Tower-Summer-2016

Summer 2016

TOWER

Summer 2016

This spring Avalanche, KU’s beloved Golden Bear mascot, won his

second consecutive title as Mascot Madness Champion.

Over the course

of six weeks he took on all the mascots in the State System of Higher Education, winding

up in the finals against Rocky from Slippery Rock, again.The race was heated and Avalanche

pulled out a close win to keep his title.

Avalanche made his debut on campus in 2005 and has stolen the hearts of the entire KU

community.But the history of mascots in Kutztown has not always been as warm and fuzzy.

A century ago, as athletics became more prominent, students, and the media,were unsure

of what to call the players from Keystone State Normal School (KSNS).Teams were

referred to as the “maroon and gold,”“keys,”“keystonians,”“Kutztown teachers,”“flying

Dutchmen” and even “sauerkrautians.”

KSNS teams were not known for providing many marks in the win column. After a

64-39 loss to Millersville in 1934, the men’s basketball team was the first to be called the

Golden Avalanche. Harry Glover ’35, then a reporter

with the Keystone, used the name in jest in describing

the dismal contest.The “golden” paid homage to the

school’s colors, but the “avalanche” referred to the KSNS

teams habitually being “snowed under” by their opponents.

In November, 1934, the Keystonia yearbook staff

called for students to submit suggestions for a proper

mascot. In November, 1948, the Keystone student

newspaper staff proposed bringing “Krushin’ Korky the

Kutztown Kangaroo” to town.The plan did not garner

much support.

The name Golden Avalanche stuck for 27 years.

In October, 1961, change finally came to Kutztown.The

school had just been renamed Kutztown State College

(KSC) and the Keystone staff once again made a plea

to students to submit suggestions for a new name.They

received entries such as the “eagles” and the “hilltop-

pers,” but one name beat them all, “Golden Bears.”The

1961 KSC football team was the first to use the new

moniker during its season. Sue (Shaw) Langer ’62 made

the trip to a local department store in Reading and

came back with enough furry material to construct the

first mascot in the school’s history.

A mascot commonly referred to as “Pooh Bear” carried

the school into the 1980s when it became Kutztown

University. In 1999, Erin Blank ’91 created a duo of

characters known as Goldie and Griz, who would lead

Mascot

Madness

BY DAVID JOHNSON, Article compiled from information in the archives of the

Keystone student newspaper and the papers of the late William A. Yurvati ’82,

former library technician at KU.

Top: Avalanche celebrates his second Mascot Madness championship in the Alumni Plaza fountain.;

Center: Kutztown State College mascot circa 1981; Bottom: The first golden bear mascot is featured in

the Keystone in 1961.

Top Left: Members of the 1968 Kutztown State College football team

pose on the sideline with a bear statue; Bottom Left: A golden bear

homecoming float in the 1960s; Top Right: The Keystone proposes

a new mascot for Kutztown State Teachers College in 1948; Bottom

Right: Goldie and Griz served as mascots from 1999–2005.

the charge for the Golden Bears until October, 2005

and the arrival of Avalanche.

Avalanche was created by the Raymond Entertain-

ment Group CEO David Raymond, the original Phillie

Phanatic. Born on Blue Mountain in northern Berks

County, Avalanche lives in the clock tower of Old

Main and is a cheerology and bearobics major.