EcoKat

by Jeremy Sharp on Aug 31, 2011 5:33 PM CDT

Hey all,

I just left got back from a "meeting" at the Forum at the Union with President Schultz and Provost Mason discussing the K-State 2025 plan.

Believe it or not, EcoKat was mentioned by President Shultz. He said he has been bombarded by emails about this. He asked each of us to tell at least one person tonight when we went home that EcoKat is in no way, shape, or form an athletic mascot.

This is something I was trying to make clear yesterday. EcoKat is not replacing Willie. EcoKat is not becoming the new face of KSU. EcoKat is a mascot specifically for the purposes of sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Why people ever got the impression that EcoKat had anything to do with KSU athletics is beyond me. Unlike the power towel incident, exactly ZERO of the athletic department staff/coaches/student athletes are depicted anywhere in any of the pictures, videos, or press releases involving EcoKat.

That is all.

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I don't think that's what people are thinking...

People just think it’s ridiculus in general and it doesn’t help Willie is in the promo shots.

"I refuse to write on the chalkboard because I refuse to rock chalk, at all times." -The Forum
The user formerly known as EMAWrising

by MeatGeek on Aug 31, 2011 5:56 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Well, considering Willie IS the mascot for all things KSU

It kinda makes sense that he is shown with her. I mean, I’ve seen Willie dressed up in a suit. He attends functions far and wide that have nothing to do with athletics.

by Jeremy Sharp on Aug 31, 2011 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe

But most of the world usually associate school mascots with that school’s athletics; inso facto EcoKat could be construed as part of Athletics. I don’t think people think that though, it just happened to be picked up by sports blogs with a sense of humor.

"I refuse to write on the chalkboard because I refuse to rock chalk, at all times." -The Forum
The user formerly known as EMAWrising

by MeatGeek on Aug 31, 2011 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions

And I would be totally upset if they actually mentioned anything about athletics

anywhere in any of the information related to this. There is nothing of the sort.

The official release on the KSU website did NOT say “and we are proud to introduce our new school mascot…we will be phasing Willie out over the next 5 years, and will be transitioning to EcoKat.”

This is not like when Ole Miss actually stated that they wanted to create a new mascot because they were unhappy with the one they had.

I, for one, and much more concerned about where KSU will land after the atomic conference realignment bomb has detonated.

Other than the fact people think it is hokey, who cares? We have actually had a LOT worse things happen to KSU that HAVE actually mattered (I don’t think I need to name names, but RP and BK are letters in their name).

by Jeremy Sharp on Aug 31, 2011 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions

That was totally weird.

“I, for one…”

That was supposed to be my closing statement.

by Jeremy Sharp on Aug 31, 2011 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions

I think the reason people are embarrassed by it,

is that it’s a mascot that people will associate with our school, and it’s quite weird.

Improve every day. (Read it again. It has more meaning than what you first see.)

by K.S.B. on Aug 31, 2011 6:47 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

This is exactly my issue with it

"If you don't want to work, become a reporter. That awful power, the public opinion of the nation, was created by a horde of self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditch digging and shoemaking and fetched up journalism on their way to the poorhouse." - Mark Twain

by Sean T on Aug 31, 2011 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Honestly at this point

I’m tired of conference armageddon, I want something else to talk about because everything has already been said for that. Once football season gets here, people will forget except for the internent memers looking for a fad.

"I refuse to write on the chalkboard because I refuse to rock chalk, at all times." -The Forum
The user formerly known as EMAWrising

by MeatGeek on Aug 31, 2011 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions

No.

There are people that ACTUALLY think this. You are underestimating the lack of intelligence of SOME of our/any fanbase.

by WillieWannabe on Aug 31, 2011 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions

I love Pres. Schultz,

but he doesn’t get it at ALL, on this issue.

Improve every day. (Read it again. It has more meaning than what you first see.)

by K.S.B. on Aug 31, 2011 5:57 PM CDT reply actions

yep.

goofy character to encourage people to reduce, reuse, recycle …. Not really needed unless you are in the kindergarten

The time for calm and rational discourse is past, now is the time for senseless bickering -Anonymous the Younger

by Anon_the_younger on Aug 31, 2011 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions

It works for people older than kindergarten too!

Ever since that show I always cut my can 6-pack holders.

by Sean T on Aug 31, 2011 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Actually my unscientific poll of around 50 K-State alum all had the same things to say about EcoKat.

Embarrassing and get rid of it. No distinction between athletic or green mascot necessary. File this under EPIC FAIL and rebrand. I literally saw one comment suggesting the inventor be sacked. I would consider that crystal clear feedback of what the alumni base has to say about it. I personally wish I had the $100,000 to donate to KSU just have it taken down immediately. Did they even test market this prior to making the press release?

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will. - Vince Lombardi

by Catbacker98 on Aug 31, 2011 11:06 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs