All of you who were at this past weekend's basketball and hockey games saw what I saw -- 2 great things: action on the main stage and a surprise in the stands.
Even though the final scores did not turn out as we wanted, I can say I'm proud to support our Dartmouth. Our guys busted their butts; no doubt about it. Although they should've won (no comment on the atrocious officiating), the play-making was excellent, the action was incredible and we, the fans, were excited.
But, were we really "excited?" We are, by far, the best fans in the Ivies, but, then again, we are mostly talking about people who can't tell the difference between a puck and a ball. If you've ever been to a Duke basketball game or an FSU football game, the excitement is so thick the players can touch it. Late in the final period, their legs are weary, and, all of the sudden, the crowd gets whipped into a frenzy. We're yelling, "D-FENSE!" or stomping our feet to, "We will rock you.." They force a turnover, create a breakaway and score! The tide has turned, and our team is in the driver's seat. There's nothing better, as a fan, than to know that our players hear our cheers and feel our excitement.
This brings me to the second great thing I saw this weekend -- the Moose. Who, in the front row, got us to stand? Who started us stomping our feet and keeping the beat? A Moose. The Moose. Our Moose.
What we have right now -- the Big Green -- is good. But let's add to it. Take it to the next level, so to speak. By having a mascot, in addition to the Big Green, we have something tangible; a rallying point for us as fans, as a school and as a community. This weekend, we, the student fans and community fans, openly embraced the Moose. Immediately on entering the stands we were slapping five with our Moose and each other, while nearly every kid rushed for an autograph or a photo.
The history of Dartmouth runs deep and, from the outset, the moose has had an important role. Mount Moosilauke, once a sacred moose sanctuary, is an integral part of nearly everyone's introduction to Dartmouth -- our Dartmouth Outing Club trips. Embodying the heritage and tradition of our college, the Moose is a perfect choice for our Dartmouth.
Do I believe we should do away with the Big Green? NO WAY. But let's give this color a body and an attitude. I believe it is time for a mascot. I believe in the Big Green Moose.
