News-Record.com

(Yes, it's another obscure Seinfeld reference. Get used to it)

Just when I thought the Marquette mascot situation couldn't be more amusing, they're "taking it up a notch," as George Lewis Costanza would say.

Stunningly - please note the sarcasm - Marquette fans weren't happy with the new nickname - "Gold" - which replaced the Golden Eagles, which replaced the Warriors, which was not favored by local Native American. Did they really use focus groups to come up with Gold? If so, where did they find the members of this focus group? In a New Age cult in Sedonah, Arizona?

So now they're taking suggestions from the public. Performing the kind of service that newspapers live for, the Journal-Sentinel has begun soliciting suggestions. (I believe free registration is required for this site)

Here's a few of my favorites.

Jumpin' Jesuits - this one's gaining some steam.
The Inquisitors - Some great mascot possibilities.
The Golden Choppers - Milwaukee is the home of Harley-Davidson.
The Golden Dahmers - After the city's most infamous resident, Jeffrey Dahmer.
The Schlitz Faces - After the beer that made Milwaukee famous.

On a more serious note, I think Marquette Explorers works. As does the Marquette Lakers.

Apparently though, there's a groundswell of support for the Hilltoppers, which was apparently the nickname of Marquette before it became the Warriors.

My question is, why? Are there really any hills in Milwaukee? Is Marquette up on a hill? Does the Marquette campus bear a strong resemblance to Western Kentucky's?

Explanations and other nickname suggestions are most welcome.