playing the name game
There was a time long ago when Collegiate’s athletic teams weren’t called the Cougars.
In fact, they weren’t called anything.
Then, shortly after the school moved to North Mooreland Road in the early ‘60’s, an official nickname became a must.
Suggestions abounded.
Cavaliers. Crusaders.
Nice ring to both. Alliterative, too.
And Vikings.
Collegiate Vikings. Nah…
Eventually, after much discussion, two choices emerged: Collegians and Cougars.
Collegiate Collegians.
Can you even imagine?
Collegiate Cougars.
Perfect.
Which brings me to the recently unveiled name of Richmond’s new Double A baseball franchise.
Flying Squirrels.
Wow!
The handle for the San Francisco Giants’ Eastern League affiliate, which operated in the past as the Connecticut Defenders, came from a drastically winnowed list of finalists that included Flatheads, Rhinos, Rock Hoppers, and Hush Puppies.
None exactly conjure images of Rambo-like toughness, do they?
But wait…
While it might be hard to get psyched about a mascot that’s essentially a rodent with wings or the second coming of the hero of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, quirky monikers are as commonplace in the world of minor league baseball as corndogs and cotton candy.
For starters, there’re the Batavia Muckdogs, Charlotte Stone Crabs, Great Lakes Loons, Hickory Crawdads, Savannah Sand Gnats, Grand Prairie AirHogs, and Wichita Wingnuts.
And let’s not forget the Toledo Mud Hens, who made regular trips to old Parker Field, then The Diamond to mix it up with the Richmond Braves, who left town after the 2008 season.
“I don’t care much for the name Flying Squirrels, but it’s a great marketing tool for the city and the organization,” said Andrew Slater, Collegiate’s head varsity baseball coach.
“Single A and Double A teams have to have a way to draw people to the ball park through merchandising and creating a family atmosphere.”
Slater isn’t alone around here in his let’s-give-the-Flying Squirrels-a-chance attitude.
“I thought all the names were too cartoony, but I’m so excited to have baseball back that I don’t care,” said Pete Follansbee, an Upper School English teacher and lifelong Boston Red Sox fan.
“There’re some pretty funky names in minor league baseball. I’ve seen the Carolina Mudcats play in Zebulon, North Carolina. It was a blast. They had a big catfish walking the stands, stirring up enthusiasm. I really hope we can approximate that in Richmond.”
“I was kind of disappointed by the name,” offered Brooks Slotterback, a sophomore varsity baseball player who pulls for the Baltimore Orioles.
“It’ll be difficult rooting for a team called the Flying Squirrels, but I do think it’ll pay off down the road.”
“The name’s ridiculous,” said Andrew Bronson, another of Slater’s guys whose brother Evan played this past summer for the Class A Vermont Lake Monsters. “Flying Squirrels just isn’t a sports-like name.”
Will you go see them play? I asked.
“Oh, yeah,” he replied without missing a beat.
Neil Weiser, an Upper School history teacher and all-district centerfielder in high school, submitted Riverhawks to the name-that-team contest.
“It’ll be interesting to see how fan reaction plays out,” he said. “I saw a poll on television that said only 14% liked the name Flying Squirrels.
“What runs through my mind is, if you’re the radio announcer, how do you get through that first few games without bursting out laughing every time you say the name?
“In the end, people will get used to anything. These guys know a lot more about marketing than I do.”
Ben Greenbaum, who teaches science in the Upper School, is a diehard New York Yankees fan.
“Any discussion of the name is good promo,” he said. “I hope the citizenry will support the team.
“I’ll still be a fan, as long as they’re not affiliated with the Red Sox."
Let’s face it.
You can support the Yankees or Red Sox or Braves or Cardinals from anywhere on the planet.
They’re the big time, The Show.
Minor leagues aren’t The Show.
Nowhere close.
Teams need that unique touch, and nothing provides uniqueness like a name and logo that make you stop and say, “Huh!?!”
Will “Flying Squirrels” serve Richmond as well as “Cougars” has served Collegiate?
The jury’s still out on that one.
Will the spark ignited by the lively discussion bring positive energy pull Central Virginia from the pro sports doldrums?
Let’s hope so.
