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Help name the UHV jaguar sculpture By TimHudson in Hudson On Higher Learning September 8, 2009

Earlier this fall, thanks to the generosity of local artist Harold Nichols, we installed a 250-pound, life-sized, plate steel jaguar sculpture on the UHV campus. It already has become the photo spot of choice, situated between our two main buildings, elevated on slate panels that give it a “natural” look and feel.

It is interesting that accepting the jaguar and putting it here all seems so “normal.” I mean, after all, we ARE the UHV Jaguars. But less than three years ago – well, we weren’t anything. We had NO nickname. Can you imagine a university with no nickname? UT with no Longhorns? LSU with no Tigers? Tennessee without the Volunteers?

But when we started our athletics program, we realized that we needed and wanted a nickname, a moniker, something to build school spirit around, something that worked in a cheer. “Jaguar” was chosen by a “crowd sourcing” process that elicited hundreds of suggestions – some interesting like “Osprey,” some faddish like “Velociraptor” (alliterative but hard to imagine the cheer), some obvious like “Chupacabra,” and some unprintable like – well, just use your imagination.

We were pretty confident that no matter which name we chose, we would not be able to reach the heights of strangeness that permeate the whole business of school mascot and nicknames. I mean, what IS a “Hokie” (Virginia Tech) or a “Hoya” (Georgetown) and can “Okra” (Delta State) really fight? We also knew that we would not likely get that perfect and natural symmetry that some schools are so lucky to have. It’s very hard to beat the “Buffaloes” (University of Colorado) or the “Beavers” (Oregon State) or, even at the high-school level, the “Sandcrabs” (Calhoun).

It turns out, however, that “Jaguars” is just fine. The animal itself used to roam this area and is strong, cunning, independent and beautiful. At the time we chose the name, the Texas Zoo had two fine examples. And the proliferation of “Jaguar” gear, “Jaguar” names associated with UHV and the whole Jaguar brand has been remarkable. Again, remember that we had NOTHING less than three years ago.

So, Mr. Nichols’ “Jaguar” seems like a logical next step in the evolution of the “jaguar” nation here at UHV, and not a day goes by that someone doesn’t snap a photo of a friend with “The” jaguar in the frame. But therein lies the problem. We can’t go on calling him “The.” We need to give him a name. (And yes, it IS a him.)

We need your help. Help us name the jaguar; help us continue to build the jaguar brand. Who knows, maybe someday we’ll offer a scholarship to a young person dressed out as the jaguar; he or she will make appearances at children’s parties, at the games, etc . So, send suggestion to namethejaguar@uhv.edu by the end of the day Sept. 11. Ask your kids what they think.

You might even win a UHV Jaguars prize package if your name is selected. But please, no “Chupacabra,” and try to make sure it’s printable.

UHV page

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