Griffin (mascot)

Griffin

University	The College of William & Mary
Conference	CAA
Description	Griffin
Origin of name	Chosen by students and administration in 2010
First seen	2010
Related mascot(s)	Canisius College Golden Griffin

The Griffin, a mythical creature with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion, is the mascot of The College of William & Mary. William & Mary President Taylor Reveley announced the adoption of the new mascot on April 6, 2010. The Griffin mascot beat out the other four finalists: a King and Queen (dual mascot), a Phoenix, a Pug, and a Wren. The College had not had an official mascot since the late 1970s.

History

The College of William & Mary has a three-century-long history of interaction with the local Pamunkey and Mattaponi Tribes. Originally, the mascot for William and Mary were students that dressed as Native Americans because William & Mary's athletic teams used to be known as the "Indians", which was later changed to the "Tribe."^[1]

In May 2006, the NCAA ruled that the old athletic logo for William & Mary, which includes two green and gold feathers, could create an environment that is offensive to the Native American community.^[1] The NCAA decision irked many William and Mary alumni because Florida State is allowed to retain its nickname, the Seminoles, as well as its American Indian mascot (Chief Osceola) and imagery. The College's appeal regarding the use of the institution’s athletic logo to the NCAA Executive Committee was rejected. The "Tribe" nickname, by itself, was found to be neither hostile nor abusive, but rather communicates ennobling sentiments of commitment, shared idealism, community and common cause.^[2] The College stated it would phase out the use of the two feathers by the fall of 2007.^[3]

Due to the changing nature of the athletic teams persona, for a short time, the College's unofficial mascot was a green and gold frog (though it was commonly referred to on campus simply as an 'amorphous green blob') called "Colonel Ebirt" ("Tribe" backwards), which was discontinued in 2005.^[4]^[5]

In 2009, William & Mary President Taylor Reveley appointed a committee of alumni, students, faculty, and staff to helm the selection for a new mascot for the college that could serve as a "unifying, fun figure on campus" as well as making sure that the new mascot "look[ed] good on T-Shirts and in costume."^[5]^[6]

In December 2009, five finalists—including a Griffin, King and Queen, the Phoenix, a Pug and the Wren—were announced from more than 800 submissions.^[1]^[5]^[7]

After announcement of the finalists, there was a month-long public feedback period on the five mascot finalists in which more than 11,000 people completed a survey.^[6] The appointed mascot committee reviewed more than 22,000 comments regarding the new mascot.^[6]

Announcement and reception

"The Griffin has joined the Tribe. With its arrival, we now have a mascot that unites strength with intelligence, recalls our royal origins, and speaks to our deep roots in American history."

—William & Mary President Taylor Reveley on announcing the new mascot^[6]

On April 6, 2010, president Reveley announced that the College has selected the Griffin as its new mascot.^[8] President Reveley stated that the new mascot symbolizes the links between the college's historic ties to both Great Britain, whose monarchy has used the symbol of the lion in the past, and the United States, which uses the eagle as the national symbol.^[1]^[6]^[9] William and Mary Athletic Director Terry Driscoll said about the Griffin: "The griffin is half eagle and half lion, which symbolizes intelligence and strength, and this what we want our student athletes to represent."^[5]

The mascot does not have an official name yet. President Reveley stated that a name for the Griffin would not come in the Spring 2010 semester and that: "If and when the beast gets a name, we'll let the people decide."^[5]

The announcement of the new mascot was made fun of by College of William & Mary alumnus Jon Stewart, who stated on the April 8, 2010, broadcast of The Daily Show, "William and Mary has announced a new mascot. It is a griffin, which is ancient Greek for the rare pantless tailed eagle. Sorry, but in my day running through campus with no pants on was the students' job."^[10] The new mascot was also welcomed into the group of college griffin mascots in a faux "open letter" to USA Today by the Canisius College Golden Griffin, which stated "[Y]ou are a newcomer, if you don't mind my saying so, in this griffin mascot biz, this being your first full day and all. And there is one thing you should know. Please, don't take shots at other griffins."^[11]

References

1 2 3 4 "William & Mary adopts griffin". Associated Press. ESPN. 2010-04-07. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
↑ "'Tribe' refers to community Nichol states in a report sent to the NCAA | University Relations". Wm.edu. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
↑ "William and Mary to change athletic logo before Fall 2007 | University Relations". Wm.edu. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
↑ "''Eulogy for Ebirt:'' Lessons from one of the Tribe's great fans | University Relations". Wm.edu. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
1 2 3 4 5 Vaughn, Tyra (2010-04-07). "William and Mary's new mascot: the Griffin!". News Channel Three WTKR. WTKR-TV. Archived from the original on April 14, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
1 2 3 4 5 "'Get me the Griffin': William & Mary Announces New Mascot". Wm.edu. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
↑ http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2009/mascot-committee-unveils-five-finalists-123.php
↑ http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2010/new-mascot-announced-123.php
↑ William & Mary unveils new mascot article in The Virginia Gazette
↑ April 8, 2010 Daily Show
↑ An open letter to William & Mary from a (really) old friend

College of William & Mary

Academics	Affiliate institutions Richard Bland College Schools Mason School of Business School of Arts and Sciences School of Education Law School Virginia Institute of Marine Science Programs Center for Gifted Education Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy Other Brigham–Kanner Property Rights Conference / Prize Honor code Institute of Bill of Rights Law Phi Beta Kappa Society Public Ivy Scandal of 1951

Athletics	Sports Football (Capital Cup) Men's basketball Men's soccer Women's soccer Baseball Facilities Albert–Daly Field Blow Gymnasium Busch Field Jimmye Laycock Football Center Millie West Tennis Facility Kaplan Arena McCormack–Nagelsen Tennis Center Plumeri Park Walter J. Zable Stadium at Cary Field Related Colonial Athletic Association Griffin Pep Band Tribe Fight Song

Campus	Alan B. Miller Hall Alumni House Brafferton Crim Dell bridge Earl Gregg Swem Library Henry C. Wolf Law Library Mason School of Business Library Muscarelle Museum of Art Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall Sunken Garden William J. Hargis Jr. Library Wren Building

History	History Firsts Colonial Colleges Matthew Whaley School Christopher Newport University Old Dominion University The Colleges of William & Mary Priorities of the College

People	Notable alumni Presidents Chancellors King William III & Queen Mary II Commencement speakers

Student life	American Parliamentary Debate Association Bus transportation The Gentlemen of the College Greek life Our Alma Mater Publications DoG Street Journal Flat Hat Virginia Informer William and Mary Quarterly Secret societies 7 Society Bishop James Madison Society Flat Hat Club Wren Society Student Assembly WCWM 90.9 FM WMTV

Misc.	Ash Lawn–Highland City of Williamsburg Colonial Williamsburg I Am the College Royal Hospital School SS William and Mary Victory

Commons Category

William & Mary Tribe football

Venues	Zable Stadium (1935–present) Jimmye Laycock Football Center (practice)

Bowls & rivalries	Delaware James Madison Richmond VMI Ivy Bowl

Culture & lore	Griffin Colonel Ebirt Iron Indians "12th Man Tackle" Scandal of 1951 "Tribe Fight Song" William & Mary Pep Band

People	Head coaches NFL draftees

Seasons	1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

William & Mary Tribe men's basketball

Venues	Blow Gymnasium (1925–1971) Norfolk Municipal Auditorium (alternate; 1952–1965) Kaplan Arena (1971–present)

Culture & lore	Records Retired jerseys Hershberger Award hoax Griffin Colonel Ebirt Scandal of 1951

People	Head coaches

Seasons	1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17

William & Mary Tribe women's basketball

Venues	Blow Gymnasium (1925–1971) Norfolk Municipal Auditorium (alternate; 1952–1965) Kaplan Arena (1971–present)

Culture & lore	Griffin Colonel Ebirt

People	Head coaches

Seasons	1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17

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Griffin (mascot)

History

Announcement and reception

See also

References