Final decision--> No Mascot

[ser_solace]

I'm happy there is no mascot. All of those finalists were terrible suggestions. A Clock? What?! How can that be a finalist.

I'd rather keep the Braves name with no mascot. If we want to be able to market the Bradley name better, it's simple. Just win. National champions are always famous.

[real fan]

Winning sells a lot of merchandise and making it to the sweet 16 gets you a huge amount of publicity ; did we have a mascot last season, no.

[Braves4Life]

New President

I would love to see BU get a "strong" President who is not afraid to make a decision! I have always hated this committee crap approach that these lib universities take. These committees take forever and never make the right decision. Just get a strong leader who gathers the facts and opinions of the people and let him have the courage and insight to make the right choice.

If he is too dumb (read liberal ) to make the right choice then there will hopefully be the appropriate uproar to fire his @ss (I say "his" because I'm not a PC lib )

My vote is Bradley Braves, or Brave. I'd be happy either way. Anything else is unacceptable!

[That Guy]

a missed opportunity,imo.

Now, if the logo can be redesigned to a much more marketable style, we will be in business. The 'BU Braves' script logo has run its course.

I concur. Schools like Indiana have no mascot, but they have one of the most marketable logos in the NCAA. I'm tired of going to Northwoods mall, and seeing 5 BU hats and 10-15 ISU hats. I feel the real search should be for an updated, marketable logo.

When did we adopt the current logo, just curious?

[bravesonly]

guys we're all completely overlooking the obvious here...how bout we become the bradley bradleys and the mascot is just a group of current students named bradley...any thoughts/feedback?

[dogsrus]

Squirrel -

1) It is hard to market or sell for a bad product. (winning teams sell tickets and gear - not mascots)

2) I thought we were off the list. (we have had a generic logo with no mascot for a while to support the generic blanketing of the term Braves)

We are on a "watch list" and they made it clear we needed to be proactive. The status quo does nothing to help us.

And I can argue against point 1 all day long. It is hard to market and sell a generic product. I know mascots are not the only thing that sells. BUT they can help you stand out.

Take a look at the college basketball 2007 game by 2K sports. Two of the unlockables are the Wichita and Indiana St mascots. Not the most popular by any means, but invaluable recognition.

The proactive action was changing the name of the Chiefs Club. It's over and done with.

I don't think it is. Time will tell. The only way I see it ending is if there was a completely different visual symbol.

I will say this...when you say Braves I will and think I always will think of Indians. So to me BU is STILL "hostile and abusive" under the stupid NCAA standards.

My point Squirrel is as long as we are the Braves I don't see a symbol changing the fact that Braves=Indians. Its ingrained in society's mind IMO.

You either drop Braves or simply redesign the logo. You can be the BU Braves with a clock, rocket, gargoyle, Bobcat, etc. Your name still says Scalp em, war paint and all those stereotypes the NCAA wants gone.

I understand what you are saying Dogs. . .and that is what is so darn frustrating. The NCAA left the onus with us to do something, and we did nothing. That's why for those heralding this a victory have another thing coming, in my humble opinion.

This will definitely be a major issue during the upcoming Presidential search.

good point.....like someone said in another thread. Before too long its another attempt to come up with a bunch of other names that no one will like.

My contention is IT CAN'T BE DONE. Braves=INDIANS.....

[squirrel]

I know for a fact that at least 3 different people at ESPN took the survey and voted for the squirrel as even they saw endless potential with the mascot.

So for those who think it would be a joke or an embarassment. . .that's lost time on ESPN to me.

[Dallas Brave]

This is entirely speculation on my end. I truly have no inside scoop on why this "final decision" was made at this time.

But, in reality, no decision can arbitrarily be forced to be final just by saying it's final. As some earlier posters suggest, the mascot issue will continue to be debated and by that virtue will leave open the possibility for a new and future final decision to be made.

I suspect ol' DB decided to put this hot potato to rest for the remainder of his term in office. He, quite wisely I would add, doesn't want a decision to choose some sort of mascot to be the last thing people remember about him and his time at BU. He wants people to remember his legacy as the guy who brought in JL (good move), spearheaded the long-term capital campaign (good move), and the guy who announced the $100 million building projects (well done ol???‚¬?„? chap). BU has prospered under DB - he did a good job and that's how he wants to be thought of as he goes off into the sunset. He does not want that last thing that people remember about him to be the guy who picked the Clock for a mascot. Which, by the way, I do kinda like the clock ???‚¬??? seriously.

In some ways, I think it is right and proper to push this mascot issue of to the next President of BU. The mascot issue is a great "get to know ya" opportunity. He, or she, can use this issue as way to get to know all the student and alumni factions who like to get their emotions wrapped around the axle. Whatever the next final decsion is, it will be sure to hack off at least 50% of the BU Nation. Welcome to BU - Home of the Brave(s).

[BTID]

I agree you don't need a mascot to associate with your team of choice. If the new prez is intent on Bradley getting a new logo or nickname, I still stand by "Bulldozers". Many BU students have interned at Caterpillar over the years, and the company is synonamous with Peoria. It's been very good to our alma mater. Instead of the Chief's Club, you could have the Earthmovers. The student section could call itself the Dirtbags, or something much more clever than that. My logo would have a red bulldozer with menacing eyes for headlights and "BU" on the scoop.

If we go with a tree-flower-plant concept, I opt for a gigantic venus flytrap! It would be cool to see it courtside with Dana Altman's or Chris Lowery's legs hanging from its jaws!

[BU Bill]

This AP article appeared in a number of newspapers in Illinois:

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2007/02/03/sports/college/doc45c47dd61fb43471487979.txt

Same article in Chicago Trib:

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/cs-070202bradley,1,2808975.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

[Dallas Brave]

I agree you don't need a mascot to associate with your team of choice. If the new prez is intent on Bradley getting a new logo or nickname, I still stand by "Bulldozers". Many BU students have interned at Caterpillar over the years, and the company is synonamous with Peoria. It's been very good to our alma mater. Instead of the Chief's Club, you could have the Earthmovers. The student section could call itself the Dirtbags, or something much more clever than that. My logo would have a red bulldozer with menacing eyes for headlights and "BU" on the scoop.

If we go with a tree-flower-plant concept, I opt for a gigantic venus flytrap! It would be cool to see it courtside with Dana Altman's or Chris Lowery's legs hanging from its jaws!

Those are really good ideas and I think your suggestions hit the gist of what is most critical in choosing a new mascot. You can choose almost anything, within reason, and make it into a great mascot. What matters is how the new mascot behaves, interacts with crowd, and provides entertainment value in general. If the students embrace the mascot, the alumni and local community will follow.

The idea of the Bradley Bulldozer is pretty good in my opinion. It has all the connections to the BU and local area that you mention and the students could have a heck of a lot fun doing wacky off-takes of it. While I know the clock mascot was considered lame by many, I also thought it had merit. The clock has the "early history of BU" connection along with the more current "showcase building on campus" connection. There are lots of double meanings on the theme of clock and time around which the students could push the envelope of decency. What matters most is the manifestation that the mascot takes on as it becomes part of the milieu, not if it is a bulldozer, a clock, or a bobcat.

So, someone needs to select a mascot and then the school administration and local business community need to relax enough to allow the student body to morph it into something that succeeds.

[dogsrus]

Mudcats......Canton is looking to change. I like it.

[GObravesGO1981]

I know for a fact that at least 3 different people at ESPN took the survey and voted for the squirrel as even they saw endless potential with the mascot.

So for those who think it would be a joke or an embarassment. . .that's lost time on ESPN to me.

Now, I don't know you - or what you do. But I'm sure there are thousands of people that work for ESPN...so three really doesn't mean that much to me.

And if we lost some airtime because we aren't the squirrells I say...OH WELL! I'd much rather pass on the air time than be the laughing stock of the NCAA.

"Oh, Bradley has lots of squirrels, its perfect. They aren't scared of nothin'."

No, every college that has a quad (like we do) in the middle of an urban area (like we are in) has squirrels. They may not be skiddish but they also get hit by an awful lot of trucks. C'mon now, we don't need a mascot to validate our program...just W's.

I for one know lots of people, right here in Peoria, that think not having a silly mascot is the best idea since this whole thing came up.

[Da Coach]

It seems like we had this argument when Bradley opened up the selection for a mascot, and now it's over. Yes, an animal like a squirrel would hav been unique and would have gotten media coverage initially. It would have even sold some merchandise. But it would not have made Bradley's athletic teams any better, or helped recruiting.
I can appreciate all the sides of this issue, but the decision has been made, and Bradley and fans need to support the decision.
Maybe the incoming president might reopen this issue, but I do not think that will happen anytime soon.

[smurf]

I was hoping for something like the "Chieftains", and we would have a Scottish warlord for our mascot. Bagpipers and students in kilts and war paint would be cool. The "Chiefs Club" wouldn't have to change their name!
Oh well, I have to agree, no name is better than what they offered us.