Ramblings on June.

[Mustangs_Maroons]

Here's a thought for all the JJ apologists, why not market around our existing traditions, our history, our university colors, etc.?

Instead of trying to change our colors, bringing in different mascots to replace a mascot firmly entrenched as part of our football backbone, just focus on creating a new tradition based on expecting to win by actually doing the things you get paid $2mm/year to do: 1) coach and 2) recruit!!

Enough with the excuses for JJ! He gets paid enough money and the barriers that previously existed are no longer there. There are no more $*&^%$@! excuses. Get someone in here that has a pulse and cares about having a successful program at SMU.

[lwjr]

FYI - U of Hawaii has gone back to the old mascot name of "Rainbow Warriors". A decision that was made back in May by the new AD. According to the article the reaction seems to be mixed at best. Maybe there have been new developments but I could not find anything.

All UH men's teams will be named Rainbow Warriors

Athletic director changes decision on nickname

By Dave Reardon and Brian McInnis

POSTED: 07:54 a.m. HST, May 14, 2013
LAST UPDATED: 04:57 p.m. HST, May 14, 2013

STAR-ADVERTISER
In a stunning reversal of his first major decision as University of Hawaii athletic director, Ben Jay has changed course and will name all of Manoa's men's athletic teams Rainbow Warriors, a source close to the situation has told the Star-Advertiser.


The Rainbow lives.

In a stunning reversal of his first major decision as University of Hawaii athletic director, Ben Jay has changed course and will name all of Manoa's men's athletic teams Rainbow Warriors.

Jay became UH athletic director in January. In February he announced that all UH men's teams would be named Warriors, dropping Rainbows from those that still had it part of their name. Since 2000, some had been named Rainbows, some Warriors and some Rainbow Warriors.

"The decision on February 13 to change the nickname of the men's teams to Warriors has generated a lot of discussion and we have received both positive and negative feedback," Jay said. "We listened to the public discussion and we went back to the original two questions we asked ourselves - who are we and what is representative of the islands?

"We initially decided to adopt Warriors as the nickname of our men's teams, since it was used by the majority of our men's programs, including the one with the largest fan following (football)," Jay added. "This is a very subjective and emotional issue and the only clear consensus on this topic over the last 13 years has been that a decision needed to be made to unify our men's teams under one nickname. That goal will still be accomplished as we retain the Rainbow and Warriors names, both of which are near and dear to the hearts of our fans, whom we represent."

Jay said in February that the various names caused confusion and a single name was needed for marketing and branding purposes. He said he consulted with UH coaches and most agreed on Warriors and staying with Rainbow Wahine for the women's teams. Public comments by coaches were positive or neutral to Jay's decision then, and were again on Tuesday for the latest move.

"It’s a decision made far above my level," football coach Norm Chow said at a press conference at the UH lower campus. "We’re all very supportive of it. Our job is to put a good product on the football field. That’s what we need to worry about. I’m glad the decision has been made, we’re supportive of the administration and we’ll just go from there.

Said Mike Trapasso, coach of the 12-33 Rainbow baseball team: "You can call us whatever you want, this year we’ve been called a heck of a lot worse. I├óΓé¼╦åsaid from the beginning, to me it’s more important that you call us winners at the end of the day, and that’s what we’re working toward. But we’re Rainbow Warriors, and I├óΓé¼╦åthink that’s great."

Some fans welcomed the February decision while others complained that they were not consulted or polled. A rally was held on campus May 3 by around 50 supporters of the Rainbow nickname, and 21 board members of the UH Letterwinners Club sent a letter to Jay on May 1 protesting the elimination of Rainbow from the men's team names.

Jay was on the mainland on UH business and did not appear at the rally, but had previously met with rally organizer Stephen Chinen.

"Of course I'm walkin on clouds amongst da rainbows," Chinen said in a text today after hearing of Jay's decision. Chinen has been a vocal proponent of the Rainbow Warriors nickname since it was changed 13 years ago.

The women's teams will remain Rainbow Wahine, as Jay originally decided.

The football team had been unofficially referred to as Rainbow Warriors prior to 2000, when football coach June Jones led a successful effort to officially change the name to just Warriors. Coaches were allowed to choose the names of their teams, and volleyball, golf and tennis switched to Warriors, basketball and swimming and diving went to Rainbow Warriors and baseball remained Rainbows.

Now, instead of all switching to Warriors on July 1, all will be known as Rainbow Warriors.

Early reaction from fans on social media to Jay's change of course ranged from gratitude to disdain.

"Thank you, Ben Jay," said former UH baseball player Greg Oniate.

Paul Connell, a fan who prefers the Warrior name, said the amount of support expressed for Rainbow did not merit a change.

"Ben Jay just dropped a notch in my book," Connell said. "Only 50 or so people felt the urge to attend a Rainbow rally that had been promoted for weeks."

Jay is scheduled to speak about his vision for the UH athletic program 7 p.m. on Thursday at a town hall meeting at the Pearl Ridge Elementary School cafeteria.

[soccermom]

Here's a thought for all the JJ apologists, why not market around our existing traditions, our history, our university colors, etc.?

Instead of trying to change our colors, bringing in different mascots to replace a mascot firmly entrenched as part of our football backbone, just focus on creating a new tradition based on expecting to win by actually doing the things you get paid $2mm/year to do: 1) coach and 2) recruit!!

Enough with the excuses for JJ! He gets paid enough money and the barriers that previously existed are no longer there. There are no more $*&^%$@! excuses. Get someone in here that has a pulse and cares about having a successful program at SMU.

Agree w/you!

[max the wonder dog]

Here's a thought for all the JJ apologists, why not market around our existing traditions, our history, our university colors, etc.?

Instead of trying to change our colors, bringing in different mascots to replace a mascot firmly entrenched as part of our football backbone, just focus on creating a new tradition based on expecting to win by actually doing the things you get paid $2mm/year to do: 1) coach and 2) recruit!!

Enough with the excuses for JJ! He gets paid enough money and the barriers that previously existed are no longer there. There are no more $*&^%$@! excuses. Get someone in here that has a pulse and cares about having a successful program at SMU.

Agree w/you!

+1

P.S. Why would anyone want to diminish the role of the deadliest mascot in the history of college athletics?

[TidePony]

Here's a thought for all the JJ apologists, why not market around our existing traditions, our history, our university colors, etc.?

Instead of trying to change our colors, bringing in different mascots to replace a mascot firmly entrenched as part of our football backbone, just focus on creating a new tradition based on expecting to win by actually doing the things you get paid $2mm/year to do: 1) coach and 2) recruit!!

Enough with the excuses for JJ! He gets paid enough money and the barriers that previously existed are no longer there. There are no more $*&^%$@! excuses. Get someone in here that has a pulse and cares about having a successful program at SMU.

Indeed!

[CenTXpony]

Before I even finish reading through this thread I want to say that there is nothing wrong with a rainbow. That is probably something important to the culture of a people. A rainbow may be one thing to your culture but entirely something else to another culture. Keep away from stripping a culture of their ways and beliefs. Just look at the history of us who are Indigenous Americans and what has been lost through stripping the cultures. Some of our neighbouring tribes used flaming rainbows. There was a Flaming Rainbow University.


And once again lately I had to find video with Doris McClemore and what happens to cultures when forced to forget who they are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B4pSQFsuT0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_McLemore

Keep your traditions and be who you are. If new ones develop then fine.

As far as JJ, he is probably not who he thought he was.

Flaming Rainbows... that's a catchy name....

[blackoutpony]

Find Blackoutpony and read his signature. It has all the info as to why Peruna is better than some Gelding.

Peruna's a f@cking tank

VVVVVVVVVV

[East Coast Mustang]

Before I even finish reading through this thread I want to say that there is nothing wrong with a rainbow. That is probably something important to the culture of a people. A rainbow may be one thing to your culture but entirely something else to another culture. Keep away from stripping a culture of their ways and beliefs. Just look at the history of us who are Indigenous Americans and what has been lost through stripping the cultures. Some of our neighbouring tribes used flaming rainbows. There was a Flaming Rainbow University.


And once again lately I had to find video with Doris McClemore and what happens to cultures when forced to forget who they are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B4pSQFsuT0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_McLemore

Keep your traditions and be who you are. If new ones develop then fine.

As far as JJ, he is probably not who he thought he was.

Flaming Rainbows... that's a catchy name....

Hahaha!

[East Coast Mustang]

alyssa- yeah, there's nothing "wrong" with a rainbow, but having a rainbow on a helmet might not project the most favorable image to potential recruits. I'm not drawing any conclusions here, just pointing out stuff

[ebrooks11]

alyssa- yeah, there's nothing "wrong" with a rainbow, but having a rainbow on a helmet might not project the most favorable image to potential recruits. I'm not drawing any conclusions here, just pointing out stuff

You are so rainbowcist

[alyssa]

alyssa- yeah, there's nothing "wrong" with a rainbow, but having a rainbow on a helmet might not project the most favorable image to potential recruits. I'm not drawing any conclusions here, just pointing out stuff

Hey, well, then those recruits can learn (why a rainbow?) and once they know they can become more open minded and proud to wear it and because they are all 5* and 4* footballers win every game!

[alyssa]

alyssa- yeah, there's nothing "wrong" with a rainbow, but having a rainbow on a helmet might not project the most favorable image to potential recruits. I'm not drawing any conclusions here, just pointing out stuff

You are so rainbowcist

Todays Bama teams could still win NCs with an iris arc on their helmets.

I was hoping JJ was going to change and be more serious about getting top level players to play for SMU. Right from the start he seemed to start off on the wrong foot. Recruiting is relationships to me.

[ponyboy]

You're welcome for the four straight bowls after two decades of utter ineptitude.

[MV pony]

Find Blackoutpony and read his signature. It has all the info as to why Peruna is better than some Gelding.

Peruna's a f@cking tank

VVVVVVVVVV

My easy solution: My personalized plate is PERUNA. The license plate surround is SMU Mustangs.

[lwjr]

alyssa- yeah, there's nothing "wrong" with a rainbow, but having a rainbow on a helmet might not project the most favorable image to potential recruits. I'm not drawing any conclusions here, just pointing out stuff

Not that there is anything wrong with that.