A mascot compromise?

Submitted by AC1997 on

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?

maizedandconfused

June 20th, 2011 at 9:33 PM ^

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.

ryebreadboy

June 20th, 2011 at 9:37 PM ^

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.

Lampuki22

June 20th, 2011 at 9:45 PM ^

Keep endangered specied as pets or "mascots"
<br>
<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.
<br>
<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!
<br>
<br>Just a thought.

SchrodingersCat

June 20th, 2011 at 10:00 PM ^

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!

Bando Calrissian

June 20th, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^

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.

wresler120

June 20th, 2011 at 10:38 PM ^

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.

Space Coyote

June 20th, 2011 at 10:42 PM ^

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.

tdcarl

June 20th, 2011 at 11:00 PM ^

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.

CleverMichigan…

June 20th, 2011 at 11:56 PM ^

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. 

Rather be on BA

June 20th, 2011 at 11:16 PM ^

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.

M.I.Sicks

June 20th, 2011 at 11:17 PM ^

How about some Holograms of some real wolverines? That would be some cutting edge stuff right there without all the douchey mascot antics. Check this out.

elm

June 20th, 2011 at 11:18 PM ^

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.

Top dog 4578

June 21st, 2011 at 8:06 AM ^

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 !!!!!!

RowoneEndzone

June 21st, 2011 at 8:07 AM ^

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!