SMU's Red-Headed Bastard Stepchild Born in Wichita Falls, TX
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 7:08 pmHoly crud! 
from the Wichita Falls newspaper (Post Chronicle):
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Sports Briefs: Renaming The MU
by Christopher Wilson
Nov 21, 2005
If the NCAA ever decides to realign schools into "Alma Mater Alter Ego" divisions, lumping (I just said "lumping") such universities as Miami (The U) and Ohio State University (THE Ohio State University) together, Midwestern State University should also be strongly considered for inclusion, under the guise of The MU.
Whereas Miami, Ohio State and other fine institutions of higher admission standards have mascots who have yet to be offended (though rumor has it that Katrina, Rita and Wilma don't appreciate the way Miami exploits them), The MU Indians are being forced to change mascots.
As anyone living in a tepee would know, the NCAA banned the use and images of American Indians as mascots on team clothing, while leaving Delta State University's Fighting Okra and Northern Colorado's Fighting Whites to offend green and white people everywhere. The mascot name-change is primarily because someone in the higher echelons of the NCAA is still upset that Tonto always had second billing to the Lone Ranger.
As if The MU doesn't already uncontrollably salivate to be confused with Southern Methodist University (SMU--located two hours away) enough to want add "State" to the original Midwestern University name in 1975 (therefore being known as MSU to hipsters who prefer up-to-date monikers), school officials decided it would be funny to also plagairize SMU's mascot.
Which brings me to the obvious question: What sounds better - Midwestern State University Mustangs or Midwestern State University Wampus Cats?
As if the answer to this question isn't clear enough, Midwestern State school officials, seeking to copy SMU as much as humanly possible decided to go for an explosion of creativity and not only changed the mascot to the mustangs, but will undoubtedly be changing school colors from maroon and gold to blue and red.
There is also talk of giving the football program the death penalty, just for the heck of it. Though blue and red would be a far better color choice than black and teal.
According to The MU's president, the name mustangs was chosen--in part--because it was "marketable." Arena League Football uniforms are marketable, as well, but would not look good as the primary colors for an 83-year-old university.
However, since the Indians must go, rather than giving the students a vote, the school's president and board of regents had the final say. Thus, no MU Wampus Cats. The idea was gathering steam faster than Danny DeVito rolling down a hill, but those in charge wanted a mascot that sounded better than a creature with the head of a man, the body of a wildcat and the soul of a demon.
Legend has it (as well as the Nov. 1998 issue of "FATE" magazine) that the wampus cat was "known to lurk along murky river bottoms and feast upon hapless hunters, fishermen and travelers . . . (a)lthough common in the early 19th century, wampus cat stories and sightings became less and less frequent after the War Between the States."
The Wampus Cats certainly would've caused opposing teams to mess their britches up in brilliant shades of yellow before games, though mustangs is better than the second choice, in honor of former president Dr. Moon.
Somehow, the Midwestern State University Moon Pies doesn't have the same ring.
from the Wichita Falls newspaper (Post Chronicle):
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sports Briefs: Renaming The MU
by Christopher Wilson
Nov 21, 2005
If the NCAA ever decides to realign schools into "Alma Mater Alter Ego" divisions, lumping (I just said "lumping") such universities as Miami (The U) and Ohio State University (THE Ohio State University) together, Midwestern State University should also be strongly considered for inclusion, under the guise of The MU.
Whereas Miami, Ohio State and other fine institutions of higher admission standards have mascots who have yet to be offended (though rumor has it that Katrina, Rita and Wilma don't appreciate the way Miami exploits them), The MU Indians are being forced to change mascots.
As anyone living in a tepee would know, the NCAA banned the use and images of American Indians as mascots on team clothing, while leaving Delta State University's Fighting Okra and Northern Colorado's Fighting Whites to offend green and white people everywhere. The mascot name-change is primarily because someone in the higher echelons of the NCAA is still upset that Tonto always had second billing to the Lone Ranger.
As if The MU doesn't already uncontrollably salivate to be confused with Southern Methodist University (SMU--located two hours away) enough to want add "State" to the original Midwestern University name in 1975 (therefore being known as MSU to hipsters who prefer up-to-date monikers), school officials decided it would be funny to also plagairize SMU's mascot.
Which brings me to the obvious question: What sounds better - Midwestern State University Mustangs or Midwestern State University Wampus Cats?
As if the answer to this question isn't clear enough, Midwestern State school officials, seeking to copy SMU as much as humanly possible decided to go for an explosion of creativity and not only changed the mascot to the mustangs, but will undoubtedly be changing school colors from maroon and gold to blue and red.
There is also talk of giving the football program the death penalty, just for the heck of it. Though blue and red would be a far better color choice than black and teal.
According to The MU's president, the name mustangs was chosen--in part--because it was "marketable." Arena League Football uniforms are marketable, as well, but would not look good as the primary colors for an 83-year-old university.
However, since the Indians must go, rather than giving the students a vote, the school's president and board of regents had the final say. Thus, no MU Wampus Cats. The idea was gathering steam faster than Danny DeVito rolling down a hill, but those in charge wanted a mascot that sounded better than a creature with the head of a man, the body of a wildcat and the soul of a demon.
Legend has it (as well as the Nov. 1998 issue of "FATE" magazine) that the wampus cat was "known to lurk along murky river bottoms and feast upon hapless hunters, fishermen and travelers . . . (a)lthough common in the early 19th century, wampus cat stories and sightings became less and less frequent after the War Between the States."
The Wampus Cats certainly would've caused opposing teams to mess their britches up in brilliant shades of yellow before games, though mustangs is better than the second choice, in honor of former president Dr. Moon.
Somehow, the Midwestern State University Moon Pies doesn't have the same ring.