Talons up or talons out?

Today is the first day of classes for the Fall semester at Carson-Newman University. In honor of this special day, we're digressing into a question that has long plagued the denizens of Mossy Creek, namely, "Is it talons UP or talons OUT?"

As you are no doubt aware, the second and better-known mascot of the Carson-Newman athletics programs is an Eagle. (The first? The Fighting Parsons, of course.) Over time, various chants and cheers have originated from this avian bird of prey. Some were regrettable - "Stir the Nest"? - while others have endured, most recently the expression "Talons Up," which has taken on a life of its own.

Enter archvillain English professor and cake connoisseur Dr. Mike Sobiech. It would seem that during one of his many lumbering meanders on the banks of Mossy Creek, the thought struck him that an eagle's talons might better be expressed as proceeding OUT rather than UP, which would disrupt a decade's worth of C-N cheers, t-shirts, and selfies.

Attempting to settle this dispute, we reached out to raptor expert (really) Kathy Caminiti, who offered this take: "LOL I would say 'Talons Out.' They bring their legs up but then they open their talons out to catch their prey. Legs up. Talons out. When attacking prey, the talons are 'spread out' wide to increase the chance of a successful strike."

So there you have it. The debate has finally been settled.

The new Carson-Newman slogan is "Legs Up."