A former colleague now lives in Scottsdale and he told me the team name for the community college football team. Scottsdale Fighting Artichokes and I must admit I laughed out loud. I'm trying to picture an artichoke with two legs running up and down the sidelines. :evillaugh The name strikes fear in the heart!
The mascot looks exactly like you expected. I also found a Fighting Pickle and a Fighting Okra. Hail veggie mascots!
Akron's team is called the Zips, which leads to some speculation, but our mascot is a cool kangaroo (the zip is in her pouch). I'd have the Scottsdale cheerleaders wear green spikey panties under their skirts. Artichoke bottoms have always been a fave of mine.