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My alma mater went through this right after I graduated in the late 80s. Eastern Michigan is located in the Huron Valley, along the Huron River on Huron Valley Drive. Guess what the mascot was? Yes, Hurons. The schools board of directors voted to eliminate the name Hurons (although Central Michigan are still, to this day, Chippewas). The Chief of the Huron tribe attended their board meeting and asked them to reconsider but they said no.
In the meantime, they added this EMU costumed mascot that walked around at football games. Everyone figured they'd make us the Emus. Why not? Same initials, right? The EMU Emus. No, they made us Eagles.
It shouldn't be a big deal to change mascots, but the fight song changes, the alma mater song changes and you don't know the words or the chants at games anymore. It doesn't feel like it is "your" school anymore.
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