BU Mascot choices- and a Pick-em contest

[tornado]

Funch--
I don't think there is any plan to change the BU nickname, it will remain ther Bradley Braves.

They are looking for a mascot, kinda like the Tommy Hawk or Bobcat, but not in any way connected with Native Americans.

[dogsrus]

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/politics/15510278.htm

Another thing from this article says... "suggestions should play off Bradley's Braves nickname without using American Indian imagery and should be 'visually aggressive but not frightening'."

How does that apply to our list of wonderful suggestions here?

With exactly that in mind I sent BU an Email noting the lack of an "average fan" on the committee. While a very nice variety of BU alumns, admin. and former athletes were assemebled I pointed out the fact that BU is what it is in a large part from support by people that never attended BU.

I would guess WELL over 50% of those with a rooting interest in BU at any one game is represented by non-alumns.

I realize an mentioned that soliciting ideas from the public was admirable but that BU would be well served to have a non-alum on the committee....

[MacabreMob]

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/politics/15510278.htm

Another thing from this article says... "suggestions should play off Bradley's Braves nickname without using American Indian imagery and should be 'visually aggressive but not frightening'."

How does that apply to our list of wonderful suggestions here?

With exactly that in mind I sent BU an Email noting the lack of an "average fan" on the committee. While a very nice variety of BU alumns, admin. and former athletes were assemebled I pointed out the fact that BU is what it is in a large part from support by people that never attended BU.

I would guess WELL over 50% of those with a rooting interest in BU at any one game is represented by non-alumns.

I realize an mentioned that soliciting ideas from the public was admirable but that BU would be well served to have a non-alum on the committee....

I actually disagree with you Dogs (maybe the first time).

I understand fully what you are saying.

I am coming from the point of view of being 'part of the club' - an alumni.

I know there are many die hard fans on both sides (alumni and not alumni).

But of that WELL over 50% of non-alumni that attend games, I KNOW many (and feel safe in saying 1/3 of them) go to "hope/enjoy see the trapeze artist fall". And when the trapeze artist is successful, they fill local brew-hahas and talk about, 'Man, they might be pretty good. I mean, C'mon, they just beat UNI in overtime who is the MVC favorite and have beaten Iowa and won at LSU! (then quickly go into questioning LSU and Iowa to discredit Bradley's win, UNI's wins, the MVC's credibility... and we are back to square one)" And to me, their talk is SO CHEAP and so disingenuous. They are also the same ones that say it is ok to root for Illinois (mostly because they believe it is always and completely 2 different levels - which by the way, last year was 2 different levels, Bradley was better).

Do I think they deserve an equal voice on the decision making for "my club"? No.

I say to them....

Go to the Brew-haha, complain you have no voice. Join hands and raise up over KW's (sure to come) rebellion over the process and decision.

Then go home.

And when the season gets under way.... go to the games (like you always do, hoping the trapeze artist falls)... and once he does stammer - POUNCE! Let him have it!

[Braves4Life]

Amen

Mac:

Amen..........and goodnight!

[flipper]

I like the Bradley Blaze because it rhymes with the old one and fire is cool.

I also like the Bradley Blitz. I'll go with Blaze for this contest though.

never thought of blaze. kinda like it. red and unique. bu blaze. someone posted that we have already had a bobcat and a hawk. maybe something other than an animal or bird would be a good idea.

[tornado]

I sent BU an Email noting the lack of an "average fan" on the committee. ....

dogs--
I have just been informed that the letter has been sent out to you naming you as the designated
"average fan" for the committee's purposes.

[squirrel]

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/politics/15510278.htm

Another thing from this article says... "suggestions should play off Bradley's Braves nickname without using American Indian imagery and should be 'visually aggressive but not frightening'."

How does that apply to our list of wonderful suggestions here?

With exactly that in mind I sent BU an Email noting the lack of an "average fan" on the committee. While a very nice variety of BU alumns, admin. and former athletes were assemebled I pointed out the fact that BU is what it is in a large part from support by people that never attended BU.

I would guess WELL over 50% of those with a rooting interest in BU at any one game is represented by non-alumns.

I realize an mentioned that soliciting ideas from the public was admirable but that BU would be well served to have a non-alum on the committee....

I actually disagree with you Dogs (maybe the first time).

I understand fully what you are saying.

I am coming from the point of view of being 'part of the club' - an alumni.

I know there are many die hard fans on both sides (alumni and not alumni).

But of that WELL over 50% of non-alumni that attend games, I KNOW many (and feel safe in saying 1/3 of them) go to "hope/enjoy see the trapeze artist fall". And when the trapeze artist is successful, they fill local brew-hahas and talk about, 'Man, they might be pretty good. I mean, C'mon, they just beat UNI in overtime who is the MVC favorite and have beaten Iowa and won at LSU! (then quickly go into questioning LSU and Iowa to discredit Bradley's win, UNI's wins, the MVC's credibility... and we are back to square one)" And to me, their talk is SO CHEAP and so disingenuous. They are also the same ones that say it is ok to root for Illinois (mostly because they believe it is always and completely 2 different levels - which by the way, last year was 2 different levels, Bradley was better).

Do I think they deserve an equal voice on the decision making for "my club"? No.

I say to them....

Go to the Brew-haha, complain you have no voice. Join hands and raise up over KW's (sure to come) rebellion over the process and decision.

Then go home.

And when the season gets under way.... go to the games (like you always do, hoping the trapeze artist falls)... and once he does stammer - POUNCE! Let him have it!

Since I only have a little over a decade of experience cheering for Bradley, and since I'm not a "true" fan because I grew up an Illinois fan as my father taught me to be loyal to the state school, I would submit this "bunker" mentality and stubborn alumni attitude and reluctance to open up and move forward is precisely why Bradley University has become irrelevant over the last forty years.

I would hope they by and large ignore that demographic because truthfully, I don't feel they have the university's betterment in mind. They would rather put up walls and resent any outsiders possibly giving a damn.

That is why I have no faith that the result of this will be a success.

I for one envision a Bradley University that is recognized nationally and globally and offers only excellence across the board, but also offers a symbol that is instantly recognizable and also will absolutely be wildly popular.

But casual fans and outsiders don't count and shouldn't have a say.

And yet some still wonder why people don't know Bradley. Because some would rather the University keep to themselves and continue to take a backseat in everything.

[Da Coach]

I have also gone on record here and on other boards as not being a fan of "committee" decision-making. I think the 2002 committee itself caused Bradley great damage in the last coach-selection process.

For this mascot idea, my suggestion would be to hire one of the many marketing firms that specialize in handling these matters. There are many good firms that work with colleges and major and minor league franchises in all sports to develop successful and highly marketable mascots. Maybe they could even check out who Akron used to develop their successful Zippy the Kangaroo mascot.

I would prefer to see Bradley just get it done, and let us know what they decided after it's all done. I am afraid the committee approach will drag this out, lead to indecisiveness, result in a decision that has many detractors right from the start, and cause hard feelings (ala the judge).

[Heemeskerk]

Mascot

I say a Giantslayer....with a small guy and a sling shot. Maybe not permissible under the non-violent stipulation but I think it fitting for BU as we "slay" the big boys.

[Average Joe]

not being a fan of "committee" decision-making.

Has anyone paid attention to the process by which a committee chose the four names that everyone was supposed to vote for to name the Peoria museum?
The committee came up with four choices that were so dissed, that now they have trashed the whole vote idea and are opening up the whole process all over again.
This proves their previous efforts ill-advised and wasted time.
Some 5 year old could have thought up more attractive and more acceptable names.