Do Cougars offend you ? Local school rejects “Cougar” Mascot

Cougars, Love em' or hate em'  ?

A Utah school district has decided against using “Cougars” as a mascot for a new high school in part because of the negative connotation of the word in popular culture. The School District said they needed to choose a mascot and 23% of students voted they wanted it to be the Cougars. Allegedly that didn’t sit well with parents who called in and complained that “Cougar” was a derogatory word because of how it’s made its way into our vocabulary for older women who like to date younger men.

So what do you think  ?

So a "cougar" in today's vocabulary can mean two things. A mountain lion or an older woman who likes younger men.

Now If you went to a high school game and your team was playing "the Cougars" would you expect a sultry dressed older woman with a cocktail to come out with the basketball team  ? Maybe she'd have male cheerleaders , of course half her age, doing a dance with with her at half time  ? Or would you assume it to be a smiling feline, maybe the cat dressed in school colors ?

To me this seems a bit over the top. If your mind automatically jumps to playgirl women every time you hear the word "cougar" maybe its time we go back to saying mountain lion every time we wanna refer to the feline animal .... and then schools could simply change their mascot name OR is this just a CRAZY over-reaction by Parents in this school district?

So here are a few of my question for YOU

a) Is the term "Cougar" offensive to women ?

b) Is this whole story ridiculous ?

c ) Is " Mountain Lions " simply a better mascot name ?

d) Have we all become way to sensitive ?

No word on what the school's nickname will be, although I'd go with the "All-Americans" this way no-one could be offended , right ?

By the way the #1 High School Mascot Name here in New Jersey is the "Panthers" followed by the second place "Cougars"  Uh-Oh!

Nationally the #1 Mascot name in High Schools is the "eagles" ... here's the top 10