Mascot: Catahoula

[rhineaux]

_ Whether it be a Bullgator, a Pelican, or simply bringing back Cajun Man, I think we are all in agreement that the pepper must go.

In saying all that we need to pick a mascot and stick with it. The pepper shouldn't be our mascot but when we choose this next mascot we should stick with this mascot for many, many years. Same goes for the logo. Lets eliminate the numerous logos we have and stick to, maybe, 2. _

I am in total agreement. JSD reminds me of a Dictator the way she controls all of that crap. The pepper and all of those extra colors have not benefited us in any way, whether it be in that hideous suit, or in the form of a logo.

And one ugly dog!

Let's remember that this thread, and the article that spurred it, is/should be about our logo's. What is the purpose of a mascot anyway? If our nickname was that of an animal or something, then I could see us wanting to have a good mascot. But our mascot represents a person, a people, a culture, and I think we would have a hard time finding a mascot that represented that. To me, a mascot is something that walks around during games garnering the attention of the kids, and getting the crowd in a raucous state. We haven't had something that did that since the chicken. The kids are afraid of the pepper, and who can blame them, and I think that even if you put the Cajun Chicken man in the pepper suit, the crowd would still be disinterested because it's such an all around horrible idea. You just have to look back at the WKU Basketball game last year to see how much more involved the crowd would get behind the chicken, and how unentertained the crowd is during other games when only the pepper is out there.

Take a look at the Houston Rockets. They don't have a Rocket as a mascot, but have Clutch, which is a bear, that walks around during the games and entertains kids and entertains the crowd during timeouts. He also makes appearances for off the court publicity and charity events. Could you imagine if we sent the pepper to a charity event? Nobody would take us seriously, or take us less serious than they currently do.

I like the dog because we could actually have a live dog...not too crazy about the pelican idea. I don't think either really acts as a good representative of the state, from an outsider's perspective, like the Gator would. If you ask me, all of them would be nothing more than symbols, and wouldn't be/shouldn't be involved with our logo's or anything anyway. Tennesse uses their hound as a symbol of their heritage, just like TAMU uses their dog as a symbol. They are things that are traditional that fans can get behind and support, but neither is ever linked to any of their logo's.

Our logo's should be less flamboyant, less minor league, and should be more of something that is traditional and classy, that ALL fans can be proud of. And they should be more of something that we use to link us to who we really are. The Interlocking UL and the Fleur de Lis fit into those categories. I know people have said that the FDL is being used widely in other schools apparel, and that it may not be as good of an option anymore. But to be honest, I don't see any of these schools actually using the FDL as their actual logo as we do, or something that represents them. I don't really mind that the Saints use it because ours is different, and because you would be hard pressed to find something else that represents Cajuns as much as the FDL. They tried to do that with the pepper and failed miserably. sometimes the answer isn't something you have to search for, but is something that is right there in front of you. It doesn't matter if other schools use the FDL on some of their apparel, but if we use it as our main identity, and win with it, then it will identify us far more than it does them.

As I see it...
Symbol = Catahoula Hound Dog (A live one, brought in for games)
Mascot = Bull Gator Suit (doing the entertaining and making appearances)
Logo = Interlocking UL and FDL. I also think that the single large block style 'L' would work too in some ways, though it's never been used.

[CajunNation]

The Indians in and around Louisiana used the Red Wolf, which then roamed Louisiana during this period, to locate game, much in the same manner as hunters use their dogs today.

Hernando DeSoto had traveled from Florida into Louisiana, bringing with him the "War Dogs" that had made the journey to the New World. The breeds that were referred to as War Dogs were the Greyhound and the Mastiff. Research has shown that the Mastiff type of dog that accompanied him was probably those known as the "Alano Mastiff" of Spain, which are now extinct. These Mastiffs had a reputation of being able to pull down very large game with ease. DeSoto utilized their abilities to persuade the Indians to provide information on the whereabouts of Gold and Treasure. Mostly those already owned by the Indians.

After suffering defeat in battle, DeSoto abandoned his War Dogs which were allowed to roam freely. They bred and interbreed with each other along with the Red Wolf. The offspring of the various breedings were then used by the Indians, and became known as the "Wolf Dog." The Wolf Dog, which is mentioned in Louisiana History, as well as most history books covering this era, was the name given to them by Henri Tonti during one of his visits to Louisiana.

By the early 1700's the French had started arriving in Louisiana. Hearing the stories of Tonti of the abundance of game in Louisiana the French brought with them a dog known as the "Bas Rouge," or Red Stockings. This dog has also been called the "Berger de Beauce." Today that very dog is known as the Beauceron. The French bred their dogs with those of the Indians' Wolf Dog, and together these four canines contributed to the inception of the Catahoula that we know today.

F41DE0C2-F838-4A2E-9D8E-89D644E1832F.jpg

5127E776-65FA-4D38-8E8F-77F59D0B202B.jpg

CC71B6C1-BF38-4F45-AF35-F204DD72C9C0.jpg
E8FC27CF-7704-4AC4-A87E-8FAFF6D07417.jpeg

This dog IS Louisiana.

[JamesTheJeweler]

I've been considering dressing up (as PooPoo) and just patrolling the stands as an unofficial mascot. Would probably be fun.

[CajunVic]

I've been considering dressing up and just patrolling the stands as an unofficial mascot. Would probably be fun.

As long as you have your pumpkin shaft . ..

[JMV JustMyView]

I've been considering dressing up (as PooPoo) and just patrolling the stands as an unofficial mascot. Would probably be fun.

I like that idea. You are at the games anyway so just do it.

[CajunEXPRESS]

The Indians in and around Louisiana used the Red Wolf, which then roamed Louisiana during this period, to locate game, much in the same manner as hunters use their dogs today.

Hernando DeSoto had traveled from Florida into Louisiana, bringing with him the "War Dogs" that had made the journey to the New World. The breeds that were referred to as War Dogs were the Greyhound and the Mastiff. Research has shown that the Mastiff type of dog that accompanied him was probably those known as the "Alano Mastiff" of Spain, which are now extinct. These Mastiffs had a reputation of being able to pull down very large game with ease. DeSoto utilized their abilities to persuade the Indians to provide information on the whereabouts of Gold and Treasure. Mostly those already owned by the Indians.

After suffering defeat in battle, DeSoto abandoned his War Dogs which were allowed to roam freely. They bred and interbreed with each other along with the Red Wolf. The offspring of the various breedings were then used by the Indians, and became known as the "Wolf Dog." The Wolf Dog, which is mentioned in Louisiana History, as well as most history books covering this era, was the name given to them by Henri Tonti during one of his visits to Louisiana.

By the early 1700's the French had started arriving in Louisiana. Hearing the stories of Tonti of the abundance of game in Louisiana the French brought with them a dog known as the "Bas Rouge," or Red Stockings. This dog has also been called the "Berger de Beauce." Today that very dog is known as the Beauceron. The French bred their dogs with those of the Indians' Wolf Dog, and together these four canines contributed to the inception of the Catahoula that we know today.

This dog IS Louisiana.

Agree with you totally.

[Turbine]

Agree with you totally.

Yep, CajunNation is right the Catahoula is Louisiana. (cruel non Louisiana history though)

The problem is the dog is that it is not recognizable to an outsider and you have the same problem as King Clifton.

It takes tooooo long to educate even the locals, and how much more so any outsiders.

The animal would be impossible to costumize in any meaningful way that doesn't just say "dog."

Louisiana needs a spirit leader not a mascot.

[mxpxfr690]

Yep, CajunNation is right the Catahoula is Louisiana. (cruel non Louisiana history though)

The problem is the dog is that it is not recognizable to an outsider and you have the same problem as King Clifton.

It takes tooooo long to educate even the locals, and how much more so any outsiders.

The animal would be impossible to costumize in any meaningful way that doesn't just say "dog."

Louisiana needs a spirit leader not a mascot.

Make the mascot Ragin Cajun colors…. Find the dog and paints it’s coat for game days…just a thought.

[Turbine]

Make the mascot ragin Cajun colors…. Find the dog and paints it’s coat for game days…just a thought.

If you paint the dog you no longer have a Catahoula, you just have a painted dog.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Don’t need to paint the dog. That dog is so unique it’s story begs, no demands to be told. One and only Ragin’Cajun, one and only Catahoula Hound go together like a horse and carriage, love, and marriage.

We’re too late with gators, especially if we refuse to relinquish The Swamp which we shouldn’t relinquish.