USC Unveils Two New Basketball Mascots
USC has officially unveiled two new mascots for both USC women's and men's basketball. Tommy and Traveler will be the newest Trojans representing USC basketball. Their cartoonish appearances will add something different to the games, and hopefully attract more fans and students to the Galen Center.
In early September, USC Athletics loyalty group Trojan Fever released an ad asking all Trojans to be part of a new tradition. In the photo was a shadow of two potential new mascots that could represent USC at sporting events. Three months later Traveler and Tommy made a brief appearance at the Tutor Campus Center.
This is just one of the many new things that will be added to USC athletics to spark conversation. Recently, USC Athletics has released a series of videos promoting USC basketball in a new segment called "Behind the Uniform". One of the short videos features the new shoes the teams will be wearing, which include custom Kobe Bryant basketball shoes.
It is unclear how students will receive these new mascots, but some students who spotted them on campus weren't too thrilled.
"We are a traditional university that does not need to reinvent ourselves or create new excitement," said Robert Shawhan a senior at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. "Our fan base probably does not appreciate a push like this. Like our uniforms we stay true to tradition."
Although they have been officially introduced it has not been determined if the mascots will make an appearance at USC basketball games just yet. Staff members told students it will be a easing process.
"They are going to try get the [mascots] engaged during tailgates and slowly introduce them to fans," said Shawhan.
Even though these mascots will potentially only be featured during basketball games it's a big change for students.
"I think it's too much of a departure from our classic Tommy Trojan and Traveler [mascot] that we have at football games," says Lauren Estrada a senior at the Marshall School of Business.
Since USC Athletics tweeted out the picture to its 48,933 followers it has received only 83 retweets and 71 favorites. They are trying to push promotion of the new mascots through twitter using hash tag #USCTNT.
Please, no.