College and high school mascots are part of the tradition of sporting events and have been for over a century. Locally, we have the Monroe Trojans, Jefferson Bears and Airport Jets. In the college ranks, we have the Wolverines, Spartans and Buckeyes. Some schools have chosen a different path in mascots. The University of Richmond has adopted the name “Spiders.” The name came about because of a tall, lanky pitcher. It seems his arms would make crazy gyrations as he delivered the ball. In 1894, a sports writer gave Mr. Ellyson the pet name, and it was soon adopted for the school mascot. Can you imagine the homecoming floats?

The University of Arkansas at Monticello is the Boll Weevils. This little critter is destructive to the cotton crop. The female athletes are known as the Cotton Blossoms; quite a contrast between the two.

Evergreen State uses the name Geoducks, which is pronounced “Gooeyducks.” Can you imagine the chants coming from the bleachers? This creature is actually a clam and not a duck at all. Trinity Christian College (Illinois) picked the Trolls, and no one seems to know the actual reason. Could there actually be one of these mystical creatures hiding around campus?

In Massachusetts, at Tufts University, the teams are called the Jumbos. As it turns out, it comes from the remains of an elephant that was donated to the school by P.T. Barnum. I wonder if Jumbos applies to the girls as well.

Blue Hose. Presbyterian College of South Carolina chose this peculiar title, and it might have started when the athletes began wearing blue socks and uniforms in 1915.

Of all the mascots and unusual names, I’ve come up with my top two: The Banana Slugs of the University of California at Santa Clara and, as number one (drum roll, please), The Fighting Pickles from the University of North Carolina School of Arts. It’s time to order shirts and hats from these two schools. They would have to be real conversation pieces.

Here are some of the most unusual high school mascots: Hutto Hippos, Freeport Pretzels, Fredonia High School Hillbillies, Brewer Maine Witches, Tarpon Springs High School Spongers, Sequoia High School Super Squirrels, and my favorite two: Orofino Idaho Maniacs and Yuma High School The Criminals. I wonder if we can get a game between the Maniacs and Criminals.

Much controversy exists as to whether the use of Native American tribe names as mascots is ethnically profiling. Today we have the Central Michigan Chippewas as well as the Florida State Seminoles. In the pro ranks, we have the Washington Redskins. While I attended Eastern Michigan University, the name was changed from Hurons to Eagles. The debate goes on. One thing still remains the same: mascots play a major role in high school and college sports.