Our Mascot = Useless? (Please see the *)
So instead of writing some dithering diary about Tate Forcier ZOMG or RRod recruiting the Midwest or Pahookie Dookie Florida, I decided to unload something that has been on my mind for the past year:
Is our mascot useless*?
Being a student of U of M and being raised in a house where an entire bathroom was created into a shrine for all things maize and blue, I certainly know of the tradition of the Victors, "GO BLUE", and anything else possibly Michigan in character. However, besides a cheap, furry, stuffed "wolverine" with an M on the front, I can't really say I identify anything about the wolverine creature with the great University of Michigan. Is it possible we need to simply can the mascot, and be "Michigan"?
I must admit, one of the factors in my analysis is that, unlike many other (debatably) great sports schools, we really don't do anything with our mascot. We don't have any hand signals (like the Gators or Longhorns), no prancing mascot on the sideline (thank God), or even a wolverine that shoots lasers out of its eyes! With the exception of "the Claw" that we do on fourth down (and I rather liked the straight-up chop better), it seems as if anything related to the wolverine is missing from the University of Michigan.
Thoughts?
* Please, at this point, consider my good health and your conscience as a fellow MGoBlogger before negging me into a bottomless pit where the minions of the emperor of space will feed on my soul.
Is our mascot useless*?
Being a student of U of M and being raised in a house where an entire bathroom was created into a shrine for all things maize and blue, I certainly know of the tradition of the Victors, "GO BLUE", and anything else possibly Michigan in character. However, besides a cheap, furry, stuffed "wolverine" with an M on the front, I can't really say I identify anything about the wolverine creature with the great University of Michigan. Is it possible we need to simply can the mascot, and be "Michigan"?
I must admit, one of the factors in my analysis is that, unlike many other (debatably) great sports schools, we really don't do anything with our mascot. We don't have any hand signals (like the Gators or Longhorns), no prancing mascot on the sideline (thank God), or even a wolverine that shoots lasers out of its eyes! With the exception of "the Claw" that we do on fourth down (and I rather liked the straight-up chop better), it seems as if anything related to the wolverine is missing from the University of Michigan.
Thoughts?
* Please, at this point, consider my good health and your conscience as a fellow MGoBlogger before negging me into a bottomless pit where the minions of the emperor of space will feed on my soul.
August 18th, 2009 at 8:35 AM ^
Not all the stupid people I know have Philosophy degrees, but most of the people I know with Philosophy are in some way stupid. (Some simply because they chose to get a degree in Philosophy.)
August 17th, 2009 at 3:14 PM ^
We have a mascot?
Just kidding.
My opinion, most mascots are for children. That's why they dance around and are cutesy. They also help casual fans know when to cheer. There is no place for mascots in college sports. 1. It's football, it's interesting enough not to need something to entertain the kids. 2. It's college, no need for a kid friendly guy in a puffy suit. 3. We have cheerleaders for the casual fans and usually they look better than mascots.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:21 PM ^
We can't drop the mascot. What would become of the "It's great/to be/a Mich-i-gan Wolv-er-ine!" chant? It's arguably the best post-game celebration chant.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:37 PM ^
I argue with my girlfriend's sister, but apparently Georgia (and Tennessee) have the same chant.
"It's great...to be... a Georgia Bulldog..."
I know it doesn't seem to fit right.. but according to them, ours has too many syllable.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:41 PM ^
Florida also does this.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:42 PM ^
Florida does it too. It comes out sounding quite strange. "Floorrrrrrridddaaaa Gator."
August 17th, 2009 at 4:04 PM ^
I hear we got it from Auburn (probably after the '84 Sugar Bowl).
But it goes without saying we made it better.
August 17th, 2009 at 5:18 PM ^
fail to all schools that try to implement this cheer whose school name + mascot name != 6 syllables. the syncopation is optimal at 6.
August 17th, 2009 at 5:44 PM ^
+1 for getting syncopation into the discussion.
August 17th, 2009 at 8:20 PM ^
is it just me or is "it's great to be a georgia bulldog" missing several syllables
August 17th, 2009 at 10:04 PM ^
100% agree... but they say... "It's great...to be... a Geooooooor-gia Bulldoooooog"
August 17th, 2009 at 3:26 PM ^
I never meant to say "I don't like the Wolverine" or anything of that nature; what I meant with my post was that I wish there was more to do with wolverines, or something more identifiable than the name, however powerful it is. That's all.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:27 PM ^
Why even write and post this?
One of 2 things could happen:
1. You get negged. As you feared.
2. Several other people post other diaries very quickly after you do and nobody notices your post and you get ignored.
It's just a lose-lose situation.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:35 PM ^
A nickname, yes, but no mascot. And like other people have noted there are historical connotations with the state of Michigan and the Wolverine nickname that pre-date U-M football. It's like the Knickerbockers.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:35 PM ^
we should use a live wolverine, and read it negbanged mgoposts to make it extra ornery, before "accidentally" letting it loose in the opposing team's locker room
August 17th, 2009 at 3:43 PM ^
We should change our name to the Tigers, or Wildcats. Or Wildtigercats, and the mascot could carry around an electric guitar.
August 17th, 2009 at 4:09 PM ^
Or maybe the Ligers.
August 18th, 2009 at 8:32 AM ^
We could change our name to the Thundercats! Thundercats - HOOOO!
August 17th, 2009 at 3:44 PM ^
This is a horribly bad suggestion.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:47 PM ^
IIRC, in the 1920s the state of Alaska donated wolverines to the Detroit Zoo. They were brought to a game but they were so ferocious that that would be their only visit.
August 17th, 2009 at 4:01 PM ^
The Michigan Michigans. I like it.
August 17th, 2009 at 6:41 PM ^
(we're from Michigan!)
August 18th, 2009 at 12:23 PM ^
Whoever negged this post should be shot and dragged off this blog. You clearly don't read it.
August 17th, 2009 at 4:06 PM ^
First off, I wish UM still used the old cartoon Wolverine (here).
Secondly, I think part of the disconnect Uniquenam feels is a result of the move from cartoon Wolverine to Block M. The Block M has been used as the primary logo, the primary ambassador, of the Michigan brand. Suppose you're making a Michigan jacket. What do you put on it? The Block M--it has consistency and time behind it. If you were to use an animal image, well, no one really knows which one you would use.
Schools that can use cartoon animal mascots usually benefit from consistency. Texas has one longhorn silhouette. Georgia has a primary bulldog. Florida has a primary gator. Wisconsin has one badger. NC State has its wolf. UNC has its ram.
You get the idea. Michigan? Well, because the Block M has been the primary mark, we've seen less reliance on an animal image--maybe there's one, but it looks like clip art and that's why we don't see it. I'm sure if UM established one cartoon mascot, stuck with it for decades, and pasted it on everything, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
Notre Dame had an older "dukes up" Leprechaun and an updated version, but I know the school has made an effort to make the interlocking ND their primary mark, much like Michigan's Block M. You'll see the leprechaun time to time, but if ND had any say, you would see the interlocking ND.
I think Miami (FL) is adopting the U mark for everything, academics and athletics. I don't know how often the school uses Sebastian the Ibis.
August 17th, 2009 at 4:15 PM ^
Thanks for the clarification; as a relative newbie to UM fanhood the block M is all I've ever seen; I didn't really know there was that much excitement/fervor about the wolverine.
August 17th, 2009 at 4:17 PM ^
I don't know how accurate these years are, but here are some older images--and you can see the Wolverine quality looks like crap:
http://www.sportslogos.net/team.php?id=750
August 17th, 2009 at 8:10 PM ^
Great information. As usual; Michigan leads, other schools try to imitate.
August 17th, 2009 at 4:49 PM ^
Mispost.
August 17th, 2009 at 4:53 PM ^
We have a school nickname ("Wolverines"), but we don't have a mascot.
August 17th, 2009 at 5:13 PM ^
Michigan had a live wolverine for a mascot for one year.
http://www.bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/umosu/mascot.htm
edit: wolverines, plural. "Bennie and Biff"
August 17th, 2009 at 5:21 PM ^
we have the coolest mascot ever!
http://s686.photobucket.com/albums/vv227/umxwolverines/?action=view&cur…
http://s686.photobucket.com/albums/vv227/umxwolverines/?action=view&cur…
why do you think they named one of the x-men after it?
August 17th, 2009 at 6:31 PM ^
Uniqenam, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone reading this blog is now dumber for having read your diary. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
August 17th, 2009 at 8:09 PM ^
It was the Wolverines brigade that did so much damage to their pappies.
The Wolverines basically won the Civil War.
P.S. To any SEC fans reading this, no I'm not kidding, you guys actually LOST that game.
August 17th, 2009 at 10:25 PM ^
As a history nerd, I laughed hard at that reference. +1 to you sir.
August 17th, 2009 at 9:07 PM ^
Hmm seems my dad saw a wolverine in the spring of this year in the eastern UP He is 76 but has 20/15 eyesight.
As for the post... It eats whatever it wants. Has been reputed to kill a bear over a carcas. We don't need some fuzzy pal like that damn Badger!
August 17th, 2009 at 9:58 PM ^
Wolverines are mean nasty beasts, very sharp claws, strong jaws, very quick and agile. They are the largest member of the weasel family and have a real cranky attitude that they carry. They will basically attack anything that comes into its path if it wants to. Most other creatures give it a wide birth. The name is unique to college football and I am proud of it. We don't need no stinking "furry suit" on the sidelines.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:47 PM ^
Michigan just doesn't have much of a need to use the image of a wolverine because of the rarity of the name makes it unique to our team and easily recognizable. The winged helmets and the block M serve as our symbols.
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