Best and Worst Mascots

[doafhat]

I'd like to nominate the following:

Best mascot: Pistol Pete

Best animal mascot: Bullet

Best "real" mascot: Frank "Pistol Pete" Eaton

Frank Eaton's Biography:

"My boy, may an old man's curse rest upon you, if you do not try to avenge your father...You must never stop until they are all accounted for!" These words, according to one of Eaton's many stories were spoken by a family friend following the brutal murder of his father, and guided the formative years of Frank's life.

Born in 1860, in Hartford, Connecticut, Frank moved with his family to Kansas shortly after the close of the Civil War. When Frank was eight years old, his father, a former Union soldier, was shot and killed by a group of lawless former Confederates. Frank was a witness to the murder and each of the murderers' faces was imprinted in his memory.

After being challenged to avenge his father's death by Mose Beaman, (the family friend) Frank set out to learn how to handle guns. Mose gave him a gun and holster, and taught him how to handle and shoot guns. Frank quickly learned to "shoot a snake's head off with either hand". During the next few years, Frank's days were spent helping his mothe r with chores and practicing shooting. With each passing year, he became faster and more accurate with his guns.

When Frank was fifteen, he learned of the location of one of his father's killers. After deciding it was almost time to set out on his mission, Frank wanted to make sure his shooting skills were good enough. He decided to visit Fort Gibson, a cavalry fort, to try to learn more about handling a gun. There he competed with the cavalry's best marksmen, beating them each time. After many competitions, the fort's commanding officer, Colonel Copinger gave Frank a marksmanship badge and a new name. From that day forward, Frank would be known as Pistol Pete!

Frank then set out on the trail of his father's killers. First was Shannon Campsey, Frank killed him on his own front porch. Doc Ferber was next, he was shot off of his horse with "two forty-five slugs through his breast". John Ferber would have been next, but the day before Frank caught up with him, he was shot for chea ting at cards. Frank went to his funeral just to make sure he was dead.

At John Ferber's funeral, Frank met a Deputy United States Marshal who was on the trail of the same men. After talking about the men, Frank was offered, and accepted a commission. At seventeen, Frank became a Deputy U.S. Marshal under Judge Isaac C. Parker, "the hanging judge".

Frank then caught up with Jim and Jonce Campsey together. They were both shot as they drew on Frank. Finally Frank tracked down the last murderer in New Mexico. Wyley Campsey was shot in a barroom gunfight along with two of his hired gunmen.

Finally, after six long years, Frank Eaton was able to avenge his father's death. Each man drew his gun first, but came out "second best" in the end.

Stories such as the above contributed to the fame and notariety of Frank Eaton. He lived the life of a true cowboy, said to "pack the fastest guns in the Indian Territory", he usually carried a loaded forty-five and often said "I'd rather have a pocket full of rock s than an empty gun". His quick-draw was the source of much interest throughout his later years, and Glenn Shirley of Stillwater, OK remembers taking him to an Indian Territory Gun Collectors Association meeting to show off his skills. He was also known to throw a coin in the air, draw, and shoot it before it hit the ground according to H.F. Donnelley of Stillwater who saw it himself. Donnelley also remembers Eaton picking up burning coals which had fallen out of the fire in his Blacksmith shop, with his toes (his feet were so worn and calloused that he couldn't feel it)! When he died, his obituary appeared throughout the country, in the New York Times, Newsweek Magazine, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Cattleman, The 1959 American People's Encyclopedia Yearbook among others, each listing him as a former Deputy U.S. Marshal. In addition, according to his daughter, Elizabeth Wise of Perkins, OK his family received sympathy letters from as far away as Germany, Canada and Japan and was besieged with visitors at his home for many months following the funeral.

Oklahoma State and Pistol Pete:

Around 1923, when Oklahoma A & M College was searching for a new mascot to re place their tiger (copied along with orange and black colors, from Princeton), a group of students saw Frank Eaton leading the Armistice Day Parade. He was approached to see if he would be interested in being the model for the new mascot, and he agreed. A likeness was drawn and began to be used on sweatshirts, stickers, etc. and a tradition was born. That caricature was the basis for what is used today as the official Oklahoma State University Mascot. For thirty-five years, the crusty old cowboy was a living symbol of OSU, representing the colorful past of the area. As such, he would attend OSU athletic events, building dedications, etc., and sign autographs, pose for photographs and reminisce about the Old West with anyone who would listen. In more recent years, the University of Wyoming and New Mexico State University began using variations of OSU's artwork as logos for their schools. To this day, his likeness is a visible reminder of the Old West to literally millions of people yearly as a symbol of colleges whose mascots pay homage to the cowboy.

Each year, 10 to 15 OSU students try out for Pistol Pete. A panel of former "Petes" judge the tryouts and select the two best candidates based on an interview, a mime, and posing as mascot in different "game situations". The two who are selected split the approximately 500 appearances annually. These appearances include all athletic events, pep rallys, business openings, weddings, birthday parties, and public school events.

Worst mascots:

(Hell yes I'm biased)

[Squeaks4]

Wilbur the Wildcat kicks Sparky's ass...

Plus he pulls more chicks...

Haha yea ok,

(And yes I know...not all of these girls are smokin' but you said Wilbur brings in MORE girls

ASU girls -

UofEH girls -

[FUNKAFIED]

Gentlemen (and Ladies?) I submit to you, the mascot from the University of Maine Black Bears, Bananas the Bear.

He is notorious for skating out to center ice and stripping down to his boxers and undershirt (over his suit obviously) during intermission of UMaine hockey games.

Old:

New:

Most students prefer the old one.

[ProvidenceRI]

You all have to learn to be UNBIASED when voting for MASCOTS... geesh. It makes this thread unbearable to read. So, when somebody wants to talk about mascots (other than their own), I will listen...

I have no college football team, but I would have to vote for:

Otto the Orange of Syracuse (even though I hate them)

Uga the Georgia Bulldog... even though it's a YALE ripoff

NIGHTRO

Trojan dude on horse

CU Buffalo

Oregon Duck

and last but not least

Keggy

<img src="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~jacko/Keggy!.JPG">

[LMU]

My biased submission... Iggy!

Of the colleges, the best ones are Wilber the Wildcat, the Stanford Tree, Traveler, Bevo, and of course, the Notre Dame Leprechaun.

[Squeaks4]

You all have to learn to be UNBIASED when voting for MASCOTS... geesh. It makes this thread unbearable to read. So, when somebody wants to talk about mascots (other than their own), I will listen...

Who said that? I sure didnt and I was the one who started this post...No one can be totally unbiased by the way...and being a fan of a team doesnt always mean you are a fan of their mascot. I am a Diamondbacks fan but I cant stand Baxter the Bob Cat...but maybe its because he looks to much like the UofA Wildcat, see everyone is biased

[TenaciousG]

Butch T. Cougar

Best mascot. End of discussion.

[Squeaks4]

Butch T. Cougar

Best mascot. End of discussion.

Haha, I was about to put him on my least favorites...guess I dont agree with everyone anymore

[rmackman]

No love for Albert and Alberta of the Florida Gators?

[rainmaker17]

Awwwww...does Alberta know about Albert's wandering eye? Seriously I think 'pretend couple' mascots are a little bizarre, and thereby should go away.

I think if they brought a 'companion' for Bevo it would play well for TV. Picture a 2,500 pound animal with an eight foot rack trying to make a new friend. I would love to see that.

Usually Bevo sits with his handlers, calmly, and does nothing. He does get up on all fours on ocaission, and takes a giant plop, if it's at home no one notices. If it happens on the road (and especially in the end zone) he lets a big one go.

[rmackman]

They both do because it's students in costumes. I used to know a girl who was Alberta and when I was on the sidelines she grabbed my a$$ and then took off running like "I DIDNT DO IT!" It was pretty funny except for the flirting started to get realy stupid. We were playing South Carolina so she brought a rubber chicken as if to say CHOKE THE CHICKENS! She kept throwing it at me though. Oh well! I told her later when she was out of costume that she should flirt with Albert instead of sideline reporters. Hehe.

[infrared41]

I think if they brought a 'companion' for Bevo it would play well for TV. Picture a 2,500 pound animal with an eight foot rack trying to make a new friend. I would love to see that.

Outstanding.

[agentrygraphics]

minus Western Kentucky's red....thingy....at least most of your mascots are actual THINGS...trees, indians (ahem, native americans), etc.

My alma mater, Indiana State University, when faced with changing our mascot (team names are Sycamores, but we used Chief Quabachi...a representation of a local indian cheif until 1989), decided that it was time to CREATE an animal as a mascot. Thus, by some ridiculous "vote", this "thing" called Sycamore Sam was born.

This blur-furred love child of what looks to be a drunken orgy between a wolf, squirrel, fox, dog, and raccoon is even listed on the friggin' STAFF DIRECTORY....see the link...has a wonderful mug shot of the thing as well.

http://indstate.edu/oit/irts/staff/sam.htm

[HatCityEnforcer]

Total Bias Pick: Jonathan The Husky (UConn)

Unbiased selections:

--Hokie Bird (Va Tech)

--KNIGHTRO (Central Florida)

--Chief Osceola (Florida State)

--Mike The Tiger (LSU)

--Traveller (USC)

--Ramses (UNC)

--Bevo (Texas)

--Revillie (sp?) (Texas A&M)

--UGA (Georgia)

--Ralphie (Colorado)

--The Duke Blue Devil

--Sebastian the Ibis (Miami)

--Roc (Pittsburgh)

--The Mountaineer (West Virginia...the "shootin' iron" puts this one over the top IMO )

--Zippy (Akron)

As for the worst....

--Otto (Syracuse)...sorry, but he looks like a damn nerf ball..not very inspiring, IMO

--Roboduck (Oregon)...it looks like a stand in from the ill-fated Mighty Ducks cartoon.

--The Tree (Stanford)...if I didn't know it was a tree, I'd think it was something you'd find in certain stores with red lights in front of them and would need 2 AA batteries to operate.

[pdxuoduck]

RoboDuck was retired after less than one season.

And re: another post, the Georgia Bulldog's name is UGA.

[TBGKon]

My picks:

Rocky D. Bull - USF

Old:

New:

Captain Fear the Buccaneer - Tampa Bay Bucs

[Brauny1280]

How about some from the MLB:

The Philly Phanatic

Sluggerrr

The Famous Chicken

[NDwas]

boy, dubya looks comfy there...

DC-AREA BASEBALL BUDS...

HOMER, OF THE BETHESDA BIG TRAIN (named after Walter Johnson, of course):

THE ORIOLE BIRD:

(not really dc, but close enough) THE LEGENDARY YOUPPI! (now with the Canadiens):

AND HIS REPLACEMENT -- THE BIGGEST FLOP (literally) IN DC HISTORY, SCREECH:

HERE'S THREE MORE REASONS WHY THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN RENAMED THE WIZARDS...

G-MAN:

G-WIZ:

AND THE EVER-SO INFLATABLE AIR-G:

[aykay]

[jfurdell]

This thread makes me happy.

Somebody needs to post pictures of Ga. Tech's Buzz, Mr. Met and the Syracuse Orange.