So, with an attempt to judge without prejudice, here's a list from the blogging staff on the best and worst Big 12 mascots we'll be seeing this year, listed in order from best to not-so-hot. The criteria: Appropriateness, originality, fame and coolness.
1. UT's BEVO
Keep in mind, I'm talking solely about the mascot, not a school or obnoxious fans or their unfair access to more money than everyone else. I'm talking about a bovine.
And what a great bovine it is: A breed that's a major part of Texas history, a distinctive color, majestic horns, and -- appropriate for Austin -- he's drugged out of his mind at every game. (At least according to rumor. Makes sense, a frantic longhorn at a football game could do some seriously bad things.)
He's also tied into the school's image so much that he brings out a sense of hatred from the opponents. You talk to UT haters (a big group of people). They hate UT players, the coach, Chris Simms (forever), and they really, really hate the hoofed, grass-eating mammal that represents the orange and white. That's pretty cool, all things considered.
2. A&M's Reveille
I'm not one to get excited about all 867 of Texas A&M's traditions -- "Oh, so you reverse the fork and knife after a tie. Wow. You've got spirit, yes you do."
But the way that the school has made its mascot such an integral part of campus life is something to envy. The traditions behind the dog are both amusing and cool: A corps member has to give up his bed if that's where Reveille wants to sleep; the dog goes to class -- and the lecture is canceled if she barks twice. And the mascots that pass away are given full military funerals and buried at Kyle Field.
She's not at the top of the list because, when you think Aggie football traditions, you're just as likely to think about male yell leaders, that swaying thing or the corps in general.
I'm also partial to dogs. Which you should be if you have a soul.
3. Tech's Masked Rider
Attack my impartiality, but seeing a black horse at full gallop storming onto the field is an awesome sight.
Besides, he's my mascot and I love him.
TCU's SuperFrog
Sorry, just reliving some Southwest Conference memories.
4. Nebraska's Herbie Husker
Hey, you grow corn. And you are white as the pure-driven snow. Might as well celebrate it.
5. OU's Sooner Schooner
A little team of miniature horses pulls a miniature wagon onto the field. Adorable.
6. Colorado's Ralphie
He was higher on the list until the thought struck me: "Wait a minute ... just how many buffaloes roam the Rockies, anyway?"
The first of the generic mascots that could represent any school in any state in the country. That's a big gripe of mine -- surely you can come up with something original? Otherwise, the bear pit is nice, and Baylor really takes good care of them.
Generic, not native to Missouri, or this hemisphere, and makes me think about cereal.
7. KU's Big Jay
A version of a "JayHawk", which requires a wikipedia search to define -- a cross between a sparrow hawk, a blue jay and an abolitionist. Admirable. Pretty well-known. But nothing that gets me going.
8. Baylor's Judge
The first of the generic mascots that could represent any school in any state in the country. That's a big gripe of mine -- surely you can come up with something original? Otherwise, the bear pit is nice, and Baylor really takes good care of them.
9. OSU's Pistol Pete
I suppose he's appropriate to Oklahoma, but he's also appropriate to just about every great plains school in the country. A mascot is something that should pop into your head the moment you think about a team. With Oklahoma State, I can only think "I'm a man! I'm 40!" Maybe they could get Pistol Pete to yell that at kickoff ...
10. KSU's Willie the Wildcat
Pretty much a toss-up at the bottom of the list. Two cat mascots that I wouldn't recognize if I walked by them on the street -- and that's with them wearing the big fluffy cat suits. I'm sure that wildcats at least exist in Kansas.
11. Mizzou's Truman the Tiger
Generic, not native to Missouri, or this hemisphere, and makes me think about cereal.
Hmmm ... forgot Iowa State.
Eh, who cares?
7 comments:
Your top three are good. when you think of them you think of the school they represent.
OU used to have an Indian Chief that would come out on the field and do a war dance. One of the first mascots to fall victim to political correctness.
TR
Really? Never heard about that one. I guess that P.C. has even purged all appearances out of the OU campus, as I saw nothing when I was up there and can't recall seeing anything on TV.
That'd been higher up on this list.
There was an Indian and he was dressed in plains Indian costume. (Not much that is) Too bad they fired him.!!!!
Sounds like a hater to me. Tech and the Red Raiders, yeah that's just so original. You talk about generic mascots that could fit just about anywhere in the Southwest and Western parts of the country. Oh wait he's red, that makes sense to someone
Since the Cheyenne and Arapaho, were native to the Colorado Plains which used to have thousands of buffaloes, I think the CU mascot has more historical and geographical significance than any of the mascots (Also quite often in nation wide top ten for best mascot).
As the crow flies, Colorado is mostly great plains / praire, now remember I said as the crow flies, so I believe a Buffalo is appropriate, but great list, thanks.
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