Grassroots Campaign for the Next UL Mascot

[Turbine]

Mais la. The “woke” thing is completely out of left field lol. Nothing about Al has to do with race. That’s all I’m going to address to that.

In regards to the name, I’ve stated on multiple platforms that I’m fine with the final version of Al having a different name. The things can’t change about him is, that’s he is specifically an albino alligator, and his colors. He has to always be white with vermilion eyes. His clothes can be different. His hat too.

That’s the charm of this campaign. I’m not forcing Al on anybody. I’m not some big marketing firm that says their design is perfect and the fans have to like it. That was Cayenne. I’m actively listening to people’s opinions. The school didn’t care to do that before. I’m presenting what I feel is the best foot forward for the university. A lot of people agree with what I’m presenting. That’s why he is getting so much traction.

I think you are handling this with precision and class.

Big "firms" could learn a thing or two from you.

[Skinnycajun]

Hence, albino, no pigmentation.

But IF…IF this ever gets off the ground, look for some writer at the Vermillion to take issue.

No matter the choice, I would love to see the mascot glide into Cajun Field in an air boat (swamp boat) marsh boat..call it what you wish. Roar it up outside before entering, let him pop out i n front of the crowd. the noise of the boat alone will capture every ones attention.

[GreatestStory]

Something to consider:

I am sure everyone is familiar with Stanford University's "Stanford Tree" mascot.

What many people may not be aware of is that the Stanford Tree is not the official mascot of Stanford University. Stanford University does not have an official mascot. In 1981, Stanford President Donald Kennedy declared that all Stanford athletic teams would be represented exclusively by the color cardinal. (SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Tree)

The Stanford Tree is the official mascot of the Stanford Band.

I'm sure UL administration would still have the final say on things band related, but I find it interesting that people across the United States consider/believe the Stanford Tree is the university's official mascot.

[CouillonCinema]

Question for you, Cory: Have you had the opportunity to show kids Al? If so, interested in their reaction. My two kids (5 and almost 7) love Al. I think that's another important component in this whole thing.

Yes!! Actually! Of course I read the biggest critique for Cayenne was that he scared children. Understandable. He’s kind of just a big red man that looks more demonic than friendly.

Kids love dinosaurs, lizards, and Louisiana kids especially love alligators. They’re cool! They’re like modern day dinosaurs. The best thing about Al being an alligator is he’s ACCESSIBLE to kids. They can understand him because they have something to compare him to. Since they can understand him, they can love him. Al is built for the next generation of Ragin’ Cajuns more than anybody else. So my field test with kids have been really successful.

Best question I got from them: “Why is he wearing clothes??” Haha

[KajunKrazy]

-Alabama Crimson Tide - Go Elephants
-Auburn Tigers - War Eagle
-WKU Hilltoppers - Go Blood Clots
-Purdue Boilermakers - Go Big Head Guy
-Wichita St Wheat Shockers - Go Guy in Blue Sweat shirt
-St. John’s Red Storm - Go Birds
-Tennessee Volunteers - Go Hunting Dog
-Iowa St Cyclones - Go Birds
-Kent State Golden Flashes - Go Eagles
-Syracuse Orangemen - Go an actual orange with legs
-Cal St. Fullerton Titans - Go Elephants

Make it make sense.

And frankly, I’m not interested in being like anyone else. We’re the one and only Ragin Cajuns. Let’s act like it.

Purdue and Wichita equal old Mr Cajun. I think most people are OK with a cajun dude.

I for one think if we do use an animal would rather go in the direction of Texas A&M and Tennessee. Aggie = Border Collie and Volunteer = Bluetick Coonhound.

La is the one and only Ragin Cajuns. Could have the one and only catahoula leopard dog as a mascot, the state dog. I have been saying this for years, also saw it mentioned on Twitter and a couple other outlets.

If the Cajuns use a Gator we will never hear the end of how we copied Florida. Just like UL equals Louisville.

[ManAboutTown]

Purdue and Wichita equal old Mr Cajun. I think most people are OK with a cajun dude.

I for one think if we do use an animal would rather go in the direction of Texas A&M and Tennessee. Aggie = Border Collie and Volunteer = Bluetick Coonhound.

La is the one and only Ragin Cajuns. Could have the one and only catahoula leopard dog as a mascot, the state dog. I have been saying this for years, also saw it mentioned on Twitter and a couple other outlets.

If the Cajuns use a Gator we will never hear the end of how we copied Florida. Just like UL equals Louisville.

A Catahoula can't have a personality like the Cajun Chicken or interact with the kids during the games.

UL has a swamp on campus. UL called its field the Swamp, first. UL would have the nation's only Albino Gator. If anything, it allows us to tell our story and how WE were ripped off.

Clemson and TSAB are both Tigers that play in Death Valley. It never gets talked about. People copy each other all of the time. And again, it's a spirit leader. It's not like we changed our name to the Louisiana Gators.

Just my take on it. We're over-complicating this.

[ULvictory]

The fact that Cory took time to create "Al," and the fact that we are even discussing ideas for a new mascot is a huge step in the right direction. I don't care if it's a gator, catahoula hound, or a student dressed in overalls and Delcambre reeboks; WE NEED A MASCOT. It's been a decade since we have had one.

Also, I had heard a recent interview with Russell Heim (Cajun Chicken), and he said the Cajun Chicken was born when USL had asked him to participate as a mascot at games. When he shopped at stores for an idea of what to be, he had two options of costumes to choose from: a dog or a chicken. He chose the chicken.

The point is that it's not all about the costume or the mascot itself. It's about who is inside of the costume that makes the mascot great. For all we know, if Cayenne would've done similar skits as the Cajun Chicken, that mascot still might be around. Russell turned the Cajun Chicken into a local legend because of Russell, not because the Cajun Chicken looked a certain way.

[CouillonCinema]

Purdue and Wichita equal old Mr Cajun. I think most people are OK with a cajun dude.

I for one think if we do use an animal would rather go in the direction of Texas A&M and Tennessee. Aggie = Border Collie and Volunteer = Bluetick Coonhound.

La is the one and only Ragin Cajuns. Could have the one and only catahoula leopard dog as a mascot, the state dog. I have been saying this for years, also saw it mentioned on Twitter and a couple other outlets.

If the Cajuns use a Gator we will never hear the end of how we copied Florida. Just like UL equals Louisville.

To break down the argument “a Catahoula would be unique,” or “we’d be the only Catahoula in the country,” all I have to say is, it’s not that unique. There are hundreds of dog mascots in the country. Hundreds. There are two in the state of Louisiana alone. La Tech has one. And the saints have a St. Bernard named Gumbo. Saying “We’d be the only Catahoula” has the same weight as me saying “We’d be the only albino alligator.” The major difference in both characters is Al is the same species with only one mascot in a completely different state, and a Catahoula is the same species with hundreds of mascots and two of them are in its home state.

You can’t argue for the uniqueness of Ragin Cajuns and then turn around advocate for another dog mascot. Those two stances are incompatible.

I wish the fanbase would trust me, one of their own, more. Because if not me, than who? I have a BFA from UL. I spent years creating art in Acadiana. I also currently go to an Ivy League school. But most importantly, I’m a massive UL fan. I say all that not to flex but to ask who do you want designing this? This isn’t a paycheck to me. I have stake in the game! I commissioned a LOCAL artist to create the image.

Despite my credentials, experience, research, and confidence, I still asked the fans what they thought, and I am open to changing the final design. I know Cajun culture. I know you’d rather trust one of your own than somebody from the outside, in a suit, that barely knows you, and that makes more money than you do. If you see me in Lafayette, you can stop me, say hi, or even grab a drink. I’d love to!

If not me, than who? I just wish more people would considered that.

[KajunKrazy]

A Catahoula can't have a personality like the Cajun Chicken or interact with the kids during the games.

UL has a swamp on campus. UL called its field the Swamp, first. UL would have the nation's only Albino Gator. If anything, it allows us to tell our story and how WE were ripped off.

Clemson and TSAB are both Tigers that play in Death Valley. It never gets talked about. People copy each other all of the time. And again, it's a spirit leader. It's not like we changed our name to the Louisiana Gators.

Just my take on it. We're over-complicating this.

Sure a catahoula can interact with kids just like at State over to the east. They have a real tiger and a mascot in a tiger costume. The person in the catahoula costume can do every thing the chicken or the pigmented challenged alligators could. Plus kids can pet the live mascot as they cannot do with a tiger or gator.

IMO opinion we gonna have a hard time convincing any one outside of Acadiana that we were the swamp first. Heck we gonna have a hard time convincing half the people in Acadiana of that. Just like Ragin Cajuns is unique and the one and only. I say stay with a unique and one and only spirit leader.

Talk to an LSU or Clemson fan as to who has the real Death Valley and who copied who. They take that argument pretty seriously.

[CajunNation]

The best selling point for the Catahoula is not that we would be unique simply for having it as the mascot. It is that the story of the Catahoula IS the story of Louisiana. From abneycatahoulas.com ...

<< .. 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... >>


Our Cajun ancestors and Louisiana forefathers used the Catahoula to take down large game throughout Louisiana. We could do the same in The Swamp.

It would be such a shame to miss this Golden opportunity to further solidify our identities as the University of Louisiana and as Cajuns.