The latest story making the rounds is about Corner Canyon High, a new school opening in Draper, spiking the student mascot selection of "Cougars." At least part of the reasoning behind the decision is the concern that the term "Cougar" is offensive to middle-aged women.

For those not particularly versed in the slang, "Cougar" sometimes refers to an assertive, attractive middle-aged
woman who dates younger men.

The alleged controversy is suprising to at least one of the Utah high schools who already uses the mascot. Kearns football coach and athletic director Bill Cosper was a little bewildered by the news.

"To me, a mascot is usually an animal - I mean, I don't know how to even respond to that," Cosper said. "In all my years here, or in all of sports, that's never been brought up."

Of course, Kearns isn't the most high profile school to use the mascot - BYU's famous Cougar dominates bumper stickers and jerseys across the state. But even at the high school level, Cosper says, it's never been a problem.

"No one's ever complained about it," he said. "Maybe somebody just watched a show or something about it on TV. That is pretty wild, though."

For those wondering, the Corner Canyon mascot will be the decidedly neutral Chargers, which refers to a war horse.

— Kyle Goon
kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon