Newspaper

Koala vs. Triton

by Tim Pickwell
Koala Staff

When school begins two things happen at UCSD: the weather turns nice and the Koala vs. Triton controversy begins anew.

This year is no exception. Half the student body wants to retain the Koala logo, and the other half would like the football team to get in line with the rest of the athletic department and become the Tritons.

The controversy has been around since the beginning of football at UCSD. Members of the original 1969 squad favored a Koala Bear over the official school logo, the Triton.

Players felt the "Bear" (koalas are actually marsupials) image would be in keeping with the University of California tradition. After all, the UCLA mascot is a bruin and the Cal Berkeley logo is the Golden Bear.

To this day football is the only sport on campus which uses the Koala logo (including K Wally Bear, a UCSD student who leads cheers while dressed in a Koala suit.) All other intercollegiate teams utilize the Triton logo.

Some people, including some players, do not approve of this division.

"It is senseless to have one team using its own logo," says senior safety Thomas Hilt. "The official school logo is the Triton. All intercollegiate teams should use it."

"But," Hitt adds, "I've been griping about the koala for four years and nothing's changed. I'm resigned to it."

Freshman cornerback Rowland Johns is not as willing to accept the Koala.

"What's a koala?" asks Johns. "It’s a small, warm, cuddly animal. A football team should be ferocious and hard hitting. A tiger, a lion, a bronco, anything but a koala. We need to change our image. A koala is for sissies."

Defensive End Carmine Duke does not agree. "I think koalas are cute. And if anyone thinks that is unmanly he can tell me to my face."

Duke is 6'4' and weighs 245 pounds.

Center Ron "Rock" Rettig, 5'10", 240, thinks the koala image is "too cute." But he uses it as a motivational tool.

"Sometimes I can hear guys across the line making cracks about koalas," he says. "It makes me mad and helps me fire me off the line."

Head Coach Phil Carrera refuses to be drawn into the controversy. "I'll worry about games and players," he said. "The athletic department can handle the logo."

The Koala or the Triton?

This is your chance to give your opinion. Vote on either the Koala logo or the Triton logo. You may send your choice to Koala vs. Triton, care of The Koala, B-023, Student Center, UCSD, La Jolla, California 92093 or you may vote at one of the many convenient ballot boxes located throughout the campus. (Try the libraries and the John Muir College Center.)