Utah Raptors, not Jazz? And coal is our state rock?

Utah is full of surprises. I’ve lived here for more than 15 years and still learn things about our state now and then that I just file away as fascinating. Some seem impossible but when you look into them, they are always proven to be true.  

Top of the list of things that made me wonder is that every county in the state contains part of a national forest. Wait a minute. When you look, it’s true. Grab a map and prove it.  

One of the largest raptors that ever-lived roamed Utah. So why isn’t our basketball team called the Raptors?  Toronto's basketball team is the Raptors but they didn’t exist when the Jazz moved to Utah in 1979. Their Raptors franchise started in 1995. The Utah Jazz never seemed to fit as a name here. When they were the New Orleans Jazz, I got it. It has always seemed like we’re just temporarily borrowing their name for now and we'll come up with another name later that fits Utah.  

Did you know that Utah is home to the largest independent film festival? I’ve known about Sundance for years but didn’t know it was THE LARGEST Indy film fest. I know it’s a cool event and a fun place to people watch. We have the only 3-word state capital in Salt Lake City.  

One thing to be proud of is that Utah has the highest literacy rate. Put some money down with your friends on which state has the lowest literacy rate. The person in your circle who said New Mexico gets all of the money in the pot.  

We also have the highest percentage of volunteers. We’re big on helping each other. We have a state rock too. I’m surprised the state rock is coal.  With all of the other geological marvels here, who picked coal?  Why not dirt if you aren't going to pick something red?  Coal seems like something for West Virginia or the Carolinas. 

Our state animal is the elk. OK, name the state animal from ANY other state. Go! Moose would seem good for us but that went to Alaska. Bears too but that's Alabama's. Are there bears in Alabama?  For us, it's the Rocky Mountain Elk. Cougars would be good for Utah.  I thought that might be taken by Nevada.  'Lots of cougars there.  Have you been to the Las Vegas strip lately?  Their state animal is the desert big horn sheep.  

Where's the suggestion box for Utah?  If you could rename the Utah Jazz, what name would you pick?  If you want to leave COAL for West Virginia, what would our state rock be?  No, it can't be asphalt.  And the state flower can't be an orange road construction cone.