College football is everything at this time of year.  Rally 'round the boys and be a true American!  But here in Spokane, with two branch campuses, the Great Debate wages:  The Cougs or the Dawgs?

To make it worse, we've got a problem with Mixed Marriages, with one partner loyal to theWashington State University Cougars and the other to University of Washington Huskies.  With the Apple Cup approaching, they're fighting like ...well, cats and dogs.   In the grand tradition of Really Stupid Nicknames (tm) these schools are known as Wazzu and U-Dub, respectively.  Wazzu is obvious, but U-Dub, you ask? Pronounce UW very slowly.  This is Washington after all.

Sad, isn't it?

Now, my alma mater had diginity, with a team name as unique and midwestern as it's campus.  Picture yourself on an autumn Saturday afternoon in a small Iowa college town.  The air is crisp (literally-- the temperature hovers in the high 20's and your lungs crackle with icicles, making that thermos of hot chocolate and peppermint schnaups a necessity), the excitement is high, and the moment is golden.  The home team--your team--is ready to take the field.  The cheers begin as the announcer says ...

"And now, the Buena Vista Fighting Beavers!"

Yes, the Beavers.  And their mascot Bucky.  Buck teeth, big tail and all.

Brings a tear of patriotism to your eye, doesn't it?  Sing with me now the proud Buena Vista Fight Song:

I'm a Beaver
You're a Beaver
We're all Beavers
They're all Beavers
Wouldn't you like to be a Beaver too?

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