5thAvenueVik
Active member
The coming upgrade of "Victor E. Viking," I'm sure, will be a positive one. When JG playfully mock-punched ole Victor in the nose in the Bloopers video, I'm sure he already had possible upgrades in mind for this rather depressed mascot figure of ours.
First, I want to say that I am looking forward to the upgraded mascot, one that may even rival the Cornhusker at Nebraska in terms of brawniness and masculine features. However, I do feel, however, that while this mascot concept of ours is about to be improved, it also remains a dated concept holdover from our D-II days. They are giving him another four years on the upgrade basis. For that, I, like most everyone else, can be patient.
Back in the eighties, I thought well of Pokey Allen's progress and thought that a better mascot image concept could help catalyze support and national recognition for the Vikings mired in the throes of D-II dog days. Before the internet age, I was able to discover that Thor, the Norse "god of thunder" is also considered to be a Viking.
I contacted Marvel Comics by mail and suggested to them the idea of PSU adopting him as our mascot and, to my surprise, they telephoned me back. After hearing about the size of the university (some 15,000 at the time), they said the deal they wanted was $10,000 up front and a royalty share on all apparel.
I presented the idea to the president's office and was encouraged to pursue the idea and take it to Rick Bauman, in charge of marketing at the time. He liked the idea but said we did not have such funds available to set up the royalty contract. So the idea went into hybernation.
I checked around and the only other NCAA team to call themselves the Vikings are Cleveland State and Western Washington. It would be a shame if they were able to set up a contract with Marvel Comiics for Thor and we missed the opportunity. Thor is a tremendous concept immediately recognized who may soon also have a movie made about him. What tremendous national publicity that would be.
Stan Lee and Marvel Comics are really big right now after the success of Spider Man. Maybe the cost of establishing a royalties contract with Marvel will be higher now, but maybe not. If we were first to pursue it, we may stand to reap great profits from it.
What are your feelings? The opportunity for Marvel Comics' image of Thor as the Viking mascot
or maintaining the upgraded Victor E. ?
First, I want to say that I am looking forward to the upgraded mascot, one that may even rival the Cornhusker at Nebraska in terms of brawniness and masculine features. However, I do feel, however, that while this mascot concept of ours is about to be improved, it also remains a dated concept holdover from our D-II days. They are giving him another four years on the upgrade basis. For that, I, like most everyone else, can be patient.
Back in the eighties, I thought well of Pokey Allen's progress and thought that a better mascot image concept could help catalyze support and national recognition for the Vikings mired in the throes of D-II dog days. Before the internet age, I was able to discover that Thor, the Norse "god of thunder" is also considered to be a Viking.
I contacted Marvel Comics by mail and suggested to them the idea of PSU adopting him as our mascot and, to my surprise, they telephoned me back. After hearing about the size of the university (some 15,000 at the time), they said the deal they wanted was $10,000 up front and a royalty share on all apparel.
I presented the idea to the president's office and was encouraged to pursue the idea and take it to Rick Bauman, in charge of marketing at the time. He liked the idea but said we did not have such funds available to set up the royalty contract. So the idea went into hybernation.
I checked around and the only other NCAA team to call themselves the Vikings are Cleveland State and Western Washington. It would be a shame if they were able to set up a contract with Marvel Comiics for Thor and we missed the opportunity. Thor is a tremendous concept immediately recognized who may soon also have a movie made about him. What tremendous national publicity that would be.
Stan Lee and Marvel Comics are really big right now after the success of Spider Man. Maybe the cost of establishing a royalties contract with Marvel will be higher now, but maybe not. If we were first to pursue it, we may stand to reap great profits from it.
What are your feelings? The opportunity for Marvel Comics' image of Thor as the Viking mascot
or maintaining the upgraded Victor E. ?
