Nov. 18, 2003

By Lisa Petrillo
San Diego Union-Tribune

SAN DIEGO - The muscular thighs are still exposed, but gone is the bare chest on the new San Diego State University mascot unveiled yesterday.

The flames, too, are out.

The university's hopes are riding on this historically accurate pre-Columbian warrior and his substantial caracara bird headdress. Will he have the strength, and votes, to end the three-year controversy over the cultural appropriateness of the mascot?

The university is asking students, alumni and athletic boosters to vote on the warrior next month, potentially ending three dry football seasons without an official mascot to rally Aztec fans.

"It's embarrassing, we're like the only Division I school without a mascot. That's messed up," senior T.J. Martin said.

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