Time to introduce a human mascot: why Scotty the Bear doesn't cut it anymore

This is going to get me a lot of hate mail, I already know it.  Let me explain first: I am a Highlander, I go to UCR for grad school, and the mascot still bothers me.  I love UCR, and I love Scotty the Bear as a mascot.  But something is amiss about the Highlanders mascot, and I believe it's this: UCR needs a human mascot.

Let's take a look at UCR's quick spirit history: their first mascot was "Buttons" the Scottish Terrier (real name Lady Mac Tavish of Walpole) from 1955-59.  After that they switched to Scotty the Bear.  Why a bear?  Mainly it was because to show their affiliation to the UC System by mimicking UCLA and California, despite UCR's original bear logo being cub-like.  In 1998, with the jump to Division I, UCR changed the mascot logo to have the bear in a half blue paint look, imitating William Wallace in Braveheart.  Scotty however, was the same fun-looking bear with no ferocity about him.

So why does UCR need a human mascot? Frankly, to give a more intense attitude to the school, to it's spirit.  Look at other human mascots around the nation: The Mountaineer (WVU), the Red Raider (Texas Tech and they have a fake human mascot as well), Monty Montezuma...er, the Aztec Warrior, Vili the Warrior, ND's Irishman (is he a leprechaun? I'm not sure...).  We are Highlanders! We need a Robert the Bruce or William Wallace type character screaming at the top of his lungs, terrifying the opponents.   Look at USC's Trojan Warrior (sometimes mistakenly called Tommy Trojan), he stabs his sword on the field after USC takes the field, as does Chief Osceola at Florida State.  I'm fairly sure that the Highlander won't be able to do that, at least on the basketball courts...but they can think of something.

Imagine this: a mascot, wearing UCR Tartan (because we actually have our own official Tartan design approved by the Scottish government), holding a long sword, painted in blue and yellow, yelling at the top of his lungs getting the student section into it.  The pipe band comes out and plays: this is college spirit, no, Highlander spirit at its finest.  Scotty is cool, and cute, keep him for nostalgic purposes and the kids.  Christopher Lambert (NOT Mel Gibson!) gives us an idea of what "The Highlander" could wear, after all, he was a Highlander...

"There can be only one!"  Though I'm pretty sure UCR's Highlander doesn't need all that fur, especially in 80+ degree weather.