Hockey, Men's Sports, Women's Sports

North Dakota launches new Fighting Hawk mascot

18 Comments
LetsGoDU’s response to North Dakota’s new mascot costume? Closeout on aisle #3 at Party City. It looks like budget constraints at “the U” have trickled down to a school-sponsored cartoon character. Sleeve warmers with fabric flaps and an off-the-shelf head with Zorro mask fall flat – as children are sure to flee the angry fowl and drunk North Dakota fans are certain to give the feathered creature a beer shower. Even DU’s now-defunct Red Tailed Hawk, Ruckus, tops the most current green and black hawk effort.
It didn’t work then and it won’t work now.
The obvious choice would have been a return of  Thunder the Bleacher Creature. Thunder was the unofficial UND mascot (sound familiar?) for the University of North Dakota. His costume went missing after the 1994 season. Never to return, this costume was definitely not an ‘off-the-shelf’ mascot.
Isn’t this better?
And the fans don’t seem to be happy, either. However, there is some good news. In Philadelphia, Saint Joseph’s University faithful have plenty to celebrate now that they no longer own the worst Hawk costume in the country.
St Joe’s Hawk no longer perches on the lowest branch..

18 thoughts on “North Dakota launches new Fighting Hawk mascot”

  1. 5bwest, I’m unhappy with your unkind words about the St. Joe’s Hawk. You and I appreciate TRADITION and only wish BOONE could be thought of as highly as The Hawk . The Hawk has been the mascot since 1956. The person in the costume receives an endowed scholarship and is considered a full member of the basketball team. Major publications over the years have chosen the “Hawk” as the mascot of the year. (Si, The Sporting News, ESPN). The Hawk must wave its wings the entire game; we are talking 3,500 waves. (WPG). The St. Joes motto is: THE HAWK WILL NEVER DIE. My motto is: BOONE WILL NEVER DIE!!

    Reply

    1. I’ve been to Saint Joes. I love the tradition. I love the scholarship. I love the flapping. I love the bond with the players and fans. But, the costume is cheesy.

      Reply

  3. 5bwest, I’m unhappy with your unkind words about the St. Joe’s Hawk. You and I appreciate TRADITION and only wish BOONE could be thought of as highly as The Hawk . The Hawk has been the mascot since 1956. The person in the costume receives an endowed scholarship and is considered a full member of the basketball team. Major publications over the years have chosen the “Hawk” as the mascot of the year. (Si, The Sporting News, ESPN). The Hawk must wave its wings the entire game; we are talking 3,500 waves. (WPG). The St. Joes motto is: THE HAWK WILL NEVER DIE. My motto is: BOONE WILL NEVER DIE!!

    Reply

    1. I’ve been to Saint Joes. I love the tradition. I love the scholarship. I love the flapping. I love the bond with the players and fans. But, the costume is cheesy.

      Reply

  4. Did you all catch the Buffalo mascot for CU shooting himself in the nuts with a t-shirt cannon? Of course this is not funny and it is not cool to laugh at pain…but still.

    Reply

  6. Did you all catch the Buffalo mascot for CU shooting himself in the nuts with a t-shirt cannon? Of course this is not funny and it is not cool to laugh at pain…but still.

    Reply

  7. Hawk never dies! That’s an iconic mascot! Great little arena and tradition for SJU. Loved watching Pios there, even though Udofia was absolutely hacked with just seconds left and refs swallowed their whistles. Such is life on the road as mid-major.

    Reply

  8. Hawk never dies! That’s an iconic mascot! Great little arena and tradition for SJU. Loved watching Pios there, even though Udofia was absolutely hacked with just seconds left and refs swallowed their whistles. Such is life on the road as mid-major.

    Reply

  9. I like that UND is making an effort to address their “mascot issue”. But it seems to me that the fan base will give up the Sioux when you pry it out of their cold, dead hands.

    Reply

  10. I like that UND is making an effort to address their “mascot issue”. But it seems to me that the fan base will give up the Sioux when you pry it out of their cold, dead hands.

    Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply