To coincide with the upcoming 250thย anniversary of its founding, the College of Charleston announced today that it will be changing the schoolโs mascot from the Cougars to the College of Charleston Blue Crabs.ย
ย โWe are excited about the new mascot,โ says Ernest โTrippโ Brixx, vice president of executive programmatic enhancements at the College. โThe new Blue Crab mascot will not only distinguish the College from other schools, but it will also create a connection between the College and an indigenous crustacean that isย synonymousย with the Lowcountry.โย
The new mascot, Billy the Blue Crab, will be unveiled during a press conference in the Collegeโs Physicians Auditorium on April 31, 2017.
The decision to change the mascot was made after the College commissioned an extensive study that included surveying over 12,000 current students, alumni, faculty, staff and donors.
โWe have seen a lot of negative connotations surrounding the name โcougarโ over the past few years,โ says Jayย Murky, president of Murky Research, whose firm conducted the 16-month study for the College.
Murky says the firm recommended that the College adopt the new mascot after his six-year-old daughter commented that the crab would be a โcoolโ mascot.ย ย
ย College of Charleston Executive Vice President of Athletics Haywood Jabuzoffย agrees.ย
ย โI expect the College of Charleston Blue Crabs will be embraced by both sports fans and non-sports fans alike,โ says Jabuzoff. โBilly the Blue Crab will symbolize a new era in College of Charleston athletics.โ
ย Clyde the Cougar had no comment on the schoolโs decision.
If you are still reading, Happy April Fools’ Day!ย ย
