Campus Bids Farewell to Old Mascot

Story by Broadside Sports Editor Brian Chan. Photo by Photography Manager Courtney Erland.

For the past couple of years, the skeptics have finally spoken. Entering the 2009 season, George Mason University ousted their fuzzy green mascot of 12 years from the sidelines. Mason will unveil their new mascot at tonight’s home opener against Brown University at the Patriot Center.

With ratings compared to those of the United States president and Congress, the former Gunston received mixed reactions from the Mason student body.

A couple of years ago, Associate Athletic Director for Marketing Andy Ruge surveyed a 60-student marketing class and found that none of the students approved Gunston as a mascot.

The controversy began with the uncertain depiction of Gunston. Gunston, a cross between “Oscar the Grouch” and a muppet, emerged as Mason’s main mascot at a men’s basketball game against Ohio State University in 1996. For 12 years, the “what’s that” mascot made appearances at basketball games and campus events. Yet, a number of students did not have an issue with the mascot even though they did not know what it exactly was.

“Sure he might not look like an actual ‘Patriot,’ but he looked and did the job as any mascot should do: look like you are fun to be around and rev up the audience to cheer on the team,” said junior Brian Rita. “I really felt Gunston was fine for [Mason] and as I remember an old saying, ‘do not fix something that is not broken.’”

At times, Gunston created a family-oriented environment at the Patriot Center as the younger fans filled the arena.
Prior to Gunston’s existence, Mason was represented by the Mason Maniak, a patriot, gorilla, and the Green Mask.

The Mason Maniak, like Gunston, was an unidentified animal character. The mascot sported a white t-shirt bearing the words “ Mason Maniak” and bright striped pants.

Like Gunston, the Mason Maniak was seen dancing in front of the fans. The patriot only lasted three years from 1990-1993 as George Johnson, the school president at the time, believed a white male mascot did not portray the university’s diversity. The Green Mask was based on the 1995 movie, in which he performed outside Mason basketball games.

Gunston is another member of the 2006 Final Four run who will not show his face at Mason basketball games in the 2009 season. Even after the team made their run in the Final Four, Gunston’s questionable appearance did not get the green fuzzy mascot off the hook.

In a June 2006 column in The Washington Post, writer Dan Steinberg mentioned how “[Gunston’s] job had been on the line for some time.” After two years, Gunston’s time as the primary mascot is up.

There has been speculation from Steinberg and Mason basketball blogger Ryan Kish that the mascot at 7’0” and 240 pounds will be represented more like a Patriot rather than a creature like Xavier University’s Blue Blob.

“I really do feel sad that Gunston will no longer be our official mascot for George Mason. I thought Gunston was not bad for a mascot since he was fun, energetic, and he knew how to give the Patriot Center some volume when cheering on the team,” said Rita.

“To me, we shouldn't have changed if nothing was broken, but either way, Gunston will be missed on the sidelines,” said Rita. “For the new mascot, as long as it can do the same things as Gunston did and look relatively decent, the change to the new mascot will be a lot less painless for me.”

On the other hand, the new Gunston will still partake in Mason’s “Go Green” events on campus. Recently, a video of the new Gunston leaked to the Mason community, which is not to be confused with the team’s new mascot.

In the video, Gunston receives a diploma from university President Alan Merten and a makeover. For the first time, Gunston reveals his teeth, which is not seen in the original Gunston. The new, less furry Gunston will no longer be on the sidelines at the basketball games.