08/21/2002 Entry: "Wilbur the Wildcat, you're under arrest for possession of a deadly weapon"
Posted by Maynard @ 09:49 PM MST

Wilbur the Wildcat, you're under arrest for possession of a deadly weapon

I knew my alma mater was a bit on the kooky side at times, but this takes the cake. The U of A mascot, Wilbur the Wildcat, has been disarmed by University officials. Phoebe Chalk, UA assistant athletics director for public relations, was quoted as saying "Wilbur's likeness is used for the Junior Wildcat Club, with children, and we didn't want to have guns in this day and age on a cartoon character." Um, yeah, sure. Your motives might be pure, but just make sure you don't let any of the Junior Wildcat Club members near the basement of Bear Down Gym, where there is a small arms range right next to the ROTC supply room. Oh, and never mind teaching them about gun safety. That whole NRA-Eddie Eagle thing about running and telling an adult isn't as effective as showing them a sanitized mascot.