I really could couldn't care less what our mascot is. I think mascots are overrated, and colleges become obsessed over them but they're not that necessary to develop a memorable brand.
Anybody seen a Yankee or Knickerbocker walking around recently? I haven't.
How much of Syracuse's stuff actually has a big orange on it? Very little. They're just Syracuse.
Stanford is technically the cardinal, and their logo includes a tree. They hardly ever refer to it or use it.
My soon to be wife went to Dartmouth, we have sweatshirts and crap all over my apartment and I still can't tell you what the Big Green are.
A Johnnie could be a person who plays basketball for St Johns, and I'd be fine with that. A player in a red jersey with a basketball - the end.