Stories Behind the Fur » Schools by State

Auburn’s Spirit

storiesbehindthefur — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:47:30 +0000

Something’s brewing in the news of if and when Auburn’s bald eagle mascot, Spirit will fly in Saturday’s game. Apparently the bird zigged when it should have zagged and hit a skybox in the game against Mississippi State, September 10. According to the the loveliest village blog video, Spirit is fine and just giving other mascots a turn to bring it!

Filed under: Alabama

Monday is for Luv, Wednesday is for Hugs

storiesbehindthefur — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:01:55 +0000

courtesy of URC Newsroom

At least hugs is on the agenda in Riverside, California and for UC Riverside’s mascot Scotty Highlander. He is hoping to call fans and friends from all over to help break a world record for most hugs in an hour.

At high noon this Wednesday, lots of people will line up near the bell tower and be wearing blue and gold (since Wednesdays are R’Day). This is not only a chance to be a part of history and record breaking but one does get the gift of a hug as well as a ”I Hugged Scotty!” sticker, and participants are eligible for other prizes.

Tonantzin Oseguera, assistant dean in Student Life, is “confident” that UC Riverside can beat the current Guinness World Record of 1,201 hugs in an hour. Rules are strict though. Two independent witnesses not affiliated with the University must sign sworn statements, and the mascot must stay in one place once the hugging has commenced, and the event must submit photos and videos.(can’t wait for those to post!)

courtesy of URC Newsroom

Looks like Scotty Highlander is prepared from his facebook page and this record-breaking attempt is a great way to show school pride and kick off UCR’s homecoming celebration, Feb. 21-26. Events including a bonfire, a basketball game, a large concert, classes, a hike and reunions.

Filed under: California

UGA VIII passed away yesterday

storiesbehindthefur — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 18:00:02 +0000

Sadly, the great-great-great-great-great grandson of the original Uga, UGA VIII, the most recent bulldog mascot for University of Georgia passed away yesterday, after being diagnosed with Lymphoma in January. Otherwise know as Big Bad Bruce, UGA VIII was introduced to the Bulldog nation this year and served as official mascot for only six games. The pet of Savannah local “Sonny” Seiler and family, our condolences since the world barely enjoyed the antics of VIII. In the mean time, half-brother, Russ, will step in until another from the lineage is chosen. Hope it’s not as difficult a task as the last time.

Filed under: Georgia

How many push ups?

storiesbehindthefur — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 23:45:59 +0000

Update: 22 Auburn 19 Oregon. Field goal 2 secs left in 4th quarter. 10 secs left touchdown? Kick on the 1/2 yard line Touchdown 2:33 in the 4th game tied at 19 Auburn 19, Oregon 11 11:30 remaining in the 3rd quarter; Auburn leads Oregon 16-11 at halftime

LA Times’ Chris Erskine has posted a commentary on mascots, ripping a little into the Tree and Big Red-asking the question why do we love them so? Our friend Bengi Gray weighs in on the hard work of all mascots and anonymity.

The writing goes on to talk of how signature the Duck’s push ups are–possibly Duck doing accumulated points/push ups is unique, but we’ve seen Bucky Badger injured this year as well as a few web sites saying that the Oregon Duck got into a scuffle with Houston Cougars Shasta for copying the push up routine in 2007-apparently a YouTube hot link. Let’s hope that this type of rough housing doesn’t happen tonight against a Tiger!

Filed under: Oregon

Branding 101

storiesbehindthefur — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:50:19 +0000

Talk about a big change! The College of William and Mary went from years of not having a mascot to now creating a Visual Identity Committee to monitor and take inventory on all logos in use. The Flat Head News reports that the goal is to consolidate as currently there are many marks and logos (official and unofficial) since they currently have 12 trademarked logos in use.
Although many students think different logos help one show school spirit in different ways, The College of WIlliam and Mary and its formed committees feel that cohesion on a visual identity is important. Susan Evans, the committee’s creative services chair, is quoted as saying, “Identity is one of those things where you only recognize it if it’s not done well,”.
Good Luck to them and I’m sorry I can’t say go (Asparagus) stalks!

Filed under: Virginia

Bearcat arrested for Snowballing

storiesbehindthefur — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 04:04:17 +0000

Bearcat is the bad boy of mascots this year! Banned for taking down Brutus the Buckeye earlier this year and now arrested for disorderly conduct. Gotta love cell phone cameras and social media! What probably wouldn’t make news, lives on, on the internet. Apparently Rufus Bearcat was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct for an incident of throwing snow and resisting stadium dismissal December 4 at the game against Pittsburgh. Seems harmless but is snowballed into urging the crowd to start throwing snowballs and when Pittsburgh’s Dion Lewis scored a touchdown, he was pelted with snowballs.

Filed under: Ohio

Buff Bucky Badger?

storiesbehindthefur — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:42:13 +0000

The Evansville Courier Press posted an article of sports humor called The Cheap Seats and here’s one Stories Behind the Fur REALLY likes!:
Wisconsin mascot Bucky Badger, who does a post-touchdown push-up for every accumulated point on the scoreboard, wound up doing 573 of them during his team’s 83-20 pasting of Indiana. “You know you’re in a blowout,” noted Vancouver (B.C.) comic Torben Rolfsen, “when the opponent’s mascot is in better shape than your team.” Added Reggie Hayes of the Fort Wayne (Ind.) News-Sentinel: “Afterward, he had no regrets and said many mascots live happy, productive lives without rotator cuffs.”

Here’s another article on the animal’s injury

Filed under: Wisconsin

Enter Blaze, a new mascot-perhaps they should rename him Blame

storiesbehindthefur — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:04:26 +0000

After 117 years, Hood College has debuted a mascot-an equine mascot at that named Blaze. Junior student athlete and Student Athletic Advisory Committee President, Doug Raftery felt that a mascot would be just the ticket to get fans enthusiastic and rally at the school’s sporting events. Based on a 2005 logo-Hood Blazers- the mascot costume was approved, constructed and delivered in August in time for fall athletics.

According to an article in the Frederick News Post, Blaze has 2 outfits-one athletic and one with a blazer, nodding to the college’s tradition. The school feels that “Blaze’s facial expression is fierce, but friendly.”

I say after the upset of many a heart and pocketbook at Zenyatta’s loss to Blame at the Breeder’s Cup recently, perhaps the Hood College Blaze rethink its name and choose Blame!

Filed under: Maryland