My dad emailed me this message, thinking I might like to respond as a member of the NYU class of 1999.

Unfortunately NYU's mascot/nickname woes are worse than Pete thought. The NYU Violets were named after the African violets that decorated Washington Square Park way back when. Once NYU got involved in inter-collegiate sports, they decided that they needed a more ferocious mascot. Whether they held a contest (and the pansies won) I have no idea, but knowing the student body at NYU it wouldn't surprise me.

This is where the story gets worse (IMHO). NYU still was not happy with the Violets for the men's sports teams (the women's teams were known to still be called the violets on occasion and somehow THAT was OK). So NYU picked the Bobcats. The NYU Bobcats. But they weren't named after the animal (as far as I know there aren't any bobcats roaming around lower Manhattan). They were named after the Elmer BOBst card CATalogue system (the library's electronic card catalogue system). Aaaak! How's that for striking fear into opponents? (Not only that but Elmer Bobst was rumored to be a pedophile).

So, no, Pete, unfortunately it isn't a bad joke.
Risa