Mascots need makeover

How come our mascot is outfitted like a Muppet? I have a problem with our “strutting wolf” and the Wuf couple. I hate being represented by wolves that look like ex-Muppets. The happy-go-lucky wolves are degrading to our school’s reputation.

As representatives of the University, our current Muppet-like mascots infuriate me because they are so ridiculous. We are adults about to enter the job market and our mascot looks like every toddler’s hero. We may as well make our mascot a wolf cub with safety scissors in one hand and a rattle in the other.

Ever since my first athletic event I’ve wanted to kick myself for choosing to attend a university with such a childish-looking mascot. Our “strutting wolf” looks as though he is about to go cry after watching The Notebook.

What’s the use in representing the University with an animal as admired as a wolf when the University cannot capitalize on its perks? Wolves are strong, fast, aggressive, wild and free. Our mascots are goofy looking.

If you were to put clothes on a wolf, the wolf would remove them, the only exception being a lame wolf, a dead wolf or a restrained wolf. We need to have an air of aggression for athletics to psyche out the competition. We need a mascot who looks wild, unrestrained and free. We need a mascot that looks like it would make babies cry, not one that looks like it cries like a baby.

Students should be represented by more aggressive and bold figures. In the job market, people want the go-getters, the strong hunters. Unfortunately, the strutting wolf and the Wuf couple look like “the hunted,” as opposed to “the hunters.”

I, for one, would like to be represented as a hunter and associate myself with the wild nature of wolves. Maybe I missed something, but last time I checked, I respected teams with bold mascots. A good example is the Maryland terrapin. The only thing truthfully menacing about a terrapin is its appetite for garden-variety plants. If Maryland can make a slow, short, virtually harmless herbivore look like it can break necks and take names then I am sure our University can do the same for a wolf.

A wolf is a blood-thirsty, swift, agile, cunning and sharp-toothed killing machine, so it shouldn’t seem less intimidating than the even-tempered and docile terrapin. Sadly, our wolf, a perfect predator, is less intimidating than Maryland’s terrapin, a tiny and slow herbivore. Maryland’s terrapin mascot looks like its genes have been spliced with the Incredible Hulk.

Maryland has several of its fighting terrapins all over its campus. Some of these are painted to look as though they are strangling other teams’ mascots.

Pardon me, but that is awesome. The terrapin is terrifying and the wolf is cuddly? If we want to promote school spirit then I don’t see the harm in having some wolves attacking other mascots or coming off as wild.

Why not portray our University as “the wild card?” We could have a wolf that has torn clothing in its mouth. Our wolf could look ready to pounce. The options are endless.

It is time to rethink and redesign our mascot. I would rather be associated with the most aggressive, wolf-like attributes. If students have a wild desire to be the best, then our mascot should mirror that. Wild wolves are better and we should get rid of the clothing-wearing wolves. Our wolves should lose the cheesy clothes and goofy expressions, portray raw passion, desire and aggression. I want to see alpha male and female, not Mr. and Ms. Wuf. I want to see a wolf on all fours, not the strutting wolf.

Let Mansoor know your thoughts at letters@technicianonline.com.