Scrappy: History of school spirit
Emily Bowman
Issue date: 9/26/03 Section: Culture
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What is the result of crossing a train, a mockingbird, and the determination of a legendary football coach?
Scrappy, UTC's beloved mascot and team cheerleader.
Adopted in 1996, the mascot combines many aspects of Chattanooga and Tennessee traditions, according to vice chancellor of student development Dean Richard MacDougall, who has been with UTC for 33 years.
However, UTC's mascot has gone through some dramatic changes before becoming the picture perfect image he is now.
A snake was the first image used by the university in the 1920s to represent the water moccasins found in the area's waterways.
In later decades the snake was dropped and a new image was conceived by a local man who was a huge moccasin fan and Native American enthusiast.
Chief Chattamoc, as he was called, wore a traditional headdress, feathers, and squaw as he cheered and danced at games and served as UTC's mascot.
A shoe named Little Moc briefly became the UTC symbol during the 1980s before the university returned to the Native American mascot.
Chief Moccanooga was the new version of Chief Chattamoc, but many local Native American groups were unhappy with the mascot.
They found it offensive and disrespectful.
One group in particular called the Chattanooga InterTribal Association criticized UTC for using the mascot, because they believed Native Americans were portrayed in an unfavorable manner.
The university assembled a 17-panel committee to discuss the issue and come to a decision.
"If we offended a large number of people, then we decided it would be best not to keep it," said Dean MacDougall.
Chuck Cantrell, assistant vice chancellor of university relations, was part of the committee that addressed the mascot issue.
"It was something being done at many universities across the nation, and we were one of them," Cantrell said.
"Both sides had a very open discussion about the issue," Cantrell said. "We even spoke with many groups and students on campus, including the SGA, about what should be done."
Scrappy, UTC's beloved mascot and team cheerleader.
Adopted in 1996, the mascot combines many aspects of Chattanooga and Tennessee traditions, according to vice chancellor of student development Dean Richard MacDougall, who has been with UTC for 33 years.
However, UTC's mascot has gone through some dramatic changes before becoming the picture perfect image he is now.
A snake was the first image used by the university in the 1920s to represent the water moccasins found in the area's waterways.
In later decades the snake was dropped and a new image was conceived by a local man who was a huge moccasin fan and Native American enthusiast.
Chief Chattamoc, as he was called, wore a traditional headdress, feathers, and squaw as he cheered and danced at games and served as UTC's mascot.
A shoe named Little Moc briefly became the UTC symbol during the 1980s before the university returned to the Native American mascot.
Chief Moccanooga was the new version of Chief Chattamoc, but many local Native American groups were unhappy with the mascot.
They found it offensive and disrespectful.
One group in particular called the Chattanooga InterTribal Association criticized UTC for using the mascot, because they believed Native Americans were portrayed in an unfavorable manner.
The university assembled a 17-panel committee to discuss the issue and come to a decision.
"If we offended a large number of people, then we decided it would be best not to keep it," said Dean MacDougall.
Chuck Cantrell, assistant vice chancellor of university relations, was part of the committee that addressed the mascot issue.
"It was something being done at many universities across the nation, and we were one of them," Cantrell said.
"Both sides had a very open discussion about the issue," Cantrell said. "We even spoke with many groups and students on campus, including the SGA, about what should be done."
