Marvin's Magic Gems Marvin was a young boy who had a special gift for finding and collecting rare gems. He had a passion for exploring the world and discovering hidden treasures. Every day, he would set out on an adventure, armed with his trusty backpack and a sense of excitement. Marvin was not an ordinary gem collector. His gems possessed magical properties that intrigued and fascinated him. Each gem had its unique power, and Marvin was determined to unlock their secrets.
Michigan mascot costume
Michigan does not have a live mascot comparable to Ohio's Brutus Buckeye. The Athletic Department has steadfastly maintained that such a symbol is unnecessary and undignified and would not properly reflect the spirit and values of Michigan athletics. Over the years a number of individuals and groups have proposed mascots in a variety of wolverine costumes but the department has refused to sanction them. Instead, it continues to rely on the wolverine itself as the symbol of Michigan sports.
As early as 1861, the students and alumni began referring to themselves as "Wolverines." How the ferocious animal came be associated with the state and adopted as the university mascot remains a bit of a mystery, but there are several theories.
The simplest reason for the wolverine nickname would be that the animal was abundant in Michigan at some time. However, all the evidence points otherwise, as there has never been a verified trapping of a wolverine inside the state's borders, nor have the skeletal remains of a wolverine been found within the state's 96,705 square miles. The first verified sighting of a wild wolverine inside the state of Michigan ocurred in February of 2004.
The great Michigan football coach Fielding H. Yost had a theory for the nickname, which he wrote about in the Michigan Quarterly Review in 1944. Yost felt that the reason for the nickname concerned the trading of wolverine pelts which occurred at Sault Ste. Marie for many years. The trading station served as an exchange between the Indians, other trappers and fur traders, who would eventually ship the products off to the Eastern United States. Because many of the furs were in fact wolverine pelts, the traders may have referred to them as "Michigan wolverines," leading to the state nickname and ultimately to the University of Michigan symbol.
Eight years later, in the Michigan Quarterly Review of 1952, Albert H. Marckwardt presented another theory for the "wolverine" name. Marckwardt's reasoning is based on the fact that Michigan was first settled by the French in the late 1700s. The appetites of the French were judged to be gluttonous or "wolverine-like" and, therefore, the nickname wolverines was conferred upon them.
The last theory derives from the border dispute between Michigan and Ohio in 1803, often referred to as the "Toledo War." While the two sides argued over the proper setting of the state line, Michiganders were called wolverines. It is unclear, however, whether the Michigan natives pinned this name upon themselves to show their tenacity and strength, or whether Ohioans chose the name in reference to the gluttonous, aggressive, habits of the wolverine. From then on, Michigan was labeled the "Wolverine state" and when the University of Michigan was founded, it simply adopted the nickname of the state it represented.
Fielding Yost set out to find a wolverine in 1923, after seeing Wisconsin carry live badgers along with its football team. Yost's desire met with difficulty, as the coach had problems finding a dealer of live wolverines. After a letter to 68 trappers yielded no mascot for his team, Yost expanded his wish to any wolverine, alive or dead.
Yost was finally able to obtain a mounted wolverine from the Hudson's Bay Fur Company in the fall of 1924, but his quest for a live one continued. In 1927, 10 wolverines were obtained from Alaska and placed in the Detroit Zoo. On big football days, two of these wolverines were brought into Michigan Stadium and carried around in cages.
However, the animals grew larger and more ferocious, and as Yost stated, "It was obvious that the Michigan mascots had designs on the Michigan men toting them, and those designs were by no means friendly." Therefore, the practice of bringing wolverines into the stadium had to be discontinued after only one year. However, one of the wolverines was not returned to the Detroit Zoo. Instead, "Biff" was put in a cage at the University of Michigan Zoo where students were able to visit him at all times. It is not known how long Biff survived or remained at the campus zoo, but by the the late 1930s Yost was in search of a new wolverine mascot.
In 1939, the Chevrolet Motor Company donated a wolverine (as well as the cage to keep it in) to the University of Michigan. The as yet unnamed mascot arrived on campus in time for the season opener against Michigan State. It was apparently his one and only appearance in Michigan Stadium. The Michigan Daily later reported the campus zoo agreed to house the new mascot on the condition he not be taken out to any more football games. "The excitement, musuem officials thought, would be too much for the animal."
Chevrolet sponspred a contest to name the new mascot, with a new car for the winning entry and portable radios for ten runners-up. Some 7,00 entries were submitted along with a 20-word or less rationale for the prosed name. A committee made up of Prof William Burt, instructor in zoology and curator of mammals at the Museum of Zoology; fresham football coach Wally Weber, football manager Carl Wheeler; Fielding Yost, Athletic Director; and Ben Fineberg, sports editor of the Daily -- would select a winner based on "originality, unnusualness, and aptness."
Intrepidus won LSA junior Donald Rivette a new Chevorlet.
Rivette told the Daily reporter he had scanned the dictionary for inspiration and intrepid (fearless, undaunted, unshaken) caught his eye. The Latin form, he thought, "embodied the ferocity, the fighting spirit of the animal and Michigan's athletic teams."
Intrepidus ("Treppy" as he was affectionately known--if one can be affectionate towards a wolverine) surived at the campus zoo until 1948. Three years later the Daily the Zoology Museum was trying to find a new wolverine.
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Last updated, May 2007
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Michigan, Ohio State rivalry: One mascot is iconic, while the other is non-existent
ANN ARBOR, MI - Mascots are part of college football lore, from the Notre Dame Leprechaun to the Stanford Tree to Michigan State’s Sparty.
Among the most iconic mascots is Brutus Buckeye, an anthropomorphic nut from Ohio’s state tree. Brutus has roamed Ohio State’s sideline since 1965, turning from little more than a giant head with legs to a full-sized human with a giant head.
Michigan, meanwhile, has resisted the mascot craze for the better part of the program’s 144-year history.
There have been a number of unofficial mascots in Wolverine history, from live animals to student-run efforts. But the lack of someone in a kid-friendly costume on football Saturdays is part of Michigan’s tradition, said Greg Dooley, who teaches a University of Michigan course on its athletics history.
“I make a list of traditions (and) the only thing (regarding mascots) that’s on there is the fact that we don’t have a mascot,” he said. “That to me is a tradition.”
No. 3 Michigan hosts No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 25, for a Big Ten Championship Game berth, as well as a possible spot in the College Football Playoff. The last few weeks of scandal surrounding Michigan’s alleged sign-stealing adds even more animus to the already angst-filled rivalry.
There are a few theories as to why Michigan chose that nickname, from the state’s fur trading history, to 1800s settlers in the region having “wolverine-like” appetites, to Michiganders having the animal’s “tenacity and strength,” according to the university.
But Wolverines weren’t the live animals highlighted and put on display in the earlier years of the University of Michigan football program.
There was a 1907 husky handled by team captain Paul Magoffin literally named “Mascot.” There was also a white dog shown with Coach Fielding Yost in the 1910 team picture, likely a shot at Notre Dame coach Shorty Longman, who paraded his white dog Mike after the Irish beat the Wolverines for the first time in 1909.
Yost, UM athletic director from 1921-40, continued the live animal trend, however, did bring a trio of real wolverines to the program in the 1920s and ‘30s. He was inspired by the University of Wisconsin’s live badger, Dooley said, so he called for trappers to get wolverines Bennie and Biff to show off at the 1927 Michigan Stadium dedication.
Bennie and Biff, the live wolverine mascots introduced at the 1927 Michigan Stadium dedication. Photo provided by Bentley Historical Library. Bentley Historical Library
“Yost thought it would be a gimmicky, fun idea,” Dooley said. “He was very much into promotion and selling out the Big House.”
But the live animals as mascots posed ethical and safety dilemmas, Dooley said.
“There are certain animals that aren’t really supposed to be in captivity, and a wolverine is absolutely one of them,” he said, adding that handlers had to cage them in thick bars.
“Today, we should feel for the animal and that they are not supposed to be in this tight, confined cage,” he said.
Another live wolverine was donated to the university by the Chevrolet Motor Company in 1937, according to the Bentley Historical Library. A student contest named the animal “Intrepidus,” and it was kept at the now-defunct University of Michigan Zoo.
The discussion died down until a mascot craze in the 1960s and ‘70s, Dooley said, when universities, such as Ohio State introduced Brutus. Former UM athletic director Don Canham did not join this craze.
“He didn’t want gimmicky stuff around the football program,” Dooley said, pointing out that Canham’s merchandising of the athletic department at the time, however, revolutionized athletics revenue around the country.
“He started selling the Block M on everything,” Dooley continued. “That would have been the time where we would introduce a new tradition like a mascot, but he didn’t want to.”
Willy the Wolverine, the short-lived student push for an official University of Michigan mascot in the late 1980s. Photo provided by Bentley Historical Library. Bentley Historical Library
The late 1980s saw the only student-run push for an official mascot with the introduction of Willy the Wolverine. Students Adam Blumenkranz, Eric Lefkofsky and David Kaufman created the design of a bear-wolf mixture with a Block M sweater, according to writer James David Dickson in a 2011 Michigan Today article.
University officials resisted, Dickson wrote, but the students persisted by trademarking Willy and building a costume to bring to football games. But it was 7-feet tall, so it was banned for blocking the view of some fans, Dickson wrote.
Willy also famously drew the ire of NFL Network host Rich Eisen, then the sports editor of the student-run Michigan Daily newspaper. He called Willy “a fuzzball goof” in an editorial.
“What can be more annoying than watching some overgrown ball of fuzz named Willy run around Michigan Stadium, acting like a buffoon,” Eisen wrote.
The university sued Willy’s creators in the early 1990s for using its trademarks, ending the mascot’s short run.
The only other whisper of a Michigan mascot came in 2011. Former athletic director Dave Brandon mentioned the possibility in an online newsletter to alumni, but clarified soon after to MLive/The Ann Arbor News that the department has “many other priorities at the present time.”
“It may never happen,” Brandon emailed.
There will be many Michigan traditions celebrated Saturday in Ann Arbor as Ohio State comes to town -- the winged helmets, touching the banner, no commercials in the stadium.
But there will be just one mascot, and it won’t be donning maize and blue.
Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free “3@3 Ann Arbor” daily newsletter.
Each gem had its unique power, and Marvin was determined to unlock their secrets. His collection was vast and varied. Each gem was carefully stored in a small velvet pouch, waiting to be studied and understood.
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Some gems glowed in the dark, while others could grant wishes or reveal hidden truths. Marvin loved spending hours examining and experimenting with his gems, marveling at their otherworldly abilities. However, Marvin's true ambition was to create his own magic gems. He dreamt of discovering a way to combine the properties of different gems, creating new and even more powerful enchantments. This dream drove him to study ancient texts, consult with wise elders, and experiment tirelessly. Months turned into years, and Marvin's dedication paid off. He managed to create his first magic gem, a shimmering blue crystal that could heal wounds and cure ailments. This success fueled Marvin's ambition even further. He spent countless nights working on his creations, fueled by his desire to unlock the full potential of his gems. Marvin's creations quickly garnered attention from other gem collectors and magic enthusiasts. They marveled at his ingenuity and the beauty of the gems he crafted. Marvin became renowned as a master gem crafter and was sought after by collectors from far and wide. Along with his fame came responsibility. Marvin knew that his magic gems had the power to change lives and affect the world around him. He guided others on how to use his creations responsibly and with care. It was important to him that the power of the gems did not fall into the wrong hands. As Marvin's collection grew and his knowledge deepened, he realized that the true magic of the gems lay not in their enchantments but in the joy and wonder they brought to people's lives. Whether used for healing, protection, or simple amusement, the gems had the power to bring happiness and a sense of awe. Marvin's journey as a gem collector and magician continues to this day. He tirelessly searches for new gems, hoping to unlock new enchantments and secrets. His love for magic and discovery remains unwavering, and through his gems, he aims to spread wonder and enchantment to all who encounter them. In conclusion, the story of Marvin's magic gems is a tale of passion, dedication, and the pursuit of the extraordinary. It reminds us of the limitless possibilities that lie in the world around us and the wonders that can be found when we dare to look. Marvin's magic gems will forever inspire and captivate the imaginations of those who encounter them..
Reviews for "Discovering the Mysticism of Marvims Magic Pems"
1. Samantha - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Marvims magic pems". The poems were not well-written and lacked depth and creativity. The rhymes felt forced and the language was simplistic and unengaging. I expected more from a collection of magic-inspired poems, but sadly I was left underwhelmed. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for quality poetry.
2. John - 1/5 - "Marvims magic pems" was a total waste of my time and money. The poems were incredibly boring and lacked any sense of emotion or connection. It felt like the author was just throwing together random words and hoping it would pass as poetry. I couldn't even finish reading the book, that's how uninteresting it was. Save yourself the disappointment and skip this one.
3. Emily - 2/5 - I'm sorry to say, but "Marvims magic pems" was not magic at all. The poems were bland and lacked any real substance. The themes were predictable and overused, and it felt like I had read them all before. There was nothing unique or memorable about this collection. As a fan of poetry, I was really hoping to be captivated by these magic-inspired poems, but they fell flat for me.
4. Michael - 1/5 - I found "Marvims magic pems" to be extremely amateurish. The writing was juvenile and lacked sophistication. It felt like I was reading something written by a middle school student rather than a published poet. The attempts at rhyme were cringe-worthy and the overall quality of the poems was subpar. I would not recommend this book to anyone who appreciates well-crafted poetry.
5. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Marvims magic pems". The poems lacked any real depth or originality. It felt like the author was simply regurgitating well-known magical tropes without adding any new perspective or insights. The language was overly simplistic and did not evoke any emotional response from me. Overall, I found this collection to be forgettable and uninspiring.