The way I see the scoring for Ermines is:
1. Be unique, recognizable, inspiring and distinctly UND’s
Clearly a +1 and I don't see how it's not the top option.
2. Promote a sense of pride, strength, fierceness, and passion
Clearly a +1
3. Be representative of the state and region in a way that honors the traditions and heritage of the past but also looks to the future.
Certainly meets the first part. Looking forward is tough, but in an age of conservation and ecological awareness, Ermines works.
I think it's a +1, but a skeptic might give it a 0.
4. Be a unifying and rallying symbol
I'm not sure how you decide this without research, but I think its uniqueness works for this. I'd give it a +1.
5. Ease of Depicting/Personifying Physical Mascot:
1 - Easy; mascot and fans can easily dress as nickname, e.g. Vikings, Lumberjacks
0 - Moderate; easy to depict graphically and create physical mascot, however fan participation more difficult, e.g. Eagles, Bears
-1 - Difficult; challenging to depict graphically and physically, e.g. Vandals, Tarheels
Clearly a +1 and it's hard to imagine it not being the top choice based on other suggestions I've heard.
6. Cheer/Battle Cry Considerations:
1 - “Built-in” cheer, battle cry, e.g. Spartans, Wildcats
0 - More difficult, e.g. Cornhuskers, Lumberjacks
-1 - Difficult, e.g. Vandals, Tarheels
I have no idea how to judge this for any mascot. Why is a Vandal difficult while a Spartan isn't? If they're just looking for recognizable nouns, Ermines is clearly a +1.
7. Meaning of Nickname:
1 - Obvious, e.g. Eagles, Grizzlies
0 - Moderate, e.g. Vandals, Cornhuskers
-1 - Requires explanation, e.g. Sooners, Hoosiers
Should be a +1. Maybe some uneducated people would give it a 0, but come on. It's a mammal. We learn mammals in 5th grade.
8. Linguistic Considerations – Pronunciation:
1 - Easy, e.g. Lumberjacks, Thunderbirds
0 - Moderate, e.g. Hoyas, Zias
-1 - Difficult, e.g. Chanticleers, Gaels
Again, we learn mammals in 5th grade. This should be easy. But based on the examples I could see it being a 0 and a critical person might give it a -1.
9. Linguistic Considerations – Likelihood of name being abridged resulting in different name or name similar to existing name:
1 - Not likely or not possible, e.g. Bears, Eagles
0 - Possible, e.g. Thunderbirds to ‘Birds,” Bobcats to “Cats”
-1 - Likely, e.g. Catamounts to “Cats,” Chanticleers to “Chants”
It can't really be shortened, but I could see some heathen opponents using the "vermin" rhyme. This is probably the only weakness of the name, so this might be a -1. But any name is going to be co-opted by opponents.
, Faiders, Donkey, Dolts ... it's going to happen to any name.
Thoughts? Do you agree or disagree with my assessment?