The Mask-Ot

So I read this news highlight on facebook the other day “BYU to consider changing mascot due to possible offense toward older women.”  Yes, you read that correctly…this was a story done by one of the most watched news stations in the state.  Now I dislike BYU as much as the next guy, but, in the words of Chris Berman: C’mon Man!!

The story went on to detail that the use of the cougar as the institution’s mascot may be offensive to some older (I think they meant middle aged) women.  Really?  I didn’t even realize that women were called cougars, but if they were, it should be taken as a compliment.  After all, cougars are graceful, gorgeous animals that aren’t afraid to defend their territory and their young.  I could certainly handle being referred to as graceful and gorgeous on a regular basis!

This is just plain idiocy. 

For those of you that don’t know, BYU is Brigham Young University and is located in Provo, UT.  Commonly referred to in these parts as the “Y”, the university’s mascot is the cougar.  Being the practical thinker that I am, I realize (as most logical people would) that they most likely chose the cougar as their mascot because the Wasatch mountains (mountain range spanning most of northern Utah) are home to many cougars (aka: mountain lions & pumas).  So the founders of the school decided to use a symbol of the local area as the identifying image of their institution.  Isn’t that how mascots are usually determined anyway? 

I am from a small town called Delta, Utah.  Seriously I think there are more jack rabbits there than in the rest of the world combined.  So guess what our high school mascot was (and still is)…you got it, the Rabbits.  The mascot for Cedar HS in Cedar City, UT is the Redmen, so named for the multitude of Native American Indians that once inhabited the area (so I am guessing).    

As stupid as it is to even have the time to think about being offended by a mascot (and if you are, you REALLY need to find a hobby because you have WAY too much time on your hands), BYU isn’t the only college in this state to change or at least consider changing their mascot because somebody got offended (see quote in right sidebar of this blog to remind yourself now I feel about offending people).

Every few years it seems someone pops out a story about the University of Utah (the “U”) needing to change its mascot (the Runnin’ Utes) because it may (or may not) be offensive to the descendants of the native Ute Indians that used to inhabit much of Northern Utah.  Now maybe it’s just me, but if I were of Native American heritage (oh wait, I am!!  Different tribe though…) I would feel honored to have a major institution recognize the heritage of the area and name their mascot after it.  Besides, what would they change it to, the Pioneers??  Then you would have half a million “Mormons” (I can use that term cuz I am one) with their panties in a knot over the use of the “pioneer” as a mascot. 

A few years back, Dixie State College changed their mascot (which used to be the Rebels).  Partly because of the proximity to UNLV whose mascot is also the Rebels, but probably more so because some white collar paper pusher suggested that it portrayed an image of the school as not being patriotic and having a rebellious nature. 

PLEASE…give me a break!!  It’s a freaking mascot—something that is supposed to generate school spirit and make the fans go wild at football or basketball (or whatever-ball) games.  It’s something that gets printed on sweatshirts, T-shirts, pens, pencils, and pants to help students show off their school pride.  I’m pretty sure that 100 years ago when the school was born, the founders did not envision it as a rebellious, unpatriotic institution.  But, because one (maybe two) people even had the time to think that being “the Rebels” didn’t LOOK good, the school changed its mascot.  They involved the students, had a vote, some kind of big celebration, yada yada yada, and wham bam don’t you know it, now it’s the Red Storm.

Forgive me for not having any school spirit here but what the hell is a Red Storm and how exactly do you dress someone up as one at a football game??  Maybe they chose that name because when the wind blows here the red dirt blows around and turns everything a nice shade of rusty brown for a few days…who knows.

What I do know is that these days, far too many people read much more into things than they need to and because they have nothing better to do than cause more drama in the world, they make up these ridiculous stories about being offended by something that means nothing.  You know what I say to people like that?  TOUGH!!  Suck it up cupcake and get over it already.  You are only offended because you chose to be offended.  The world doesn’t revolve around you and if you are offended by something so trivial as a school mascot, that’s your problem.

There, that’s my soapbox for the day!  Now that I have spewed my thoughts on the subject, I think I’ll go find one of my old Dixie REBELS shirts and have a drink!!

(of water…in case you were wondering  ;)