The votes are cast. The results are in. The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg has selected a new mascot and it is… A griffin!
Head of an eagle, body of a lion -- It's a griffin!
In a process alarmingly similar to that which this university is using to select a new university president, the College of William & Mary charged a committee of students, faculty, alumni and staff to determine what mascot would be the best fit for the campus.
Among the finalists were: a King and Queen, a Phoenix, a Pug and a Wren. Looking at that lineup, it’s clear the committee made the right decision.
The griffin is a creature from old legends and myths that has the head of an eagle and the body of a lion, is known for being majestic and guarding treasure. The College of William and Mary jusified their selection as representative of their rich history:
The coat of arms of King William and Queen Mary was adorned with lions, and the lion’s body of our mascot evokes our historic royal founding and early history. The eagle’s head of the Griffin suggests the national symbol of the United States and represents the presidents, leaders, and productive citizens whom William & Mary has trained for centuries.
But you can’t please everyone — DCist.com referred to the new mascot as “the Philadelphia Eagle’s kid is wearing khakis for his internship.” Ouch.
The school’s athletics teams will still be referred to as “The Tribe.”