The geniuses who came up with the new Purdue Pete must have gotten their inspiration from New Coke:
Purdue University fans are welcoming back their old sideline mascot, Purdue Pete, after school officials shelved his unpopular, short-lived replacement.
The university's move came Wednesday, only days after Purdue Pete's new full-bodied costume design was greeted with boos during last weekend's annual spring football game.
The Journal & Courier of Lafayette reports that fans overwhelmingly preferred the older Purdue Pete outfit, an image that debuted in 1989 and features a student wearing an oversized mascot head with wide open eyes.
Pete and re-Pete. Don't mess with the mascot, morons. Bet you can guess how the fiasco came about:
Kapp said Purdue officials also held focus groups on campus to help come up with details.
Marketing officials became involved, hoping to make the new Pete more marketable to future consumers.
Focus groups and marketing. Branding is going to be the downfall of Western civilization.
