Of Blue Hens and Hokies

I was cruising down 97 towards Annapolis for the Navy game when a carload of Blue Hens streaked past. What on earth, mused I, ever made University of Delaware select “Blue Hen” for a mascot?  That even sounds silly at 70 mph.


Yes, Maryland has a team named after its state bird, but Baltimore Orioles has better ring and more stylish plumage than Delaware Blue Hens. South Carolina has a poultry mascot, but at least Gamecocks suggest a pugilist nature. Not only are hens a little fluttery, they are, well, GIRLS. Hard to visualize guys in shoulder pads clucking on a nest.  Makes me cackle just to think of it.


I once read that Delaware’s mascot was the only one known to be exclusively female, but Mike Frenz pointed out that Williams College has the purple cow (“I’d rather see than be one”) as their spirit symbol. Of course, the cerebral and select Williams (whose athletes are referred to as “Ephs”) is the kind of school that could pull it off.

And whatever inspired Virginia Tech to choose “hokie,” the agricultural term for a neutered male turkey? ( Think: gobbler version of capon.) Most people don’t know what a hokie is, even when they see the wacky big bird stalking the sidelines.


There are various reasons offered for how the school made this particular choice (along with the orange/maroon colors,) but no matter how it evolved, Hokie seems to work, verbally and visually. It certainly did in College Park. The Terp fans all wore black, which didn’t auger well -- especially with the team outfitted in camouflage. (If they were trying to hide from VT, it didn’t work.) The color contrast in the stands emphasized the flock of Techies in attendance, particularly in the fourth quarter when the hometown faithful fled and the turkeys were still trotting.


In Annapolis, the Mids prevailed, despite a scary first half. The Blue Hens are no chickens. Last time they flew in, Navy scored 52 points and STILL lost to a team led by a guy named Flacco. So no one in Annapolis snickers about the hens laying an egg. They’ve made omelettes out of opponents too often.

So Delaware and Virginia Tech are proof that schools can enjoy successful athletic programs and very loyal fans despite having peculiar mascots. I can’t help but wonder if the Fighting Artichokes of Scottsdale do as well.

AND SPEAKING OF MASCOTS . . . . there's still time to vote for our two local favorites, Bill the Goat and Testudo the Terrapin, in the Capital One National Mascot Challenge.  Bill and Testy have advanced to the quarter finals, and need your support.  Go to:  http://www.capitalonebowl.com/vote/main?utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=MascotDig09&utm_source=SportsFanLive&utm_content=M2&utm_term=RunofNCF