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University of Massachusets Athletics
Ask Ian Answers
 |  Athletic Director Ian McCaw |
May 27, 2003
Editor's Note: In response to all of the questions surrounding the Minuteman, Ian McCaw recently sat down and penned this editorial on the issue for The Republican, which was published on May 25.
We had the opportunity to make an exciting and very popular announcement recently when the Minuteman was reaffirmed as the University of Massachusetts athletic mascot. This occurred after a three-month process wherein the athletics department reviewed all of its logos and identifiers. Our goal from the beginning has been to update and enhance our athletic identifiers in an effort to increase our merchandising sales and licensing royalties.
This thorough and open review included members of the student body, alumni, donors, coaches, staff and student-athletes in an assessment of the Minuteman character that has been synonymous with UMass athletics since 1972 when it was adopted as the school's mascot. Previously, Massachusetts' teams had been called the Aggies, Statesmen and Redmen.
While some viewed this process as an assault on a traditional symbol that has been indelibly linked to the University, it instead turned out to be an opportunity for the broad constituencies of the University and its athletic program to be heard regarding an issue that is close to everyone's heart. The Minuteman discussion reawakened institutional pride and passion among alumni, friends of the University and citizens throughout the Commonwealth by the tens of thousands. Not only was the input audible, it roared from Boston Harbor through the Pioneer Valley.
We looked at several different options throughout this process, but in the end, everyone believed that the nickname's uniqueness, combined with its historical tie to the Commonwealth, made it an easy decision to retain the Minuteman as a symbol of our athletic programs.
As it was in 1775, the Minuteman triumphs!
With the reaffirmation of the Minuteman as the athletic mascot, cheers went up from Amherst to Pittsfield to Worcester to greater Boston. When told of the decision to retain the Minuteman, members of our softball team broke into a loud cheer on a bus in Tuscaloosa, Ala., prior to opening play in the NCAA Tournament.
We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support for the Minuteman. The new identity system will build upon the Minuteman tradition, more broadly represent our athletic program and better connect with our alumni, friends and citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
This discussion turned into an enlightening experience for everyone involved. Some of us had the opportunity to refresh our understanding of the American Revolution. Our commitment to the democratic process and value of open debate and discussion proved its timeless value yet again. Many of our University's alumni and friends reconnected with their alma mater and the state's flagship institution with renewed enthusiasm. Still others showed courage and passion in speaking up for something that they care deeply about.
Now that the Minuteman has been reaffirmed, it is time that the University community and citizens of the Commonwealth rally together and support an even more critical concern with even greater enthusiasm and passion--the state's proposed funding for the University of Massachusetts during the coming fiscal year. It will be wonderful to have a revitalized Minuteman mascot; however, we need resources in order to continue to support our first-rate University worthy of the traditions this symbol represents.
Past financial support from the state and University has provided many programs with the opportunity to flourish nationally, and we are appreciative of that support. One of the byproducts of the logo process will be enhanced merchandise and licensing revenues for our department. And, while we look to continue growing all revenue streams, we still need institutional support if we are to maintain a first-class, Division I athletic program.
The proposed 2003-04 legislative budget for the University of Massachusetts will deny students the educational opportunities that are due them and in turn, will leave the next generation of Massachusetts' citizens behind the education curve nationally. Today's students will be tomorrow's community leaders, entrepreneurs and workforce and the Commonwealth needs to invest in its public colleges and universities to ensure our state's economic future.
With the same vigor, passion and enthusiasm, we must redirect the groundswell of support for the Minuteman toward a new debate throughout the Commonwealth in support of state funding of higher education. The Commonwealth collects all tuition from state universities and colleges centrally and then distributes funding back to campuses through the appropriation process. UMass Amherst not only needs to sustain its appropriations at current levels, it also needs to retain its tuition so we can manage our resources in support of academic programs and services that directly benefit students. Our capacity to operate a first-rate, Research I institution let alone provide a high caliber Division I athletics program, is severely threatened by the proposed 2003-04 legislative budget.
Just as the Minuteman displayed courage and was ready to act on a moment's notice at the time of crisis, the time has come for alumni, friends, students, parents and citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to call on our legislators to preserve a first-rate flagship University and sustain the entire higher education system. We cannot allow this threat to our state's higher education system and its flagship university to succeed and we must mobilize in support of our legislators who can meet this threat to our students and to our Commonwealth's future prosperity.
The moment of truth has arrived for the University of Massachusetts and it is time to rally. The Minuteman spirit is signaling a call to arms in support of UMass. Let your voices be heard on Beacon Hill by calling your legislator today!