Need a mascot? Consider the Hungry Termites

CatchItKansas.com recently featured stories about Maize South High School, which will open in August, and Goddard Eisenhower High School, which is planned for 2011. It was interesting to hear about each community’s process to choose a mascot and school colors.

Maize faced a dilemma of whether to stick with a bird theme and a red color scheme. (The Maize Eagles are part of the town’s tradition.) Goddard, on the other hand, is now susceptible to the inevitable jokes: Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Since the Goddard Lions and Goddard Eisenhower Tigers will be cross-town rivals, it makes sense that if a third high school ever opens, the Bears should be strongly considered.

For some reason, birds and big cats are especially popular. Think Falcons, Hawks, Ravens, Eagles and, for a slight variation, Golden Eagles. Then there are Lions, Tigers, Cougars, Jaguars and Wildcats – not to mention Panthers, which are a dime a dozen.

At the 2008 state tournament, I covered a pair of girls basketball games that featured the same mascot: Falcons vs. Falcons (Wichita Heights and Olathe South) then Lions vs. Lions (Goddard and Lawrence).

I like original mascots, and Kansas colleges have no shortage: Kansas Jayhawks, Washburn Ichabods and our local Wheatshockers. If we must incorporate animals, why not use something really original, like the White-Lipped Tree Frogs. Oh, sure, it sounds ridiculous, but if Texas Christian University can have the Horned Frogs, then is this really such a stretch?

It’s funny how different mascots become scarier after we reach adulthood. How about the Hungry Termites? Anyone who has paid for termite damage would be filled with dread. (Trust me.) Or maybe the Fightin’ Bats. I have a friend who plays for the symphony and for some theater productions, and she told a story about a bat that flew into the pit at Century II. Ever been trapped in an orchestra pit with a bat that can’t find its way out? It’s intimidating, from what I hear.

And this would be an especially appropriate mascot in the spring, when baseball and softball seasons start. Make way for the Bats!

I really like the alliterative names, like the Lawrence Lions, Lansing Lions, Paola Panthers and Macksville Mustangs. But the winner would have to be the Lyons Lions. Some might consider that a copout, but what other choices remain? The Lyons Tigers? I don’t think so.

If I ever get to choose a mascot – and I’m not holding my breath – it will be the Fireworks. Of course, this would require a fireworks show to kick off each season. Fans can yell, “Go, Fire!” for short. Some hapless student can dress up as the mascot, a giant firecracker. If it’s a Black Cat, we can even pull in the animal theme.