A mascot compromise?
While we wait for someone to create an MGoRegistry for Brian (MDen? American Tailgater?), I thought I'd throw an idea out to the community regarding the mascot fiasco.
It seems that Brandon's motivation for even considering such a horrific idea was rooted in marketing. He wants added publicity for the university through a mascot, which leads to additional revenue. At least I hope that's why and it isn't just so he can get the mascot on one of those ESPN commercials. This idea seems short-sighted to me. How much marketing or revenue can such a mascot really bring in - especially at the expense of alienating a large portion of the fan base?
Here's my idea - why not create an animal habitat and bring in some actual wolverines? You can create this habitat in the area between Crisler and Michigan Stadium. During game-days it would be free admission with a ticket stub and all the kids he wants can come get their picture taken near the wolverines. When there isn't a game going on they can charge a small amount of money (kids free, alums discounted, etc.) to come and see the habitat. They can put in some nice museum-like information, including a history of the original wolverine mascots, Biff and Bennie.
I can already picture the panning camera shots of kids jostling for position in front of the glass while ABC comes back from commercial during a Michigan beat down of a rival.
Special Bonus: While confirming the names of the original live mascots, I came upon this unique "fact" on Wikipedia:
Blogger Brian Cook, owner of the popular blog MGoBlog, was given the middle name "Biff" by his parents as a tribute to this legend of Michigan sports.
Can any readers confirm whether this is true?
This is probably the greatest idea Ive heard yet.. maybe we can have animal fights beforehand (wolverine v badger, wolverine v lion, wolverine v hawk..)
/s
But seriously, good idea.
I was pushing for Tacopants to be our mascot... but this idea wins. As long as Tacopants can make appearances in the habitat of course.
I would like nothing more than to see Tacopants locked in with live wolverines. Not that you can see Tacopants, its the thought that counts.
I can't wait for wolverine v. Irishman.
he doesn't stand a chance
That's an excellent idea. I'd support it. I'm not sure it wouldn't cost the university more money than it'd raise, though.
Also, the special bonus was worth the thread all on its own.
Michigan sports were in the black by about $11M last year. I'm not too sure cost would play too much into this amazing idea.
As much as I would like this idea, I think the area is too small for a wolverine.
In the wild wolverines have been observed having a range of over 500 miles.
But, there are over 100 kept in zoos throughout the world and they have been successfully bred in captivity with great difficulty and high infant mortality rate
Keep endangered specied as pets or "mascots"
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<br>My 8 year old, DBs target audience, had a brilliant idea. He said create a "hero" like marvels comics wolverine. When i said that the character is owned by the comic book folks he said "thats silly, they clearly stole it from Michigan. Same colors and the helmet seems to have beem ripped off. Id post a pic if i could.
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<br>I happen to have been an entertainment industry lawyer one upon a tume, and i think the kid makes some valid points. Even if not, a deal could be cut. Think of the licensing Brando!
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<br>Just a thought.
Wolverines aren't an endangered species
I believe they are in the process of reconsidering that. They were put on the "WE'll think about it" list in December.
So you're saying we have to get some quickly...
well if we're to trust wikipedia:
"attempts to have them declared an endangered species have met with little success"
it doesn't look like it'll be happening.
LSU has a live bengal tiger... We could certainly have some live wolverines.
Tried to deny it-
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<br>http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/01/26/comic-book-urban-le…
The new mascot first turned up in on Real Sports when an athletic department staffer released the costume for filming by mistake.
looks like the Cookie Monster with a GOLD (shot at the guys who don't like that we actually wear MAIZE now) bra on his head.
Bring in the the Ohio Bobcat mascot for a game.
According to the revision history on wiki, the entry is funny but not true. It was originally posted by a user referred to by IP address 69.129.36.50
69.129.36.50 Undid it. It was originally posted by "someone" in the 21st edit who was apparently living in New Orleans at the time....
Regarding the idea, YES PLEASE! I would love to have a real wolverine to feed buckeye to after the game. If it keeps a drunk idiot in a costume from pretending to represent everything that is great about Michigan Men and Women, I am all for it!
This is still a university where the Coke products were banned from campus for several years over labor issues at an independent Coke bottling facility that wasn't even bottling for the United States market. I have to think that caging up a few wolverines on the Michigan Stadium concourse year-round wouldn't be a popular step around dear Ann Arbor town.
How about a fighter/soldier-type character, the origin of the Wolverine State nickname.
is pure bullshit.
Everyone knows Brian's middle name is Tshimanga.
How about donating .01% of ticket prices to wolverine repopulation studies and efforts in the state? win win win win win
We don't care about real wolverines, only ones we can exploit for profit (real or otherwise).
just let the wolverine run through the opposing locker room at halftime of each home game. Then the opponents can pet the mascot in tight confines.
No mascot, nothing on the sideline. Just sell stuffed animal wolverines that actually look like real wolverines. They could maybe patch a block M on somewhere or something, but just keep it away from the sidelines and keep it a realistic looking child's stuffed animal.
GERG already tried this and the world laughed.
That was a beaver.
As far as the idea, it is bound to bring in FAR more revenue than a sideline mascot.
I fully support this. They already have teddy bears in Michigan shirts. Just sell stuffed wolverines wearing like a maize "M" bandana around its neck or something. Win.
and Kenny Demens said GTFO
I hear it's going to be a walking pizza named Dom and a walking coupon named Val following it around.
1) No compromise with moronic ideas, ever.
2) We tried live Wolverines. They nearly killed people.
As an EEB major who is looking into zoology I am 100% behind this. Heck, I'd even be up to being part of the crew that cares for the thing. How badass would it be to say that you raise wolverines.
I've actually been toying with that idea as a potential post-retirement project... you know, move to Canada, buy a bunch of land in the middle of nowhere, raise wolverines, otters and hedgehogs (far apart from one another...), the usual.
we go back to the tradition of taking the mascots of other, lesser schools and post them! especially the Bucknut.
I'm not sure how I feel about caging Wolverines and parading fans through to see them right by the big house... That place is a loud and crazy on gamedays, not sure how they'd handle all the stimulation. Zoos can be sketchy enough sometimes regarding their treatment of animals, and having a few Wolverines in a habitat in the middle of downtown Ann Arbor sounds like maybe a bad idea to me... idk, just kind of rubs me the wrong way thinking about it. Not sure if I can put a finger on exactly why though.
I say we brink back Whiskey and Brandy. Sure, a couple of alcoholic dogs have nothing to do with Michigan football, but neither does a giant stuffed wolverine wandering the sidelines.
I like it.
nice write-up here: http://michigantoday.umich.edu/story.php?id=8003
NO MASCOT......NO MASCOT
.....NO FUCKING MASCOT.......I like what Brandon is doing since taking over..But come on,its michigan.. History,tradition, no mascot is our mascot......GO BLUE !!!!!!
I think the following would happen if we had live fights between the animals:
Score Indicates how many seconds the opposing animal would survive in a cage fight against a wolverine.
Gopher 13
Lion 55
Badger 42
Wildcat 49
Sparty 0.2
Pete 0.4
Hawkeye 37* (w/ wings clipped .05)
Help me with others gotta work!
Bronco 50
Leprechaun 2
Eagle 37* (see hawkeye)
Aztec 25