About College Mascots

Anyone who has ever been to a college basketball game, an NCAA football game, or any form of intercollegiate athletic competition for that matter, has undoubtedly seen the mascots of one or more teams. Sometimes they are live animals, or people in costume. And sometimes they are a mixture of both, but they are always exciting and entertaining.

  1. Definition of Mascot

    • Dictionary.com defines the word mascot as "A person, animal, or object believed to bring good luck, especially one kept as the symbol of an organization such as a sports team."

    First College Mascot

    • The first college or university to adopt a mascot was Yale University in 1889. The mascot in question was an English bulldog that went by the name of "Handsome Dan."

    Best College Football Mascot

    • A recent FoxSports.com article about college mascots named Uga, the bulldog representing the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team, as that sport's top mascot. According to the article, Uga actually has a student I.D. card, and when Uga VI died, the university flag was flown at half mast.

    Most Recognizable Mascots

    • Dr. Roy Yarbrough, author of the book "Mascots! The History of Four and Two Year College & University Mascots and Nicknames," compiled a list of the 10 most recognizable mascots in sports. Among the college mascots that made the list were the Banana Slugs of the University of California--Santa Cruz, Big Red of Western Kentucky, and Albert the Gator of the University of Florida.

    Becoming a College Mascot

    • Those interested in learning more about college mascots may be interested to learn that most universities offer students enrolled at the school an opportunity to audition for these roles. Not only does this present an exciting opportunity, but it can also lead to scholarships and, in some cases, free tuition.