>I can understand the situation in Maine with the team colors 'not matching'
>the mascot, but the RPI mascot is slightly more puzzling.  The Engineers have
>as a red and white bee. (At least last time I was at the Houston Fieldhouse
>they did.)  Does anyone have an idea why?  I know bees are renowned for the
>engineering efficiency that goes into their hives but that isn't the reason
>is it?
 
Sure sounds like a good guess to me.  ``Engineers'' is a pretty popular
nickname. MIT and Carnegie-Mellon also have that nickname.
 
Carnegie-Mellon's a *really* weird one: Their colors are, well, plaid.  Tartan,
to be exact (actually, I think it's crimson and white, but you see tartan more
than crimson and white if you walk around campus)  The school paper is called
the Tartan.  And the mascot?  You know those little scottie dogs?  Yep.  Why?
Well, because of Andrew Carnegie (car-NAY-gee) of course.  A Scotsman.  But as
far as I know, none of the athletic teams wear kilts, except for the Women's
Field Hockey team.  ;-)
 
Carnegie-Mellon and Pitt are members of the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate
Hockey Association of the ACHA.
 
-Martin