A tribe, a herd or a bunch?

How do you symbolize “the tribe” without doing the obvious anthropological thing? There can be no reference, overt or implied, to Native Americans or probably even to aboriginal peoples of any type.

That’s William & Mary’s dilemma.

The Virginia college gave up its feather logo in response to NCAA rulings against such symbolism that was insensitive to American Indians.

The NCAA allowed William & Mary to keep its nickname, the Tribe.

Now the college is looking for a new symbol or mascot. The mascot doesn’t have to match the name.

Indeed, how could it?

Some 400 entries already have been submitted.

Among them: a “tribe” of asparagus. The nominator of that idea explained that when asparagus is sauced with cheese, the results match the school’s traditional orange and green colors.

And speaking of Orange …

One of the nominees for mascot is the Friesian horse.

Clever suggestion.

William & Mary is named for William of Orange and his wife, who became king and queen of England through Mary’s descent from the English royal family. Orange was an old principality in the region of the Netherlands.

Friesland is also a region of the Netherlands.

Hence the Orange-Friesian connection.

Good luck to William & Mary trying to figure this one out.

We just hope we never see a stick of sauced asparagus riding a prancing Friesian stallion.