left William and Mary; "Too many Marys and not enough Williams". Actually the Queen and King is not a bad idea. They could dress as the King and Queen of hearts, etc. Years back when Veterans Stadium opened, the Phillies had two mascots "Phil and Phyllis":Dxrotatehx


Just change the colors and baseball stuff to football:

http://www.whyy.org/blogs/unobstructedview/files/2008/10/phil_phylis.jpg

[StonewallSpider]

done and done

[TexasTerror]

Coverage in Houston...


I admit it - I'm vegetarian. I hope I don't lose 'cool' points with any of you. Here's who else might be vegetarian.

The College of William & Mary in Virginia is switching up their mascots. For decades, the school was known as the Indians and has been referred to as the Tribe since the 1980s. This time, they might be going healthy.

There have already been over 400 submissions, among them an asparagus stalk. How would "Fighting Asparagus" sound?

Supporters say that if served with cheese, the healthy snack shows off the school's colors. The teams will still be called the Tribe, but the mascot could be a veggie.


http://blogs.chron.com/fanzone/2009/06/this_vegetarian_likes_this_mas_1.html