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ST. GEORGE — On Monday, Dixie State University, after many years of controversy, officially changed its mascot to Brooks the Bison, naming themselves the Dixie State Trailblazers.
To make the announcement more official, DSU took to Twitter, posting a picture of the new mascot, tweeting, “We are the DIXIE STATE UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS!”
We are the DIXIE STATE UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS! pic.twitter.com/HBzgDHp4qQ — DixieStateUniversity (@DixieState) April 11, 2016
Soon after, the Portland Trail Blazers replied to the [thread](https://twitter.com/DixieState/status/720279603932082177), asking, “One word, or two.” To which, DSU came back stating that in fact, trailblazer has always been one word, providing a snapshot of the simple definition of trailblazer to back up the claim.
@DixieStatepic.twitter.com/pxhrS6DT2n — Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) April 12, 2016
> [@trailblazers](https://twitter.com/trailblazers) It's ALWAYS been one word. Are there no dictionaries in Portland? [pic.twitter.com/b4eywriDhv](https://t.co/b4eywriDhv) > > — DixieStateUniversity (@DixieState) [April 12, 2016](https://twitter.com/DixieState/status/720009026453393408)
The bantering went back and forth as the two entities responded in jest with pictures and GIFs to illustrate each other’s point.
@DixieStatepic.twitter.com/wWfXOvNC5F — Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) April 13, 2016
> [@trailblazers](https://twitter.com/trailblazers) Don't be jealous just 'cause we've got our name on a cup. [\#ninetytwo](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ninetytwo?src=hash) [\#youstartedit](https://twitter.com/hashtag/youstartedit?src=hash) [\#DixieBlazers](https://twitter.com/hashtag/DixieBlazers?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/FKuN26DLLR](https://t.co/FKuN26DLLR) > > — DixieStateUniversity (@DixieState) [April 13, 2016](https://twitter.com/DixieState/status/720279603932082177)
Even Portland Trail Blazer Damian Lillard's alma mater, Weber State, chimed in showing approval from Star Wars and the Dark Side through a meme of Kylo Ren — not the actual character from the movie, but the one from [Saturday Night Live](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaOSCASqLsE) —tweeting, “Well done. Kylo doesn’t like Rebels, Either.”
@DixieState Well done. Kylo doesn't like Rebels either. pic.twitter.com/TeHUunOmUB — Weber State Univ. (@WeberStateU) April 11, 2016
But, it wasn’t just college and professional sports teams who chimed in. The beauty of social media is that it allows high school English teachers like Salina resident, Blair Einfeldt, to chime in with a GIF from Anchorman’s "Ron Burgundy."
@DixieState@trailblazers It Burns (Arena?) #punintendedpic.twitter.com/11LKDfWEGe — Blair Einfeldt (@blaireinfeldt) April 13, 2016
While many Twitter battles are done with the intent to hurt the other, this was all done in good fun, with the respect of the other in mind — which is what drew many like Einfeldt in.
“I just thought it was a fun to see two groups utilizing social media to give each other a bit of a hard time but in fun," Einfeldt said. "Especially with both having ties to Utah with Damian Lillard being thrown in there. Weber State's response was fantastic too. I think right now, in our politically charged world where Twitter and other social media is being used for quite a bit of anger and fighting, it is fun to see two companies not taking themselves too seriously.”
News media student at BYU, Sterling Randle, who also added his clever wit to the conversation, told KSL.com that he enjoyed following the tweet battle.
"I enjoyed seeing Dixie State and the Trail Blazers interact because entities don't seem personal on social media, but stuff like this parts the curtain and we get to see the humor of the employees who run the accounts. Dixie State should've dropped the mic after the 1992 Finals burn. They shut it down with that tweet."
If you haven’t seen the full Twitter exchange already, we suggest you check it out.
