The Native Americans (Indians) honored various animals for their skills and power. Somehow, the South has absorbed that culture to a high degree.
Throughout the South, some universities keep live mascots, such as:
This golden eagle inspires Alabamans to sing:
War Eagle, fly down the field
Ever to conquer, never to yield
War Eagle, fearless and true,
Fight on you orange and blue
Go! Go! Go!
On to vict'ry, strike up the band
Give 'em hell, Give 'em hell,
Stand up and yell, Hey!
War Eagle, win for Auburn,
Power of Dixie Land!
In South Carolina, roosters rule: traditionally, the men were Fighting Gamecocks and the women Lady Gamecocks
At the local college in Florence, The University of North Alabama, there is a lion and a lioness, Leo III and Una.
The lionesses do the hunting, feed the males, and each lioness gives milk to any thirsty cub. They are socialists, instead of having nuclear families. The dominant male kills any cubs he did not father.
The lion feeder gave bottled milk to these lions when they were just born. They esteem her as their mother, and she can control them by her tone of voice.
The South is full of Romance, so you'd expect the campus to feature Romeo and Juliette.
