ODDITIES From Linda's Heart
April 1, 2023
Welcome to ODDITIES From Linda’s Heart! As promised, I’ve found 5 odd things from the world of US Football. MASCOTS!
There are lists of 10 weird mascots in various places. I’ve chosen 5 of them to share with you today. After each one, I’ve attached a link to a picture of the mascots.
Sammy the Banana Slug, University of California Santa Cruz
SCSC joined NCAA in 1980. Powers that Be decided the mascot should be the Sea Lion. But the student body rejected that idea. Before joining NCAA, their mascot had been the banana slug, which could be found on the campus in redwood trees. They mounted a protest to keep the slug—and won! Sammy the Slug became a well-known mascot. Here’s a link to some images of Sammy. https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=04650f12d08f05e0JmltdHM9MTY4MDMwNzIwMCZpZ3VpZD0yYTBlM2U5Ny00MmQ4LTYxM2QtMDA5OS0yZjk0NDM3OTYwMDAmaW5zaWQ9NTUyNQ&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=2a0e3e97-42d8-613d-0099-2f9443796000&u=a1L2ltYWdlcy9zZWFyY2g_cT1zYW1teSt0aGUrYmFuYW5hK3NsdWcmaWQ9NzQ1OUY0N0IzRjQyNzQxRDFCMEZFRDg5Q0MyRDE5MTQ2RkI1OTUwQyZGT1JNPUlRRlJCQQ&ntb=1
Artie the Fighting Artichoke, Scottsdale Community College
Searching for a new mascot in the 1970s, the student government decided to make the decision for the administration of the college. They were angry over funding being designated for athletics instead of academics. They offered the student body three choices for the mascot. Rutabagas, Scoundrels, or Artichokes. Winner was the Artichokes, because they have heart. Think about it. Here’s a picture of Artie: https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=70c7a05752cdbb92JmltdHM9MTY4MDMwNzIwMCZpZ3VpZD0yYTBlM2U5Ny00MmQ4LTYxM2QtMDA5OS0yZjk0NDM3OTYwMDAmaW5zaWQ9NTQ3MQ&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=2a0e3e97-42d8-613d-0099-2f9443796000&u=a1L2ltYWdlcy9zZWFyY2g_cT1hcnRpZSt0aGUrYXJ0aWNob2tlK21hc2NvdCZpZD0zNkE0OEVFNkRCQTA2RDFDRTU0QjFDRDA0MkI5MTE3ODE5NkUyRjc0JkZPUk09RVFOQU1J&ntb=1
Gladys the Fighting Squirrel, Mary Baldwin University, Virginia
The Squirrel was chosen to be the mascot because founder, Mary Baldwin’s family crest featured a squirrel. No one seems to know why the mascot was named Gladys. If you happen to know, or can find out, please let us know in a comment below. Here’s a picture of Gladys: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b8/ce/c5/b8cec52e0160a410ce9461af70ec1347.jpg
The Boll Weevil, University of Arkansas Monticello
This mascot’s name came from a quotation made by the school president, Frank Horsfall, in 1925. He said, “The only gosh-darned thing that ever licked the South was the boll weevil.” I’m sure cotton farmers agreed. Here’s a picture: https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=236aca83f7a84614JmltdHM9MTY4MDMwNzIwMCZpZ3VpZD0yYTBlM2U5Ny00MmQ4LTYxM2QtMDA5OS0yZjk0NDM3OTYwMDAmaW5zaWQ9NTg1NQ&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=2a0e3e97-42d8-613d-0099-2f9443796000&u=a1L2ltYWdlcy9zZWFyY2g_cT1Cb2xsJTIwV2VldmlsJTIwTWFzY290JTIwQXJrYW5zYXMmRk9STT1JUUZSQkEmaWQ9QjM5NjY0OTg4MUQ1NkUzOUNDMzc3OEI1QzNCQkJGMzEwNTI1QjM5MA&ntb=1
Speedy the Geoduck, Evergreen State College, Washington
Speedy isn’t a duck or any type of bird. Speedy is a mollusk, like snails and clams. The largest burrowing clam, geoducks (gooey-ducks) live in the Pacific Northwest, so, naturally, they were chosen as the mascot for the school. Matt Groening was a gooey-duck! Here’s Speedy: https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=236aca83f7a84614JmltdHM9MTY4MDMwNzIwMCZpZ3VpZD0yYTBlM2U5Ny00MmQ4LTYxM2QtMDA5OS0yZjk0NDM3OTYwMDAmaW5zaWQ9NTg1NQ&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=2a0e3e97-42d8-613d-0099-2f9443796000&u=a1L2ltYWdlcy9zZWFyY2g_cT1Cb2xsJTIwV2VldmlsJTIwTWFzY290JTIwQXJrYW5zYXMmRk9STT1JUUZSQkEmaWQ9QjM5NjY0OTg4MUQ1NkUzOUNDMzc3OEI1QzNCQkJGMzEwNTI1QjM5MA&ntb=1
Now, it’s your turn to share any college mascots with odd or weird, or downright silly names. Click on the Comments button below! If the information I’ve shared isn’t correct, please let me know.
Oh! Here’s another Oddity from my back porch! We have a mama cat who had given birth to 4 generations of kittens, all of whom live on our porch or in the storeroom or garage. TA DA!!! Motley gave birth to EIGHT kittens yesterday. The newest generation of Bitty Babies. Why is that odd? She’s always produced 4 kittens in the past. So 8 really is odd!
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Hugs and Happiness!
Linda