Notre Dame Football: Should Fighting Irish mascot be changed?

ESPN’s Max Kellerman believes Notre Dame’s “Fighting Irish” mascot needs to be changed in order to avoid negative stereotypes.

Notre Dame has one of the more interesting mascots in all of college sports. The ‘Fighting Irish’ mascot is recognized nationwide and it’s something that makes Notre Dame unique.

The Fighting Irish has been the nickname for Notre Dame since 1927 and before that, they were known as such terms as “Catholics” and “Ramblers” but have now had this name for 91 years. According to ESPN‘s Max Kellerman, it’s time for a change.

Kellerman took to the airwaves to defend his stance that ‘Fighting Irish’ is a negative stereotype and, like the Cleveland Indians’ Chief Wahoo, needs to be changed or removed.

Do you agree with his take? Personally, I get what he’s saying. If you remove negative nicknames or representations such as ‘Chief Wahoo’ or the Washington Redskins, you have to make sure you tackle other potentially offensive mascots and representations. According to Kellerman, the Fighting Irish are in that same breath.

However, he’s taking it too far. I’ve never met a single person who has been offended by the Fighting Irish as a nickname for Notre Dame. Coming from an Irish family, it’s not something we sit down and say, “Wow, I wish they wouldn’t stereotype us like that.”

Sure, there are probably some Irish Americans who are offended, but they would likely be in the vast minority. It’s a nickname that doesn’t really draw a ton of attention and there’s no reason to change it, especially when most people refer to Notre Dame as just “the Irish”, already dropping that ‘Fighting’ from their name in casual speak.

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Kellerman can fake his anger about the topic, but until I meet someone who is offended by the Fighting Irish logo, mascot or representation, I can’t take his argument seriously.