Funny enough, the non-cute ones seem to be more entertaining and they are the life of every sport in the universities. In this article, you will see the various pictures for each of the mascots and the schools they represent in the USA. Kindly go through the table of contents to have an overview of the college mascots.
What Are Mascots?
According to Wikipedia, mascots are persons, animals or object thought to bring luck, or anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, or brand name. They are used for promoting in the world of sports, relating to their respective team nicknames. Especially when the team’s nickname is something that any living thing can be.
About Mascots
Initially, sports organizations first used animal mascots to entertain their spectators but before then, people in suits were known to be the mascots and the presence of animals brought a different vibe to the game and to instill fear in the minds of the opposing teams. Well, times have changed and mascots have finally evolved to what we now see today as the three-dimensional mascots. This has made other organizations such as colleges adopt the idea. Read more: Top 7 Law Schools in North Carolina
College Mascots In USA
Many colleges in the US have their mascots represented by animated characters at their sporting events. These college mascots also come in form of campus sculptures and students in costumes attending gatherings for alumni and various campus events. However, see the list of the 20 cutest college mascots in USA.
#1 Oski The Bear
Oski the Bear is the official mascot of the University of California, Berkeley. Everything about Oski’s character and design was developed by William Rockwell, who was the first student to play the role of the college mascot. While most mascots dress appropriately for the game by adorning a jersey or shirt showing their school pride, Oski is too cool and hipster. Instead, he wears a cardigan sweater, which is what I imagine every faculty member from Berkeley wears.
#2 The Oregon Duck
The Oregon Duck is the mascot of the University of Oregon Ducks athletic program, based on Disney’s Donald Duck character through a special license agreement. The mascot wears a green and yellow costume, and a green and yellow beanie cap with the word “Oregon” written on it.
#3 Deamon Deacon
The Demon Deacon is the mascot of Wake Forest University, a school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Apparently best known for its slightly unusual name and appearance, the Demon Deacon has become a mainstay in the world of U.S. college mascots. The actual mascot began in 1941, when Jack Baldwin thought that Wake was missing pep on the sidelines. He wanted to dress like a real deacon…and did, finding an old top hat and long coat. Through the years, the Deacon has evolved into what you see here. The Deacon leads a tradition of “opening the gate” as Wake takes the field. And I’m just saying, he and Jay Leno have never been seen in the same place at the same time…
#4 Otto The Orange
Otto the Orange is the mascot for the Syracuse Orange, the athletic teams of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, USA. Otto is an anthropomorphism of the colour orange and represents the fruit the orange. Wearing a large blue hat and blue pants.
#5 Handsome Dan
Handsome Dan is a bulldog serving as the mascot of Yale University’s sports teams. In addition to a person wearing a costume, the position is filled by an actual bulldog, the honor being transferred to another upon death or retirement. Handsome Dan was purchased in 1889 by Yale Lineman Andrew Graves. Dab would go on to win the Westminster dog show, and had a peculiar habit of being friendly to only Yale students. Dan went overseas to Grave’s hometown in London, where he passed away. Graves had him stuffed, and returned to Yale. Since then, there have been 16 Dans. Handsome Dan XVII made his appearance in 2006.
#6 Brutus Buckeye
Brutus Buckeye is the athletics mascot of Ohio State University. As a member of the spirit squad, Brutus Buckeye travels to many events around the university and often makes appearances around Columbus.
#7 Sparty
Sparty is the mascot of Michigan State University. Sparty is usually represented as a muscular male Spartan warrior/athlete dressed in stylized Greek costume.
#8 Ralphie The Buffalo
Ralphie the Buffalo is the name of the live mascot of the University of Colorado. All the mascots serving the University of Colorado have all been females regardless of the fact that they bear a male-ish name. Also, they are less aggressive than the males.
#9 Fighting Okra
Having originated from a discussion between basketball and baseball players in the ‘Court of Governors’ dorm, the fighting okra serves as the college mascot at Delta State University (DSU), Cleveland, Mississippi.
#10 Sebastian The Ibis
Meet Sebastian the Ibis. This is the official college mascot for the University of Miami in USA.
#11 Texas Bevo
Long before the advent of the college mascot Bevo, the University of Texas had a mascot that was a pit bull and had a not-so-impressing name ‘pig’. After the first Bevo was donated at $124 by Stephen Pinckney, subsequent college mascots have been adorable.
#12 Mike The Tiger
Mike the Tiger is the official college mascot of Louisiana State University. It was the first tiger to be donated to the university by a carnivore rescue facility. Mike is a bengal tiger that serves as an intimidating force for LSU. One of the better traditions in college football involve Mike. Every home game, LSU parks Mike’s cage next to the visitors’ locker room, forcing them to walk by the ferocious animal. Although PETA has protested the use of Mike, LSU has pointed out that under the habitat they created for him, he lives to be, on average, 17 years old. Which is double the normal life expectancy of eight to ten years for Bengal tigers. Since Mike can’t really be let out of the cage most of his day, LSU created a mascot-Mike as well.
#13 Florida’s State’s Chief Osceola College Mascot
While many universities are ridding themselves of Native-American imagery and mascots, the Seminoles continue with Chief Osceola and Renegade. This is thanks to FSU receiving approval from the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The regalia is designed in part by the tribe. Osceola and Renegade are the official mascots of the Florida State University Seminoles. Osceola, representing the historical Seminole leader and his Appaloosa horse Renegade introduce home football games by riding to midfield with a burning spear and planting it on the lawn. This simply means, one can’t go into the field without the other.
#14 Goldy Gopher
Goldy Gopher is the college mascot for the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus, USA, and the associated sports teams, known as the Golden Gophers. Apparently, Goldy can take a punch, as I think this recent news story is true. Luckily, it didn’t affect his two famous front teeth. Like any formidable player or coach, Goldy spends all offseason training.
#15 Big Spur
The University of South Carolina’s college mascot Cocky is one of the most entertaining in college sports. The school’s live mascot big spur has this unmatching cuteness that cocky can’t meet up with.
#16 Jonathan The Husky
Jonathan the Husky is the college mascot of the University of Connecticut represents the school in an animal therapy program that helps both the children and the elderly.
#17 Peruna
This pretty black Peruna is the college mascot for Southern Methodist University. Its presence has been felt at every of the college’s home football games.
#18 Blitz The Seahawk
The official college mascot for Wofford College is no other than Blitz the seahawk.
#19 Blue Mascot
This college mascot represents Butler University at all mascot-related games. It is so cute.
#20 Dubs
Dubs is one of the busiest and probably the cutest live mascot. It is the official college mascot for the University of Washington. He has a lot to live up to, but he’s accomplished a lot more than most of us do in our first three years of life. He already has his own “blawg,” and takes time out for photo opportunities with graduates in May.
Conclusion
I hope this piece of information is helpful.
References
WikipediaBleacherreportQS
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