There’s nothing quite like a fair weather fan.
I met a bunch of ‘em last night, all in the form of “Giants fans.” Some were from New York, others from Jersey. Some just wanted to see the underdog win. And some were on TV, like all those celebrities at the Super Bowl — among them Pamela Anderson and her own impressive giants.
Even last Tuesday I met a couple of fair weather fans. They called themselves “McCain supporters” after quickly switching candidates when Giuliani failed to win in Florida — where a campaign is less “Vote or Die” and more “Vote Before You Die.” So I’ve seen questionable allegiances everywhere in the last week, in politics and pigskin alike.
But this is not one of those rants against the fair weather fan. I’m from Chicago, so I understand what it’s like. Every summer I cheer for the White Sox or Cubs depending on who’s above .500 (so I usually end up rooting for neither). It’s far too convenient a practice to ever criticize.
What gets me, then, is that this campus is chock full of fair weather fans but absolutely barren of true Quaker fans. I think I might know why.
It has to be our mascot. By now, you’ve most likely heard a tirade against the Pennsylvania Quaker — more a symbol of peace and piping hot oatmeal than pride or power. This isn’t another one of those. Instead, I’m suggesting here and now that we get rid of our beloved pacifist.
It’s not like it hasn’t been done before. Last year, the University of Illinois dropped its Chief mascot because he was deemed offensive to Native Americans. And just last month, the Conway Elementary School of Virginia altered its cougar logo because it was an exact replica of Penn State’s Nittany lion. (To your left is the new Conway Cougar, who looks like he’s about to teach you how to read, not kick your ass.)
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it’s the Penn student attitude that needs to change, not the Quaker. Whatever the case, I’d like someday to attend a school that loves its mascot as much as the news anchors shown below.
Editor’s note: Yes, we just blogged dancing mascots twice in two hours. What’s your point? They kind of rock.
Tags: fair weather, mascot, piping hot oatmeal
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February 4th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Yeah yeah, I know this piece is partly in jest, but we’ve certainly heard this before…change the mascot and/or change the name of the school. Seems like it happens every semester.
Regardless, you’ve just given everyone permission to not take you seriously by admitting you’re a fair-weather Chicago baseball fan. Can’t you just root for the Cubs like a decent human being? I’m not even a Cubs fan or from Chicago and I know to choose them over the Sox.
February 4th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
[...] Jonathan Wroble wrote a fantastic post today on “Out with the oats”Here’s ONLY a quick extractI’m from Chicago, so I understand what it’s like. Every summer I cheer for the White Sox or Cubs depending on who’s above .500 (so I usually end up rooting for neither). It’s far too convenient a practice to ever criticize. … [...]
February 5th, 2008 at 1:25 am
I can think of a mascot that would be fitting to Penn AND intimidating… We should be the Penn Robber Barons, with Joseph Wharton as our lead mascot. At our sporting events “The Wharton” could run into the stands and steal money from fans’ wallets, while demanding Stock Reports on his desk by 9AM.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:03 am
[...] Jonathan Wroble added an interesting post on Out with the oatsHere’s a small excerpt [...]