WebstUR: A new fiercer, but friendly spider

Two large red LED eyes leered fiercely out of the darkened Camp Concert Hall as alumni clapped and whistled. The lights went up revealing WebstUR, the new University of Richmond mascot, at the Reunion Rally on June 4.

WebstUR danced on stage with a cheerleader to the school fight song while attendees clapped in time.

Jasmonn Coleman, a class of 1998 alumnus and assistant director of athletics and development at Richmond, introduced the new mascot and said he liked the choice.

"When you play a sport, like I played football, I think you want more of an intimidating, larger figure as a mascot," he said. "You want one that embodies competitive spirit and I think that he does that."

Coleman said he had been little nervous when he saw the drawing. Now though, seeing the actual mascot in action, he was excited.

Vice President of Advancement Tom Gutenberger was part of the committee that helped select the final three mascot options that over 6,000 students, faculty and alumni voted on in February.

Of the three final voted upon, WebstUR, then known as "ferocious warrior spider," received nearly 51 percent, said Samantha Tannich, director of design and collegiate licensing in a press release. The name was also voted upon.

According to Gutenberger, a class of 1987 alumnus, the process for selecting the new mascot began early last fall when the committee hired a mascot consultant and a design firm after complaints about Spidey's design and copyright issues concerning Spidey's name.

"They met with us and we gave them some guidelines," Gutenberger said. "It needed to be able to move, and participate in different activities, and to resemble an actual spider and have eight legs."

Gutenberger said the committee had also wanted the new mascot to be kid-friendly.

"I'm thrilled," said the executive assistant to President Edward Ayers, Carolyn Martin. "It's fierce but approachable. I'm very impressed with how it came out, even the eyes."

WebstUR has various costumes to wear to the different sporting events, Coleman said. WebstUR wore what resembled a baseball catcher's pads to the rally, but not the arm cannon that will be used to launch T-shirts at games.

"We looked at dozens of different variations of this design and others, some good and some just funny," he said. "Creating a mascot is really hard if you want it to be like a spider in terms of number of legs and still be mobile."

The committee also looked into getting permission from Marvel Comics to have Spiderman as the new mascot, but the cost would have been enormous, Gutenberger said.

"Fifteen years ago, sure, but not after the movies and all that," he said. "It wasn't an option."

Contact staff writer Elizabeth Ygartua at elizabeth.ygartua@richmond.edu.