Pride

On the right, you'll see the remains of Charlotte High School's stadium scoreboard (photo courtesy of the News-Press from Fort Myers). The rest of the scoreboard was torn to pieces and scattered by Hurricane Charley.
What the sign used to say was "Tarpon Pride". That's right, their mascot is a big fish. Now, they did try to make it look fearsome: it's standing on its tail, with its fins in boxing gloves and a sailor hat tilted at an intimidating angle atop its head. You're probably thinking "A fish?! That's weak! When I was in high school, our mascot was a (insert name of fearsome animal here)!" You may be laughing, but I'm probably in no position to make fun of a Tarpon as a mascot. You be the judge:

• Terriers: That's right, the mascot in junior high was a small dog. We consoled ourselves by rationalizing that terriers could be tenacious, and waited for high school. Since Charlotte High was the only school in town, we were headed to Tarponville.
• Pirates: Yes! As Terriers, we reacted joyfully to the news that us Port Charlotte kids would get our own high school, and our mascot would be a pirate! A fierce, cutlass-wielding pirate, with a sneer on his face and the bloodlust of the high seas calling him to fight! Pillage, plunger, rifle and loot! Stomp on that Tarpon with a pirate boot! Uh, hold the phone. One slight problem. Back in the 80's, guys wearing earrings was a new thing. At that point, it was more symbolic: an earring in the left ear meant That's right, I'm bad, while an earring in the right meant I'm gay. So what do we see our first day of high school? A pirate with an earring in his right ear! On every sign, banner, placard, letterhead, and T-shirt. Thanks, Charlotte County School Board! Now it was the Tarpons' turn to laugh at us. During my time in high school, the Tarpons heckled us mercilessly, calling us the "Jolly Rogers". I told myself it would get better in college.
• Burrowing Owls: Steeeeerike Three! I chose to attend a college based on its curriculum rather than its mascot, and I became a Burrowing Owl. Not just an Owl, but a Burrowing one. A Burrowing Owl is about the size of a beer can, and only slightly scarier than your average teddy bear. Since getting a football team, they've dropped the "Burrowing" and given the Owl a pissed-off smirk on its mug. I'll take what little improvement I can get.

Hey, if there's any Tarpons reading this, I hope you and your family made it through Charley OK. Best of luck at Port Charlotte High for this year, and I know they'll fix Charlotte High for you.