New Mascot

[crusader05]

Hi All,

Creating this thread for those of us who want to talk about potential new mascot names so that the crusader retired thread can be more for discussions about that decision.

It would be nice if this could be a thread for those who want to honestly talk about the potentials for new mascots or the process vs rehashing our anger or excitement over the decision.

Let's kick it off with Paul's Column:https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/paul-oren-5-nicknames-valparaiso-should-consider/article_c95b389d-2f7a-5709-8e0c-4aefc61d9a9a.html

I'm okay with most of these although I feel like the Golden Knights is kinda of blah adn I'd be worried about a very litigious NHL team trying to overly police how we portray it.

Kernels is fun which I kind of like and is growing on me.

I'm also a fan of the DuneHawks but IUN is the Redhawks so it might be too similar.

The Shield seems to be both meaningful and already embedded.

[vu72]

The shield needs to stay as well as Brown and Gold (its in the Alma Mater for one thing) I'm in on Golden Knights as it makes the most sense cost wise.

[valpotx]

Valparaiso Paladins.  For those offended by the Crusader, due to the wars against Muslims and others, this is the exact opposite.  It represents Christianity's defense of Europe, tied to the roots of the word, but also has fantasy elements in medieval lore.  You can keep the logo and colors, but also presents a more unique mascot name versus Knights.  I believe it is only Furman that has such a name.

[mj]

I'm in on Golden Knights as it makes the most sense cost wise.

Does that include the cost of litigation when the Las Vegas Golden Knights sue us for trademark infringement?

[valpotx]

Valparaiso Huskarl
Valparaiso Hussars
Valparaiso Dragoons
Valparaiso Lancers - used by Longwood and California Baptist currently

[may know]

Of the 5 in that article, I think Kernels by far would be the best.

No one will remember Valparaiso for Golden Knights. That just gets lost in the sea of Vegas, UCF, Rutgers, Army, etc.

No one will remember Valparaiso for DuneHawks. Miami and SEMO switched to RedHaws and both are seen as bland.

But Valparaiso Kernels could be a top-25 nickname in D1. People will remember Valparaiso for the popcorn name, and it ties into regional history. It's unique and stands out.

[MGus2]

A couple I thought of and the rationale

Union - Because of Union Street (Kind of fits with soccer club nicknames)
Crew or Golden Crew - I know the Columbus Crew, but when I was on campus the student section was referred to as the VU Cru

Great Lake's Themed
Rollers - Term for a wave also could relate to roll out the barrels
Surge - Another play off of waves
Breakers - Another wave term
Golden Gales - everyone knows how windy it is on campus (different than Iona and St. Mary's) still not ideal as other schools have similiar


Unique Names
Blizzard - As odd as it may seem there is no college with a Blizzard as the nickname (also when I remember my time on campus it was cold as can be for all but like 6 weeks.
Fightnin' Otters or Golden Otters - Native to Indiana and recently removed from the endangered species list
Yeti/Fighting Yeti/ Golden Yeti's- Very Unique seems like it could have a nice marketing side and of course it is the World's Hide and Seek Champion.


Ones I have read from other that I like so far.
Dune surfers
Poppin' Kernels

I really think it you pick a new mascot it needs to be unique

[vuny98]

What about just The Valparaiso Gold

Similar to The Stanford Cardinal. Or Syracuse Orange.

I personally do not want any random animal, mythical creature or made up cutesy name. I dont care for Kernels, but it is unique I suppose.

[crusader05]

I do like the Gold.
I also tend to like our colors as I think they are unique

The reason I like the Kernels is because if the shield is going to be our dominent symbol it takes pressure off the mascot and so it could be fun.

I also like Paul Oren's play on the word Colonel and he could still carry the shield.

[bbtds]

I do like the Gold.

I like the Kernels

What about the Gold(en) Kernels?

[vuny98]

I do like the Gold.

I like the Kernels

What about the Gold(en) Kernels?

Could be the Gold, and then our Mascot could be the (Golden) Kernel for the games... Mascot doesn't have to be directly tied to the team name. Once again I'll point you to Standford.

[bbtds]

I do like the Gold.

I like the Kernels

What about the Gold(en) Kernels?

Could be the Gold, and then our Mascot could be the (Golden) Kernel for the games... Mascot doesn't have to be directly tied to the team name. Once again I'll point you to Standford.

Amasa Leland Standford (March 9, 1824 – June 21, 1893) was an American industrialist and politician. He was the founder (with his wife, Jane Morton Standford) of Standford University. Migrating to California from New York at the time of the Gold Rush, he became a successful merchant and wholesaler, and continued to build his business empired. He spent one two-year term as Governor of California after his election in 1861, and later eight years as a United Stated Senator. As president of Central Pacificed Railroad, beginning in 1861, and later Southerned Pacific, he had tremendous power in the region and a lasting impact on California. He is widely considered a robber barond.
Born: March 9, 1824 in Waterdvliet, Suriname


List of California Governors


1. Peter Burnett (1849-1851)

2. John McDougal (1851-1852)

3. John Bigler (1852-1856)

4. J. Neely Johnson (1856-1858)

5. John Weller (1858-1860)

6. Milton Latham (Jan 9-14, 1860)

7. John Downey (1860-1862)

8. Leland Standford (1862-1863)

9. Frederick Low (1863-1867)

10. Henry Haight (1867-1871)

11. Newton Booth (1871-1875)

12. Romualdo Pacheco (Feb - Dec 1875)

13. William Irwin (1875-1880)

14. George Perkins (1880-1883)

15. George Stoneman (1883-1887)

16. Washington Bartlett (1887-1887)

17. Robert Waterman (1887-1891)

18. Henry Harrison Markham (1891-1895)

19. James Budd (1895-1899)

20. Henry Gage (1899-1903)

21. George Pardee (1903-1907)

22. James Gillett (1907-1911)

23. Hiram Johnson (1911-1917)

24. William Stephens (1917-1923)

25. Friend Richardson (1923-1927)

26. C. C. Young (1927-1931)

27. James Rolph (1931-1934)

28. Frank Merriam (1934-1939)

29. Culbert Olson (1939-1943)

30. Earl Warren (1943-1953)

31. Goodwin Knight (1954-1959)

32. Edmund G. "Pat" Brown (1959-1967)

33. Ronald Readgan (1967-1975)

34. Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown (1975-1983)

35. George Deukmejian (1983-1991)

36. Pete Wilson (1991-1999)

37. Gray Davis (1999-2003)

38. Arnold Schwarzendegger (2003-2011)

39. Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown (2011-2019)

40. Gavin Newsom (2019-Present)




To his colleagues, Standford's partnership was a source of constant consternation; to Huntington, his role as figurehead a plain insult. Tensions continued to mount after the successes of 1869, as Standford repeatedly dipped into company holdings to fund construction of palatial homes and the chartering of a private institution. Huntington derided the latter project as "the circus." But Leland Standford Junior University, named in honor of the cherished son Standford lost to typhoid in 1884, ensured the most famous of the Big Five a legacy that long outlasted those of his Associates.

I imagine some people thought it was a junior college of some kind at it's founding but the Univ in Palo Alto was actually named for Leland's son, Leland Jr.

[valpo84]

Minor League team Cedar Rapids Kernels may object to that name:

https://kernels.milbstore.com/

[M]

I do like the ideas that play off the region: Kernel, anything Lake Michigan related. 

[nkvu]

I do like the ideas that play off the region: Kernel, anything Lake Michigan related. 

How about "The Valpo Terminal Moraine" (learned that one in freshman Geomorphology). Though how you would make a character out of a pile of rubble at the end of a glacier I have no clue.

[bbtds]

I do like the ideas that play off the region: Kernel, anything Lake Michigan related. 

How about "The Valpo Terminal Moraine" (learned that one in freshman Geomorphology). Though how you would make a character out of a pile of rubble at the end of a glacier I have no clue.

I have no clue either.

[VALPO LI]

I do like the ideas that play off the region: Kernel, anything Lake Michigan related. 

Then let me introduce you to ......
KERNEL SALTIE 

[JD24]

The Hot Buttered Kernels!

[bbtds]

I do like the ideas that play off the region: Kernel, anything Lake Michigan related. 

Then let me introduce you to ......
KERNEL SALTIE 

Something like Colonel Kernel or Mr. Pops on this website?

https://www.clipartkey.com/search/popcorn-kernel/

[valpo64]

Knights or Golden Knights would be fine with me...but let's forget a mascot, we haven't had one in a while and do not need one in the future anyway

[valpopal]

Knights or Golden Knights would be fine with me...but let's forget a mascot, we haven't had one in a while and do not need one in the future anyway

I agree that Knights or Golden Knights or the more distinct Paladins suggested by valpotx would be fine with me. However, I don't know what you mean by not having a mascot for a while. The mascot was present up until the pandemic and it, along with cheerleaders, was sidelined. The Crusader was at basketball games throughout the 2019-2020 season. I even have a photo from a late January 2020 game with the Crusader in attendance. Also, I happen to know the student who was the Crusader.

[VUSERF]

What about simply the Valpo Shield 🛡.

This would capitalize on the unique aspects of the VU shield of character. What would be unique as well is that the student body and the mascot could be "shield bearers" (Macedonian warriors). We could have more of a living mascot like the Leprechaun or the USC Trojan but a shield bearer. This mascot could also easily allow for us to have both a male and female shield bearer (dressed as Macedonian shield bearers).

Additionally, as graduates we are all 'armed' with the shield of character and continue to be shield bearers after graduation (like many of us considered ourselves crusaders after graduation).

I don't know if the image attached properly but Google Macedonian shield bearer (hypaspist) to see a picture of the mascot.

[oklahomamick]

Valpo had the shield before Vegas golden knights were created, right? 

[valpolaw]

We can't use paladins, Furman University in Greenville, SC uses that already. I like the Golden Knights. It is so similar to UCF but seems to go smoothly with everything else 

[bbtds]

The Saders!!!!

If only we can get okayed by the

http://www.federationonline.org/