Re:naming Mascots, Pugilistic Prerogatives.

Kick-off: As the college football season officially began, it once again kicks off a great debate, one with great implications, ramifications for students and alumni alike, throughout the nation, worldwide (which is what colleges seek to create, a "world-wide alumni, a college of lifelong learning...")...a spirited debate, involving team, school spirit...which name, school mascot has the most recognition, most frequently imitated by fans, as well as which has the most intimidating effects...on the fans of the 'other'. As yet another college has found itself front and center of controversy, one which rose to the level of international intrigue (e.g., featured during the "sports" segment on "world news" of BBC), a college which only after several decades of being well served by a local creature, decided to adopt another four legged one as its official mascot...one whose permission has been a bit elusive due in part to its stealth, quickness, and...(which I guess is the point, to be explained later)...a pressing matter, one which has captured the attention of local and international press, at least. Proving once again that the answer to "What's in a name?" is a...

Matter of great pride, school spirit, spirited: As in "We're all in!" which was a slogan for one year in particular, a meme for a local college around these parts a few years ago, one which was not only an attempt to build a fan-tastic fan base, but became a caption to build its endowment..."It's all in fun!" Wanna bet?! Have you seen at halftime, or on TV commercials (many of which air at halftime, of course) the clash among mascots, the ribbing (literally) which takes place on and off the field, as to what/who is more dominant...

Matter of great (ongoing) debate: Not only locally but nationally and internationally, as to what adopting a name, mascot, meme, means...to all the stakeholders...those paying for tickets, the alumnus supporting the schools...and those who are represented by the school "Logo". The recent trend, of course, to be sensitive to what, how Native Americans are profiled, stereotyped, by several teams across several sports (if you want a good read check out Sally Jenkins' "The Real All-Americans" which documents the role of Native Americans in early American football; "You're welcome, Sally😀"). Attempts to stamp out any use of tribal names as either the team's name or mascot has had its proponents as well as opponents, opposite sides of the field...such as when the NCAA (2005) issued an "Executive Order" that teams desist using such names, given the negative stereotype such visuals evoke (just as often the chants that accompanied it). But along came the Florida State Seminoles, more specifically spokesperson(s) on behalf of the tribe itself, some which represented many generations in the past, who concluded "...does not perpetuate offensive stereotypes...used with tribal permission to honor and promote the Seminole Tribe of Florida's unconquered history and spirit that persists to this day..." More locally, in Michigan, we witnessed the Eastern Michigan University (1991) changing its mascot (since 1929) from Hurons to the Eagles, which has spurred debate to this day among tribal reps, alumni, and officials from other pressure groups, stakeholders, as to whether the original intent and the eventual impact were more helpful or harmful...eventuating in "Swoop!" the name of the current mascot..."a bald, gender undefined eagle that flies above..." (wouldn't "Soaring" be a better, slightly more intimidating name?). And more personally, the "U" where I did my grad studies (those that have done so refer to it as simply "grad school") changed its logo, school mascot during my time there, so I was witness to a great shift as well as debate (sans on campus protests) about whether "Tartars" was guilty of "cultural insensitivity" or too often confused with "Tartar sauce" --the latter of which has no intimidation value whatsoever, no matter how often you use it, in bad taste...but the new name "Warrior", on the other hand, tastes like...'Vanilla'. And then, of course, it's a...

Matter of great irony: While I grew up believing and continue to strongly align myself with an animal that "pound for pound can not only defend its turf better, but its fierceness..." I'm talking, of course, about "Wolverine pride...it's great to be a Michigan Wolverine..." Nice, catchy, part of what the marching band chants to and from, regardless of win (usually, historically) or loss (a bit more lately, especially to bitter rivals😠😢)...turns out a bit of an irony, if not an oxymoron, given that no such animals have been spotted for years around here...us alumni have agreed that at least none that have had the original intimidation influence as the two live Wolverines that were brought on the field decades ago, which eventuated in a donation to a local zoo, keeper. Then, Now, there's the case of Azusa Pacific..."a conservative college nicely nestled in the San Gabriel Valley...a community of disciples and scholars..." Who have decided, once again after many decades, "cites its large amount of on campus squirrels..." (and the corresponding lack of impact on the 'visitors') as part of the reason for adopting the "Cougar" as its new mascot. But I am here to point out, 'directionally', that this college that parents safely send their aspiring students to, is not only "nicely nestled..." a college which they will presumably graduate from, is also situated only 26 miles from LA, the site of the very first 'Cougar' movie, "The Graduate" --- "Hooray for Hollywood!" could easily now rank as one of Azusa's cheers, at least from the 'student body'😁. And, finally, it's only a...

Matter of Time: That all mascots, school names, chants, logos will either fall out or popularity or propriety...In the meantime, if a college or professional team really wanted to align itself, give proper recognition to who "dictates the tempo of the game..." it would adopt the mascot, name, logo, "Red Hats" as this is the person on the field who signals either the stoppage or start of plays (for commercial breaks which, at last count 'ad' up to 20 breaks with over 100 ads in an average NFL game), which cause all the players and fans to pause...either love 'em or hate 'em, depending...

"What's the Matter with You?!" The question the 'corner man' posed to his boxer, the ultimate pugilist, after a round which his opponent seemed to have prevailed..."Why aren't you sticking to our game plan, why are you going for all this rope a dope stuff he's throwing at you...?!" to which, gasping for air while spitting in a bucket, the bruised, battered, boxer decries, "He's trying to kill me, to knock my head off...!" To which, with final seconds clicking off before heading out for the final round, the corner man, reminds him (and us, upon replay), "No, he's just trying to throw you off, distract you, wear you down, before..." Like yelling "Squirrel!" Azusa U, You...might want to think again...before you go and ruin a good thing...