FB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[BostonRulesInSports]

From the Pomona website:  http://www.pe.pomona.edu/landing/cecil

The History of Cecil the Sagehen

The history of the Pomona College mascot and nickname is a slightly more complex matter. As mentioned earlier, the college competed under a variety of names through 1913, when the nickname "Sage Hen" first appeared in a November 29, issue of The Student Life:

"Once again the Oxy Tiger wanders from his lair and comes to peaceful, peaceful Claremont with intent to murder. The Sage Hen will fight -- on the field. On the campus she is entirely amicable."
~ E. H. Spoor '15
Sports Editor,
The Student Life

From 1914 thru 1917, the nickname "Hun" and "Sagehen" were used arbitrarily. Beginning in 1918 and continuing to the present, the Sagehen became the only symbol of Pomona and later Pomona-Claremont, and Pomona-Pitzer athletics.

What is a Sagehen, and how did it become our mascot? The first question is far easier to answer than the second one.

The Sage Grouse, and more specifically, the Greater Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a large ground-dwelling bird that can reach up to 30 inches in length and two feet in height. It is distinguished by its long pointed tail. The Greater Sage Grouse is an omnivore and eats mainly insects and sagebrush, hence its name. It is unique for its fierce loyalty to a specific area, and thus its livelihood can be completely reliant on the existence of sagebrush.

There are several stories regarding the origin of our beloved Cecil the Sagehen. The most prevalent is that a reporter while intending to refer to the Pomona athletic teams as sage (meaning wise) Huns, accidentally typed hens. While this story is frequently retold, this seems both unlikely and highly coincidental. Considering the relative distance from the "u" and the "e", and taking into consideration editorial supervision as well as the actual existence of Sage Hens in the southern California, this seems to be no more than a myth. However Pomona College came to be known as the Sagehens, it seems especially fitting considering the bird's origins and originality.

The first reference to "Cecil" is made in the 1946 Metate (Pomona College's yearbook), and there have been several incarnations since that time.

So apparently Pomona decided to "man up" its otherwise "amicable she grouse" mascot by naming her Cecil.

As someone once said:  "Mission accomplished"

IO TRIUMPHE, EAT'EM UP TIGERS!!

Sorta Sounds like the Roadrunner...Beep Beep...Get raedy for the Anvil to drop on poor ol' Tony E. Tiger!

[OxyBob]

Since 1941 the teams have played for "The Drum," which is awarded to the winner.

Hey Oxy-Bob, that could be an Ass Kickin Chicken on any given Saturday

This week Oxy plays Pomona for "The Drum." Next week Oxy plays at Whittier. Since 1946 the Tigers and the Poets have played for a pair of bronzed cleats, worn by 1940 Whittier graduate Myron Claxton, in a rivalry game that has come to be known as the "Battle for the Shoes."

Starting in 2004, Oxy instituted another tradition with Redlands. In that rivalry game, Oxy wins every single year. There is no trophy like "The Drum" or "The Shoes" involved, but the game has come to be known as "The Yearly Beating."

OxyBob

[BULLDOGALUM52]

Starting in 2004, Oxy instituted another tradition with Redlands. In that rivalry game, Oxy wins every single year. There is no trophy like "The Drum" or "The Shoes" involved, but the game has come to be known as "The Yearly Beating."
OxyBob

We wont need a trophy or a tradition when we beat Oxy, we will just take the win and move on to the next opponent, unlike you Oxy Bob, we will have class when we win....

Now that I wasted time clearing that up, I will be on the field watching another hard fought Redlands vs. Chapman game.....

[Sabretooth Tiger]

We wont need a trophy or a tradition when we beat Oxy, we will just take the win and move on to the next opponent, unlike you Oxy Bob, we will have class when we win....

A tad pissy eh?  Maybe when Redlands actually beats Oxy we'll have a chance to see the "class" to which you refer.

zing . . . 

OxyBob may be grumpy, bitchy, ribald, gnarly, extreme, curmudgeonly, tart, vociferous, and anti-Obama . . . but he is not without class  . . . usually.   

tooth

[scandihoovian]

Tooth-
Nice work on the Sage Hen research - not a great shocker that the nickname "Huns" didn't make it through the Great War.  And no, BE-  Bob, Tooth, D O.C. and I did not fight in that one...

BulldogAlum52-
As Tooth already pointed out, don't confuse the gentle ribbing that Bob likes to pass out regarding Redlands recent difficulties vs. Oxy as a lack of class, he is about as magnanimous and fair in defeat as anyone on this board.  He just really enjoys beating Redlands.

I am excited to hear that the Kingsmen continue to play well.  I'm very impressed with the great job Coach McEnroe and his staff continue to do, and the consistently good play on the field, especially on the defensive side of the ball.  Should be a great game with Redlands on Saturday.  I'm looking forward to the +/- 20 minutes that I'll get to watch at the end of the game.  

[OxyBob]

Eyewitness report from Claremont:

Oxy 44 Pomona 30 Final

Very entertaining game between Oxy and Pomona on a beautiful, warm Saturday afternoon. Oxy scored 37 second half points and defeated the pesky Sagehens.

In the first quarter, Oxy got on the scoreboard on a 34-yard quarterback draw by Scott Saunders. Bobby Montalvo's FG at the end of the quarter cut the lead to 7-3.

In the second quarter, Pomona stopped Oxy on a 4th-and-2 at the Sagehen 29. Jake Caron hit Robert McNitt on a 44-yard completion and Pomona was in business at the Oxy 27. From there the Sagehens took it in, with Caron scoring on a 2-yard run, and it was 10-7. Oxy went 3-and-out and Pomona got the ball back at its 25. Caron drove the Hens on a 15-play, 6 minute drive, and scored again on a short run, and it was 17-7. Nick Saraceni returned the kickoff to the Pomona 40 with 29 seconds to go, and the Tigers got it to the 12, but Neil Martin's FG was wide right and the half ended with Pomona up 17-7.

In the third quarter, Sanders was intercepted by Sam Littleton at midfield. Caron hit Robert Maki for 29 yards and Pomona had it at the Oxy 20. It looked like the Sagehens were poised to take full control of the game, but Greg Holsworth intercepted Caron and ran it back 85 yards for the Pick-6 and Oxy cut it to 17-14. After a Pomona drive fizzled, Saunders engineered a beautiful 80-yard, 11-play drive, and Oxy had the lead 21-17.

On to the fourth quarter: After a Caron punt, Oxy took over on its own 26. Saunders was intercepted by Joshua Rothman, who ran it back for an apparent score, but Pomona was called for an illegal block on the play and ended up with the ball at the Oxy 22. The Sagehens then scored on a Caron to Maki 11-yard pass, and Pomona retook the lead 23-21. That didn't last long because Montalvo's PAT try was blocked and Zac Perkins picked it up and went the other way for 2 points and the game was tied at 23. (That's two of those for Oxy this season.)

Perkins' 2-point runback seemed to take a little steam out of Pomona. Chris Washington returned the kickoff 28 yards to the 49, and 3 plays later Saunders hit Jordan Washington on a 32-yard TD pass and Oxy led 30-23. After a Pomona 3-and-out and a Caron Punt, Jason Haller went 44 yards around the right side to the Pomona 18, and from there Oxy punched it in on a short Haller run and Oxy was up 37-23. Back came the Sagehens, who scored on Caron passes to Maki, Colin Regan, and Russell Oka, and it was 37-30 with 3:38 to go. Instead of trying the usual onside kick, Pomona tried to pooch kick the ball, but Jordan Washington returned it 30 yards and Oxy had it at the Pomona 40. Saunders hit Chris Washington for 13 yards, and then Saunders rushed 16 yards and then 11 yards for the score, and it was 44-30. On Pomona's next series Zac Perkins intercepted Caron at the 50 and returned it to the Pomona 8, and Oxy ran out the clock. Whew, that was a lot of action! The Drum stays in Oxy's possession for another year.

For Pomona, Jake Caron was 35-for-48 passing for 366 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INTs, and rushed for 52 yards and 2 TDs. Robert Maki caught 14 passes for 152 yards and 2 TDs. For Oxy, Scott Saunders was 18-for-25 passing for 213 yards, one TD, and 2 INTs, and had an outstanding day rushing with 117 yards on 13 carries and 2 TDs. Jason Haller had 66 yards on 11 carries and 2 TDs. The Washington brothers combined for 266 all-purpose yards. Pomona outgained Oxy, 434 to 396.

Oxy is now 6-2 and 4-1 SCIAC, while Pomona is 4-4, 2-3. Next week Oxy is at Whittier, while Pomona travels down the block to play Claremont.

We wont need a trophy or a tradition when we beat Oxy, we will just take the win and move on to the next opponent, unlike you Oxy Bob, we will have class when we win....

A tad pissy eh?  Maybe when Redlands actually beats Oxy we'll have a chance to see the "class" to which you refer.

Being that BDAlum52 is a member of one of the 3 consecutive senior classes to have never beaten Oxy, I can understand why he'd not find my quip amusing.

OxyBob

[Sabretooth Tiger]

I like my Quisp with milk . . .

ooops, you said quip, not Quisp . . .

nevermind . . .

Scandi . . . good to see you old board mate . . . I hope that the game is a good one next week . . . and I hope Oxy takes it to the Poets . . . and . . . as much as I hate to say it . . . gotta (uurrgghhh) root (mmpphh) for the (ggaaagghhh) . . . Bulldogs (full on upchuck in mouth) . . . so Oxy can share a piece of the SCIAC crown while the Kingsmen still enjoy their well deserved trip to Linfield?

need to go shower now.

[RFB]

Dawgs vs The Who....going to be a good one.

[Nihon Tiger]

Interesting day in the SCIAC.  Seems like either the perennial top 3 are weaker as a whole this year, or the rest of the conference is getting better.  I'm referring to Oxy having to fight every week for wins against Pomona and La Verne, Redlands losing to Oxy and being a 2nd onside kick away from a huge upset at the hands of Chapman today, CLU having trouble with Claremont earlier, etc.  Yet the SCIAC has performed well against the NWC this year in comparison to years past.  Very confusing...

As much smack as I may or may not have talked in the past about Pomona, I continue to be impressed with how scrappy they are every year.  Caron takes teams of 30 guys with an average weight of about 130lbs, one of whom who will probably be my boss someday, and competes well year in and year out.  Respect.

Next week will be a good one.  Go pups BIG MEAN BULLDAWWWWGS! 

In other news, HECTOR still roams the earth barefoot, hopefully this week Oxy can find him some SHOEEEES!

[Gray Fox]

Scandi . . . good to see you old board mate . . . I hope that the game is a good one next week . . . and I hope Oxy takes it to the Poets . . . and . . . as much as I hate to say it . . . gotta (uurrgghhh) root (mmpphh) for the (ggaaagghhh) . . . Bulldogs (full on upchuck in mouth) . . . so Oxy can share a piece of the SCIAC crown while the Kingsmen still enjoy their well deserved trip to Linfield?

need to go shower now.

Next week will be a good one.  Go pups BIG MEAN BULLDAWWWWGS! 

Politics, and SCIAC football, make strange bedfellows.

[OxyBob]

He just really enjoys beating Redlands.

Heck, who doesn't?

as much as I hate to say it . . . gotta (uurrgghhh) root (mmpphh) for the (ggaaagghhh) . . . Bulldogs (full on upchuck in mouth)

Go pups BIG MEAN BULLDAWWWWGS!

Politics, and SCIAC football, make strange bedfellows.

While I am disappointed that Oxy won't make the playoffs this year, I take solace in the knowledge that from now on in the event of a 3-way tie Redlands will get the conference AQ under the Rose Bowl Rule.

If Redlands were playing a team with a backfield of Hitler, Stalin, and Robespierre, starting wideouts of Pol Pot and Idi Amin, and coached by Osama bin Laden, I'd have to sit that one out.

OxyBob

[Kingsmen4]

Redlands week... Looking forward to this bitter rivalry producing a fist fight on saturday (not literally, I wouldn't want to see any "dawgs" get hurt), but by the means of a hard fought gritty victory for "the who". Redlands week is all about the grit.

Go lu

[Kingsmen4]

By the way, for clu there is no backup plan, no "tie", no guaranteed playoff birth. We hung ourselves on that once and whittier/oxy (depending on how you look at it) spoiled. Just win saturday, there are no other options. At the end of the day, the game is just a game against redlands, that's all the motivation anyone should need!

Go lu

[Oxy Fan]

Very entertaining game between Oxy and Pomona on a beautiful, warm Saturday afternoon.

+1

Here is a link to images of the Tigers' plucking of the Sagehens:
http://web.me.com/aybates/Oxy_Pomona-Pitzer/

[cawcdad]

Very entertaining game between Oxy and Pomona on a beautiful, warm Saturday afternoon.

+1

Here is a link to images of the Tigers' plucking of the Sagehens:
http://web.me.com/aybates/Oxy_Pomona-Pitzer/

Excellent job as always Oxy Fan. I particullary like frames 12, 28 and 38.