Once upon a time, in a village shrouded by mist and superstition, there lived a witch with an **oversized nose**. Her name was Agatha, and her nose was the talk of the town. Some said it was so big that it could sniff out trouble from miles away, while others claimed it was a curse, a mark of her wicked powers. Regardless of the varied opinions, Agatha embraced her unique feature, using it to her advantage. Despite her appearance, Agatha was not evil; quite the contrary, she was a kind-hearted witch with a heart of gold. She used her powers for the greater good, to heal the sick, and mend broken hearts.
She used her powers for the greater good, to heal the sick, and mend broken hearts. The townsfolk, however, were still wary of her, judging her solely based on her oversized nose. One day, a little girl named Emily stumbled upon a wounded bird in the woods.
The Yellow Jacket: A brief illustrative history
There are a few important developments in a college’s adolescence: a name, a mission and the institution of some sports teams. Even though Tech had a football team, it lacked a unifying mascot. For years, players were referred to as “Blacksmiths” or one of the other many nicknames that came and went. Nothing stuck — not until 1905.
That’s when the nomer “Yellow Jackets” was first used: during a press conference given by then-coach John Heisman, which was covered by the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC). The name was bestowed upon the players because of their yellow jerseys.
Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech Archives
A year later, the Jackets saw the first graphic production of their namesake; it was a cartoon in the AJC depicting a cartoon yellow jacket buzzing around a rather ugly University of Georgia football player, who cowers and begs not to be stung. The cartoon, signed by “Brewerton” is accompanied by a caption: “Somebody’s going to get stung.”
For decades thereafter, the mascot was drawn by various artists, cartoonists and illustrators, all with different interpretations.
Some depictions were more popular than others. Most featured an imagined creature that was half man and half insect. A few, according to Director of Living History, Marilyn Somers, were considered offensive because of their allusions to offensive blackface illustrations. The rest, luckily, were inoffensive and the offense intended was towards the Jackets’ rival.
Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech Archives
These illustrations are carefully preserved by the archives department of the Tech library.
Tech produced programs that would feature these illustrations of the yellow jacket. Despite different logos coming into fashion, there was no standardized cartoon of the character.
Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech Archives
In 1979, a student named Richie Bland ran onto the field dressed as a yellow jacket and soon after became the official mascot of Tech, alongside the Reck. This goofy character inspired the drawings that came after.
In 1984, one of those football programs — the Tech vs. Alabama game — featured the yellow jacket that Tech students know and love today.
This illustration was done by Mike Lester, who was a cartoonist for the AJC and eventually became known for his football programs. His piece grew to be the most popular depiction of the yellow jacket, used by the general media, fans and promotional materials from the Institution.
Lester drew about 130 football program covers for Tech’s Athletic Association, and his illustrations were so well-loved that he was presented with a plaque during halftime after 100 illustrations.
Lester, currently a syndicated cartoonist with the Washington Post, still considers this series of drawings one of his greatest accomplishments. He has been a Jackets fan since the start, when he was growing up in Atlanta.
“My dad worked at Capitol Automobile and took me to GT games on [Saturdays]. We walked to The Varsity and then to the game after he got off work. Bobby Dodd was my idol,” said Lester. “Georgia Tech has always been very good to me and my family — and I’m a UGA grad. Go Jackets.”
Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech Archives
The yellow jacket, who became known as Buzz, faced a few bumps in the road. In 1998, Tech officials filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Salt Lake Buzz, the mascot for a minor league baseball team. After some back and forth, Tech won the legal battle — the team now goes by the Salt Lake Stingers. Tech students remain the only Jackets.
In 2002, Tech officially bought the copyright to Buzz from Lester. The image and name of the Yellow Jacket has remained safely guarded by the students of the Tech community.
“I think every time someone sees the caricature or the image … you look at it and it’s familiar,” Somers said. “It’s something you’re proud of. I think he’s for fun. He’s not to be taken seriously, not for one second.”
With a broken wing and unable to fly, the bird's fate seemed sealed. Emily, with tears in her eyes, thought of Agatha and her supposed magical abilities. She took a leap of faith and sought out the witch's help. Agatha, living a solitary life in her cottage on the outskirts of the village, was surprised to see the young girl at her doorstep. Emily told her about the injured bird and begged Agatha to use her powers to save its life. Agatha, touched by the girl's kindness, agreed to help. With a wave of her wand and a soft incantation, Agatha channeled her magical energy into the bird's wing. The townsfolk, who had gathered around Agatha's cottage out of curiosity, watched in awe as the bird's wing healed right before their eyes. They were amazed by Agatha's ability to help, despite her physical differences. News of Agatha's kind act spread through the village like wildfire. The townsfolk realized their misjudgment and prejudice towards the witch with the oversized nose. They came to understand that appearances can be deceiving and that it was one's character that truly matters. From that day forward, Agatha was no longer seen as the wicked witch with an oversized nose, but rather as a caring and compassionate soul who used her powers to make the world a better place. The village learned an invaluable lesson about acceptance and embracing differences. As for Agatha, she continued to use her powers to spread goodness and bring smiles to those in need. She became a symbol of kindness, proving that it was not the size of her nose that defined her, but the size of her heart..
Reviews for "Beauty in Imperfections: The Witch with the Unconventional Nose"
1. Samantha - 2 stars
I found "Witch with an oversized nose" to be quite disappointing. The plot was weak and predictable, with no real surprises or twists. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them. The writing style was also unimpressive, with a lack of descriptive language and poor pacing. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and uninterested in the story.
2. Michael - 1 star
I absolutely hated "Witch with an oversized nose." The storyline was confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to follow and understand what was happening. The characters were unlikable and had no redeeming qualities. The writing was also subpar with numerous grammatical errors and awkwardly constructed sentences. I couldn't wait for the book to end and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I found "Witch with an oversized nose" to be quite lackluster. The concept had potential, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was uneven, with boring stretches and rushed resolutions. The main character, the witch, was portrayed as stereotypical and unrelatable. The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, further detracting from the overall reading experience. I was hoping for a more engaging and captivating story, but unfortunately, this was not it.
4. Benjamin - 2 stars
"Witch with an oversized nose" was a letdown for me. The plot was unoriginal and felt like a rehash of other witch-themed books I've read before. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to invest in their journey. The writing style was uninspiring, with little creativity or imagination. The book failed to capture my interest, and I struggled to finish it. Overall, I would not recommend it to those seeking an engaging and unique witchy tale.