It’s hard to go a day at ASU without seeing the school’s horned, long-tailed mascot.
Be it on a T-shirt, in an ad or in person as he roams the campus rustling up school spirit, it’s hard to miss Sparky.
But what would life be like without the mustachioed Sun Devil?
Those attached to the Ole Miss program have now gone more than a decade without their beloved mascot, Colonel Reb. It was officially replaced Thursday with a new mascot, “Rebel Black Bear” (despite the demand for Star Wars’ Admiral Ackbar).
Illinois fans have been without the controversial Chief Illiniwek for more than three years.
Fans of both programs refuse to let the deposed mascots be forgotten.
The political correctness demanded of sideline mascots, often by a non-majority, is getting a little out of hand.
What if a group of people decide that “Fighting Irish” is offensive and pegs the Irish as a violent people?
Or if PETA again demands that Georgia (or Washington?) stop using live dogs as sideline mascots?
And what happens if a bunch of religious uptights start arguing that Sparky equates to devil worship?
Are our sideline mascots safe anymore?
Reach the reporter at tyler.lockman@asu.edu
