By David Stanczak
Monday’s Minigraph reported that the University of Illinois is conducting a study to determine whether it is now time to begin seeking ideas for a sports mascot.
I am on record in an old Forum of modestly proposing the name of a mascot for Illinois sports teams: the Crooks, and explaining the appropriateness of that name and symbol. Events in this state since I made that suggestion almost 10 years ago have only strengthened the case for my proposal.But the University isn’t seeking a name at this time, only whether one ought to be considered. In my humble opinion, the answer to that question is and forever ought to remain NO.
All existing mascots in the Big Ten that I am aware of are animated physical depictions of the team name, no matter how unlikely. Did you ever see a real Buckeye do anything but sit there? That approach gets tough with Illinois. The team name is the Illini, which is a reference to the tribes that once inhabited the area. And the Politically Correct Athletic Association has already prohibited anything that smacks of a depiction of Native Americans. So creating a mascot in the usual sense, would necessitate abandoning the team name just for starters. Need any more reasons not to do it?
Unlike most universities, the University of Illinois elected not to go with a fun-and-games mascot who would cavort with the cheerleaders and do goofy and entertaining things at games. Instead, it reached back into the state’s history and brought forth a dignified embodiment of that history in the form of Chief Illiniwek, who never did the sorts of things that mascots do. He was the symbol of the University, which has been without one ever since the PCAA made the consequences of keeping that symbol economically catastrophic. A decision to have a mascot and choose a name for it would sacrifice tradition for entertainment value, meaning for cuteness. It would further the eradication of the Chief ‘s memory as a meaningful symbol for the University. “Here is your mascot, O Illinois fans, who will bring you out of the Land of Losses.”
I, for one, will not profess any loyalty to any sports-oriented golden calf, which would be apostasy to the heritage of this state and this University.
David Stanczak, a Forum commentator since 1995, came to Bloomington in 1971. He served as the City of Bloomington’s first full-time legal counsel for over 18 years, before entering private practice. He is currently employed by the Snyder Companies and continues to reside in Bloomington with his family.
The opinions expressed within WJBC’s Forum are solely those of the Forum’s author, and are not necessarily those of WJBC or Cumulus Media Inc.
