In celebration of Squirrel Appreciation Day, I feel it is about time I reveal a long held family secret. A secret that Chuck Billy swore me to keep. But he’s not here, and I believe in being open and honest about my family. So here goes – Mom’s college mascots were the “Fighting Squirrels!” Oh I feel so much better finally getting that out there!
I feel like it was nuts for Chuck Billy to want to keep this squirrel mascot secret. Although I don’t understand the fighting part. I’ve never personally seen squirrels fight. In fact they seem to prefer to run away when confronted. Then again maybe that’s why the school chose them? Being more on the creative arts end of the liberal arts college spectrum, the students weren’t exactly the competitive type. However, the soccer team did win the small college New England championship in the early 1990s, and Mom does vaguely recall they had a good basketball team. But she mostly remembers the fun intramural dodgeball games, where one could argue the students looked like squirrels running around trying not to get struck by a ball!
Or perhaps the name had nothing to do with sports? Maybe the mascot was inspired by the massive trees on campus that were home to many squirrels. Perhaps daydreaming students wishing they were outside frolicking with them instead of stuck inside in a classroom came up with the whimsical name? I know I like watching the squirrels play outside when I’m stuck in the office.
Sadly though the squirrels didn’t fight as hard as they should have when the school closed its door just shy of its 200th anniversary. But good news for squirrels and friends alike! There are still colleges with squirrel mascots! Just none of them are the “Fighting Squirrels.” Oh and for the record, contrary to what some online sources say, the Fighting Squirrels were NOT the mascots during the entire 197 year history. Although the book on the history of the school is a bit squirrelly about when that mascot was adopted. Today the Fighting Squirrels memorabilia appears to a sought after collector’s item. So please excuse me, after I play a celebratory game of dodgeball with my squeaky squirrel, I’m headed up to attic to see if I can find Mom’s old Fighting Squirrel baseball cap! Which by the way, was another thing the Chuck Billy swore us to never see the light of day again!
Speaking of Chuck Billy, here’s a throwback photo of when I had to serve as mediator between him and my squeaky squirrel friend. I guess squirrels fight after all?
But they eventually made up and became friends…sort of!
