2006: What is the UL mascot?

[NCAA or BUST]

and my favorite the Pepper. My daugter has quite a bit of pepper stuff from my trips to games.

So what is the mascot now.

What is this a cruel joke? Did you know a new spirit leader was going to be released tonight? You had to, the timing of your first post is uncanny. Besides I have never heard anyone call the pepper their favorite. When I saw the pepper tonight I thought they just don't get it, why do they insist on force feeding us a vegetable? This school is stuck on stupid when it comes to spirit leaders.

[rhineaux]

True story from tonight's basketball game:

I attended the game with my neighbor, his wife, and his small son (~2 years old). When "the pepper" was making its way up into the stands, my friend's son nervouosly began to point at it and say "No, No, No!" As "the pepper" made its way closer to our seats, the boy reached for his father, hugged him and screamed "No!" When the boy's father asked him what was wrong, he pointed to "the pepper," and immediately grasped for his father again. "The pepper" terrified the boy.

I also found it interesting that the crowd responded with a low murmur (sp?) when "the pepper" was introduced. Its introduction actually seemed to deflate the crowd's enthusiaism. So, other than being hideous and embarassing, "the pepper" now terrifies children and silences crowds. Everyone, let's advocate its replacement! Anything else would be better! Are you with me?

Is it too late to cancel the purchase order on that thing they are going to embarass us with, I mean unveil in April. Who's responsibility is this? Does anyone know who we can contact about this so we can stop the madness?

[RCAJUN90]

Is it too late to cancel the purchase order on that thing they are going to embarass us with, I mean unveil in April. Who's responsibility is this? Does anyone know who we can contact about this so we can stop the madness?

If we are stuck with the Pepper monster terrorizing young Cajun fans then why can't we get a major donation from Chili's and slap their name on it? I can hear it now here comes the Chili's pepper monster!

[HoustonCajun]

The mascot is still Ragin Cajuns, the spirit leader is still Cayenne the pepper.

HOWEVER!!!

There has not been a spirit leader/mascot at any games this year BECAUSE there is a new one on order. It should be coming in very soon and should be unveiled in April. That is what I am told. It is a new spin on the pepper that is supposed to look much better. Stay tuned for more information!!!

Ragin Cajuns is not a mascot. It is a moniker. We need a separate mascot, i.e. an alligator, a pelican, or a catahoULa. The alligator is synonymous with Louisiana and a swamp. So what if Florida is the Gators. There are many schools that have Tigers as a mascot, so what difference would this make. Also, I believe we would be the only two schools with a gator as a mascot (for Florida, the gator is both the moniker and the mascot).

The pelican is the State Bird (Tulane's moniker is the Green Wave, but their mascot is the Pelican). Think of having two Pelicans, one named Louie and one named Ana, both in costume on the sidelines and a sanctuary around the stadium where the two live Pelicans can be housed. We were the Bulldogs for many years (even though LA Tech is the Bulldogs). Most people don't know that Tulane changed from a Green Wave designed figure (like Cayenne) to the Pelican. Heck, if we adopt the Pelican, Tulane might eventually drop theirs.

The CatahoULa is the State Dog. The CatahoULa is unique and would be much like the Tennessee Volunteers (moniker) with the Hound Dog (Old Smokie ?) as its mascot.

We are Louisiana. We need a mascot that is representative of the State of Louisiana. We are steeped in the French/Cajun tradition, yet our mascot for many, many years was an English Bulldog (go figure). We have tried other types of mascots that did not work, e.g. Mr. Cajun and the Pepper. We need something that we will stick with and will further enhance our position as THE University of Louisiana.

[AstroCajun]

Most people don't know that Tulane changed from a Green Wave designed figure (like Cayenne) to the Pelican.

They did it because the Green Wave figure looked like Gumby.

[DrySwamp]

They did it because the Green Wave figure looked like Gumby.

The Pepper looks like an elongated tomato or some kind of veggie for a food or kids commercial.

I like for the Red Bull Gator.

[Cajun Express]

I have contended that Ragin' Cajuns is a moniker not a mascot, and that we haven't had a mascot since the BullDog.

Right you are, the name is not a mascot, we are the Ragin'Cajuns just like the Buckeyes are not in fact hard little nuts. They do however; have a spirit leader that is a pretend buckeye. Last night at the basketball game our guy was walking around, and Ceyenne is still there just not in that horrid costume. He is much more like the Buckeye guy.


Favorite all time spirit leader it the cajun chicken bar none, he was funny and was good for a hoop or two.

[HoustonCajun]

Right you are, the name is not a mascot, we are the Ragin'Cajuns just like the Buckeyes are not in fact hard little nuts. They do however; have a spirit leader that is a pretend buckeye. Last night at the basketball game our guy was walking around, and Ceyenne is still there just not in that horrid costume. He is much more like the Buckeye guy.


Favorite all time spirit leader it the cajun chicken bar none, he was funny and was good for a hoop or two.

I agree, the Cajun Chicken was funny and had great skits. The problem was, there was no association between the Chicken and UL. It would be nice to have a mascot that is also a spirit leader like the Chicken was. But, a mascot that is truly representative of what UL now represents, THE University of Louisiana. The same could be said for our band in that they should be the Pride of Louisiana and NOT the Pride of Acadiana. That was OK when we were USL, but as THE University of Louisiana, we represent the State and not just the region. But, that is another subject. My overall point is that we should be doing everything we can to FULLY capture the Louisiana name.

[rhineaux]

I agree, the Cajun Chicken was funny and had great skits. The problem was, there was no association between the Chicken and UL. It would be nice to have a mascot that is also a spirit leader like the Chicken was. But, a mascot that is truly representative of what UL now represents, THE University of Louisiana. The same could be said for our band in that they should be the Pride of Louisiana and NOT the Pride of Acadiana. That was OK when we were USL, but as THE University of Louisiana, we represent the State and not just the region. But, that is another subject. My overall point is that we should be doing everything we can to FULLY capture the Louisiana name.

If we got something like the chicken back that could be a "spirit leader", and lord knows we need one, the cheerleaders might as well not even be there, then I think that having a Cat. Houndog would be ok, but only as a symbol and not anything else. It would also open up for our symbol or logo or whatever to get away from the firey, hot, pepperey, etc. stuff and go to a more traditional, sophisticated, respected look. I would like to see the red gator as the spirit leader and maybe work it into a logo, only if it doesn't look to ridiculous, whihc would be par for the course for this school.

Also, something I've thought for a while, but not mentioned until this guy brought up the band name. I know the legislature wouldn't go for it (i think), but i thik that it might be nice to go after the UL-Acadiana angle and that way we could use the ULA abbreviations and such that some of you like. I think that it would have a better chance of going through than the UL only would.

And for you folks who are thinking "we shouldn't always change, we should have some tradition, blah blah blah." I am aware of that so you don't have to say it. but, a lot of our stuff sucks and could look a lot better.

[HoustonCajun]

If we got something like the chicken back that could be a "spirit leader", and lord knows we need one, the cheerleaders might as well not even be there, then I think that having a Cat. Houndog would be ok, but only as a symbol and not anything else. It would also open up for our symbol or logo or whatever to get away from the firey, hot, pepperey, etc. stuff and go to a more traditional, sophisticated, respected look. I would like to see the red gator as the spirit leader and maybe work it into a logo, only if it doesn't look to ridiculous, whihc would be par for the course for this school.

Also, something I've thought for a while, but not mentioned until this guy brought up the band name. I know the legislature wouldn't go for it (i think), but i thik that it might be nice to go after the UL-Acadiana angle and that way we could use the ULA abbreviations and such that some of you like. I think that it would have a better chance of going through than the UL only would.

And for you folks who are thinking "we shouldn't always change, we should have some tradition, blah blah blah." I am aware of that so you don't have to say it. but, a lot of our stuff sucks and could look a lot better.

You bring up a good point about use of ULA. I suggested ULA as a unique identity rather than UL, which is posing problems around the state. Only Georgia (UGA) and Virginia (UVA) use that acronym. For Georgia, the GA stands for both the state of Georgia and Athens. But for Virginia, the UVA stands only for Virginia as the campus is located in Charlottesville.

The University of Minnesota is located in Minneapolis, which is part of the Twin Cities area, Minneapolis-St. Paul. The official name of the university is the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. So, use of Acadiana, while regional, would more reflect the Cajun area rather than just Lafayette. In doing so, we could use ULA like UL Monroe uses ULM. In our case, the ULA could also stand for Louisiana. Use of the ULA moniker would certainly be more pleasing that the ULL reference. Our SID could then send out a simple message to the media that would then meet all legal needs:

"We are the University of Louisiana at Acadiana. Athletically, please refer to us as Louisiana's Ragin Cajuns and use ULA". No more mixed messages and multiple references. We would want the media to use ULA like UCLA, UNLV, UTEP and UAB.

Of course, I would prefer to be known simply as Louisiana and use UL. But, after 6 years, we are making little progress except in Lafayette and on this Board. We are getting more and more entrenched as Louisiana Lafayette. If we can't get this Governor, a UL graduate, to get us the exclusive UL name, it will likely never happen. Perhaps our best bet would be to go the Acadiana route and ULA.

I am getting more and more frustrated with the ULL reference, particularly here in Houston and the inconsistency in even our various sports teams in use of our name. Football uses Louisiana. Men's Basketball uses Louisiana with a small Lafayette. Baseball uses UL with Lafayette on the back of the cap. Women's basketball uses Louisiana Lafayette. Our SID uses UL Lafayette, Louisiana Lafayette, Louisiana's Ragin Cajuns and Cajuns in the same news release. Who the hell is the public supposed to think we are? We have got to settle this issue. I hope there are things going on right now that we do not know about that will resolve this issue. But, I fear things are stagnant and unless we do something, we will forever be Louisiana Lafayette to the public at large.

[ZZeebart21]

Bump. 16 years.

[JMV JustMyView]

Bump. 16 years.

Looking back at these threads and realized how many folks don't post anymore.