When Southfield High School and Southfield-Lathrup High School eventually combine – as plans call for – the district needs to preserve the Blue Jay as the school mascot.
Southfield High School was the first high school in Southfield. So the Blue Jay has historical significance. The Blue Jay legacy grew as the school grew.
The Blue Jay image is painted on the new Field House floor. It is emblazoned on the center of the artificial turf of the new football field. It’s painted on the electronic scoreboard near the goal post. It’s embroidered, stamped, or woven into every sports uniform and the brand new band uniforms.
It is also embroidered into the hearts of the students and staff.
In more subtle ways, the Blue Jay blue is incorporated into the school decor. The classroom desks, chairs and lockers are Blue Jay blue and gray.
Blue jays themselves are aggressive, fierce, beautiful birds native to Michigan. They are winter-hearty and do not need to flee the state when snow sets in like other more fragile birds. Blue jays are known for their intelligence and close family bonds. Speedy blue jays symbolize courage and strength, as well as leadership – all admirable qualities for a school mascot.
Some have suggested a Pegasus as a replacement mascot because it is a mixture of a bird (for Southfield High) and a horse (for the Charger of Lathrup). But this would mean our school would be represented by some made-up mystical creature that doesn’t even exist! Imagine being a football player, suited up in a game, and playing against an opponent as a Pegasus. The word “Pegasus” doesn’t really come off as intimidating, like a mighty blue jay.
Because of the historical significance of the Blue Jay in Southfield, the high cost of changing the uniforms and athletic surfaces, and the admirable attributes of the fierce blue jay, it only makes sense to preserve the mighty blue jay as the mascot of Southfield High for future generations.