I'm struggling to figure out how the Aztecs are any different than the Spartans, Trojans, Vikings, Vandals, etc. Yes, the Aztecs are a bit more recent (500 years ago instead of 1000+), and despite the fact that there remain a strong indigenous population in Mexico, there aren't any modern Aztecs. This is just college students finding something to be outraged about, because drama is desirable at that age.

(04-25-2017 08:09 AM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  I'm struggling to figure out how the Aztecs are any different than the Spartans, Trojans, Vikings, Vandals, etc. Yes, the Aztecs are a bit more recent (500 years ago instead of 1000+), and despite the fact that there remain a strong indigenous population in Mexico, there aren't any modern Aztecs. This is just college students finding something to be outraged about, because drama is desirable at that age.

There isn't a difference.

(04-25-2017 01:40 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(04-25-2017 08:09 AM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  I'm struggling to figure out how the Aztecs are any different than the Spartans, Trojans, Vikings, Vandals, etc. Yes, the Aztecs are a bit more recent (500 years ago instead of 1000+), and despite the fact that there remain a strong indigenous population in Mexico, there aren't any modern Aztecs. This is just college students finding something to be outraged about, because drama is desirable at that age.

There isn't a difference.

Other than that human sacrifice thing.

(04-24-2017 12:48 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(04-24-2017 12:39 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-24-2017 12:28 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(04-24-2017 12:19 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  There have never been any Aztecs in San Diego...

Not too many Lumberjacks in Arizona either... just sayin'

You think the entire state is covered with nothing but sand and cacti? Nope.

I've been to Flagstaff on several occasions. I realize the pine trees in the area are plentiful, but Lumberjack to me would make more sense for a school in the Pacific Northwest or Canada.

You might have been to Flagstaff, but you do not know Flagstaff nor its history. I was born and raised there. The town basically became established as a result of the lumbering industry. The lumber mills would produce railroad ties for the transcontinental railroad going through town and Northern Arizona. Lumbering was a big industry, perhaps the only "industry" in town until environmentalists shut down the forests with protectionist laws. Thus the lumber industry in Flagstaff is no more. Flagstaff is surrounded by the largest stand of Ponderosa Pine in the world. Lumberjacks is a very appropriate mascot for Northern Arizona University, that respects the pioneer heritage of the area.

(04-24-2017 07:28 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(04-24-2017 12:32 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  Dang, was hoping they'd go with SDSU Sealions! Because Seaworld is awesome!

The SDSU Orcas would invite massive PETA protests against Orca athletes being paraded in front of stadiums of people. Imagine the Sealions would invite protests too.

True but even forget the seaworld connection as there are California Sea Lions out in the San Diego Bay all the time so it's still a great local mascot

Oh geez, who cares. Nothing short of a mascot like the n-word should rile up much controversy. I'm so sick of all this PC crap in society.

San Diego g5ers sounds about right

You know, that wouldn't sound so bad if Houston wasn't a G5. WTF? The SWC was over 20 years ago.

Eventually the name will be changed, and the world won't end.

Here's why

Unlike the Utes or the Seminoles, there isn't a group that the school can go to in order to obtain approval for the appropriation. Regardless of whether one thinks the appropriation is correct or not, it is an appropriation.

Its also, in the case of SDSU, a very tenuous one, that has very little to base a team from San Diego using it.

Its best to just get it over with and have a mascot that won't be a millstone.

(04-25-2017 05:10 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  Oh geez, who cares. Nothing short of a mascot like the n-word should rile up much controversy. I'm so sick of all this PC crap in society.

You obviously do, so there's one. The OP cared enough to start the thread, so there's 2. I don't know about you, but I'm starting to see a pattern here.

(04-25-2017 05:28 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  Eventually the name will be changed, and the world won't end.

Here's why

Unlike the Utes or the Seminoles, there isn't a group that the school can go to in order to obtain approval for the appropriation. Regardless of whether one thinks the appropriation is correct or not, it is an appropriation.

Its also, in the case of SDSU, a very tenuous one, that has very little to base a team from San Diego using it.

Its best to just get it over with and have a mascot that won't be a millstone.

They could go with the ironic viewpoint and choose Conquistadors, the former San Diego ABA team. Won't happen, but that name isn't much different from others like Raiders, Explorers etc.

(04-25-2017 05:30 PM)DefCONNOne Wrote:  

(04-25-2017 05:10 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  Oh geez, who cares. Nothing short of a mascot like the n-word should rile up much controversy. I'm so sick of all this PC crap in society.

You obviously do, so there's one. The OP cared enough to start the thread, so there's 2. I don't know about you, but I'm starting to see a pattern here.

What I'm saying in the line of conversation, is that why do people make such a fuss over issues so minor? This is worse than the transgender bathroom issue.

(04-25-2017 05:38 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(04-25-2017 05:30 PM)DefCONNOne Wrote:  

(04-25-2017 05:10 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  Oh geez, who cares. Nothing short of a mascot like the n-word should rile up much controversy. I'm so sick of all this PC crap in society.

You obviously do, so there's one. The OP cared enough to start the thread, so there's 2. I don't know about you, but I'm starting to see a pattern here.

What I'm saying in the line of conversation, is that why do people make such a fuss over issues so minor? This is worse than the transgender bathroom issue.

The problem with SDSU retaining the Aztecs as their mascot is that it sets the school up for constant strife because there's no group that can speak for "Aztecs". Its a no win situation.

Just change the stupid name to something that represents San Diego....such as the Marine Warriors or Sharks (do not pick Great White Sharks - lol) or Sun Warriors and be done with it.

Or let's not care and move on. There's a few high schools and streets nearby named for Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Do you think I care, even as a black man? Hell, those are the names I prefer because I may lose track of what the reference was if they ever changed it and not know what people were referring to. There are more pressing issues to life than being PC to the loud ignorant minority.

This happens at SDSU about once a decade...and nothing ever comes of it. Given they are without a president right now I think it was just some of the faculty getting all uppity and making a move on the name just for the sake of creating some noise.

SDSU should retain the Aztecs mascot because it is bad ass. Case closed.

And unique in the college sports landscape.

(04-25-2017 05:28 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  Eventually the name will be changed, and the world won't end.

Here's why

Unlike the Utes or the Seminoles, there isn't a group that the school can go to in order to obtain approval for the appropriation. Regardless of whether one thinks the appropriation is correct or not, it is an appropriation.

Its also, in the case of SDSU, a very tenuous one, that has very little to base a team from San Diego using it.

Its best to just get it over with and have a mascot that won't be a millstone.

Isn't the difference that the Aztecs were a civilization, not an ethnicity? That's why--to me--this is a completely different situation than the Native American mascot issue.

San Diego St getting rid of Aztecs would be awful.

Eastern Michigan lost so much identity when they switched from the iconic Fighting Hurons to the bland Eagles.

Ditto North Dakota.

(04-26-2017 12:15 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  San Diego St getting rid of Aztecs would be awful.

Eastern Michigan lost so much identity when they switched from the iconic Fighting Hurons to the bland Eagles.

Ditto North Dakota.

It is an interesting side issue that so many of the non-offensive mascot names turn out to be awful. Like St John's--Redmen to Red Storm, which sounds like a limited edition soda. Or Hofstra: Flying Dutchmen to...the Hofstra Pride. Just atrocious. Stanford sucks in all ways, so it's no surprise that they went from Indians to that horrible tree and/or color. Especially when the kids voted to be the Robber Barons in an tribute to the school's founder.

Why didn't EMU change to being Herons? I mean Eagles are so generic...

(04-26-2017 12:15 AM)justinslot Wrote:  

(04-25-2017 05:28 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  Eventually the name will be changed, and the world won't end.

Here's why

Unlike the Utes or the Seminoles, there isn't a group that the school can go to in order to obtain approval for the appropriation. Regardless of whether one thinks the appropriation is correct or not, it is an appropriation.

Its also, in the case of SDSU, a very tenuous one, that has very little to base a team from San Diego using it.

Its best to just get it over with and have a mascot that won't be a millstone.

Isn't the difference that the Aztecs were a civilization, not an ethnicity? That's why--to me--this is a completely different situation than the Native American mascot issue.

The Aztecs were a distinct tribe, different from others in the area.