So, after band practice, I’ve got Model UN. Then, I’ve got my calculus homework, and also studying for that economics exam. Oh geez! I totally forgot all about that stupid Engilsh paper!
So, this one is a bit of a stretch. According to the school’s website, the name was suggested by the school’s first principal, one Brother Hilary. It’s rather wild, so let me just repeat it in full:
“Once there was a very talented juggler named Barnabe who had tired of wandering up and down the roads of France and decided that it would be better if he were to dedicate his life to God, as a monk. He entered the monastery with which he was familiar and quite happy. Now, it was the custom of the monastery to do things in honor of the Blessed Mother. One monk would write poetry, another would sculpt, another would paint, and so on. The Juggler could do nothing like this and became quite despondent. Then suddenly he was happy again. Soon the Prior began to notice that Barnabe would disappear every day for about an hour. He wondered what the Juggler was doing and followed him. The Juggler went into the chapel and proceeded to do all of his juggling tricks in front of the statue of Our Lady and before the horrified eyes of the Prior. He ran and got the Abbot to see the sacrilege that was being committed in the chapel. But when they both started up the aisle to stop the Juggler they saw the statue come to life and Our Lady wipe the sweat off the brow of the Juggler.”
Hmm … Still don’t get it.
Turns out it really is a thing. The legend has inspired a story by Anatole France, several books, a couple of movies & TV shows, an opera, and a ballet.
Interestingly, it is also the title of the literary journal of the real Notre Dame (i.e., the one in South Bend).
Still, I can’t imagine why anyone would possibly think this would make a good mascot.
Altogether, the schools have 600 students, from Pre-K to 12th grade. The high school dates back to 1959. It includes 6 famous alumni, 2 of whom I’ve heard of – baseball player Mark Lemke & pollster John Zogby.
It is, of course, a Catholic school. Tuition for the high school is pushing $17,000 a year. In the one athletic highlight I could find, the 2024 girls basketball team won the state title.
The Jugglers appear to have a couple of renditions of the mascot:
Oh, Utica? It’s just another Rust Belt city.
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