Our oversized puppet shows up first in the WCC commercial.  I think that commercial gives a clue to outside pressure about the look of mascots.  Everyone has something similar now.  Will repeat what I said years ago:  Animal mascots (Broncos, Bulldogs, Lions, Cougars) can be represented by cartoons.  They're cute.  Human mascots (Gaels, Pilots, Dons, Toreros) should be represented by real guys (as long as the latter two aren't allowed to bring swords into the gym, which I'm sure they are not).  Mascots, neither animal nor human  (Waves) show a complete lack of understanding about mascotism. 

Rather than the cost issue, I thought I heard that the admin didn't think our band was talented enough.  So what?  A rag-tag band has been an SMC tradition every time its been tried.  The only good band we ever had, in the Madigan era, weren't even SMC students, but high school kids and out of work musicians.  The latest versions were much better than the three or four guys who took a stab at it in our day; three guys who couldn't have earned more than a C- in their high school music classes.

I think the many suggestions we've all made over the years to enliven the atmosphere would be taken more seriously if they were having a harder time selling tickets. 

Finally, on the subject of "outside interference" can someone please explain to me the rationale behind the NCAA prohibition against publishing media guides.  I've been collecting them for MBB, WBB and Volleyball for years and suddenly only on-line versions are allowed and I can't even find those this year.