It was a close call for the Gonzaga Bulldogs with a possible Cinderella coming from Southern U Thursday evening, but the number one seed pulled through.The Wichita Shockers were a slight upset in stats, but not in play, to Pittsburg earlier in the same day as the Gonzaga game. As a result of their victories, they will play each other in the next round, but today I’m going to put their mascots and logos head to head.
Wichita State University’s mascot is WuShock, or just Wu. And despite Wu looking like the “big, bad, muscle bound bundle of wheat” he is – he’s actually over 60 years old. His name was determined by a winning vote after a Freshman suggested it in 1948. But the premise goes back to 1904. This is farm town and players back in the day would actually harvest – or “shock” wheat – on the off season. Coach Kirk came up with Wheatshockers to intimidate the Chilocco Indians for their upcoming game.
Now upon first viewing of this golden jock I thought it was pretty lame. Wheat? However, I have to say after looking at different pictures of this guy I’ve developed a soft spot for this farm boy. I mean look at him here in the fall with a pumpkin. Adorbs.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs were originally “The Fighting Irish,” and thankfully changed before Notre Dame inevitably would have battled that out with them. A reporter is the legendary person responsible for the switch, saying the players were fighting like bulldogs. So it literally started with a Bulldog named Spike, a literal living dog – not the same one I’m sure (sad face) – as a mascot until 1980.
It switched after 1980 to Captain “Zag” all due to a student putting on a cape and declaring himself the name. Somehow that stuck for five years (seriously) until another student dressed up like a dog in ‘85.
The Bulldogs – or Zags as they’re commonly called – are one of the top teams this year. The Bulldogs have a winning record. The logo suggests a pretty mean puppy. But is also a bulldog, and well who doesn’t think of this guy from Looney Tunes?
So decision time – Bulldogs V Shockers. Colorwise Bulldogs win. Navy blue, white, red have more authority than, the Shockers yellow and black. Both logos have a pretty mean mug and are leaning in for the fight so – I get it, they’re angry. However, Wu looks like the days if harvesting have given him wrinkles and well a bulldog is still a dog. Wichita State really has developed a brand with Wu and are pretty dedicated to him; that has to mean something – I mean students can’t just dress up as something else here and the college is like “okay,” like some other guys.
With my new found love (just throwing that word around now) for Wu I didn’t think the Bulldogs stood a chance. Nothing beat small town charm right? Wrong. Puppies win all. Gonzaga wins.
What do you think? Did Wichita mess up your perfect bracket too? Do you love the long blonde hair of Gonzaga forward Kelly Olynyk?
About Christina Pfeffer
Christina attended the University of Cincinnati where she majored in Communications (with a focus in Mass Media and Rhetoric) and minored in Fine Arts and Art History. She worked at the Cincinnati Art Museum in Institutional Advancement where she managed volunteers and fundraisers, until jumping ship to advertising.













