Some Americans view Daniel Boone as a legend in this country’s history — a true hero of the American Western Frontier.
Others don’t, including University of Denver officials.
Mascot “Denver Boone,” who served as the UD Pioneers mascot until he was retired in 1998, has been deemed too offensive by administrators to make a comeback, according to FOXNews.com.
A hawk named “Ruckus” replaced Denver Boone until 2007. Since then, the school has been without an official mascot and the school is hoping to fill that void soon.
“Boone was a polarizing figure that did not reflect the growing diversity of the UD community, but rather was an image that many women, persons of color, international students and faculty members found difficult to relate to as defining the pioneering spirit,” Chancellor Robert Coombe said earlier this year.
“It was really about moving forward,” UD spokeswoman Theresa Mueller said. “The students wanted a new mascot and didn’t want to look towards the past.”
But how accurate is the Denver Boone-Daniel Boone connection?
“Any association of the Denver Boone caricature with America’s pioneer hero, Daniel Boone, is misguided,” said historian Randell Jones. “Mythology and Fess Parker aside, it is well documented that Daniel Boone never wore a coonskin cap. Neither did he wear a beard. Moreover, any exploits by him west of Missouri are speculative at best.”
Photo via Facebook/Denver Boone
