August 10, 2005
Top live mascots
BoifromTroy always has the best links, this one's no exception: Best live college mascots.
Now, before we run the list, I gotta tell you that I have NO FREAKIN' IDEA how they came up with this list or how four dogs made it on the list. Yes, the dogs are great representations, but...four dogs in the top ten? Where's Mike (LSU's Bengal tiger) or Renegade from FSU? So, with that said, here's their list:
Uga (Bulldog), University of Georgia. Only mascot to attend the
Heisman Award ceremonies. Hershel Walker said UGA looked better in
a tux than he did. Sport Illustrated number 1 mascot. Bonus points for
attacking an Auburn Football player during a game.
Ralphie (Buffalo), University of Colorado.
Ralphie is a she and is a big, 1,300-pound buffalo with
horns and hooves. Her top speed is around 20-25 MPH.
Bevo (Long Horn), University of Texas. The legend says
that in 1916, either in retaliation over a humiliating loss to Texas,
Texas A&M branded a Texas Longhorn steer with 13-0, the score of a
previous A&M victory. In a example of turning lemons to lemonade,
Texas rebranded the Longhorn. 13 became B. The hyphen became an E. A V
was added then the zero remained as O. BEVO was born.
Traveller (White Horse), USC.
Traveler first made an appearance at
USC football games in 1961. Whenever USC scores, the band plays
"Conquest" and Traveler gallops around the Coliseum.
Tiger (Golden Eagle), Auburn University.
The namesake of Auburn's battle cry "War Eagle" is represented by a live
eagle named "Tiger". At every home football game,
"Tiger" is released into free flight from the upper deck of
Jordan-Hare Stadium. To a deafening roar of the cheer 'Waaarrrrr Eagle'.
Reveille
(American Collie), Texas A&M. In 1931, Reveille
came to Texas A&M when some cadets hit a small black and white dog on
their way back from Navasota. They picked up the dog and brought her
back to school so they could care for her. The next morning, when
"Reveille" was blown, the dog started barking and then was named after
this morning wakeup call. The next football season she was named the
official mascot..
Joy and Lady (Bears), Baylor University. A series of bears have
served as Baylor's mascot, but the best known was Joe College, who
came to Baylor through the work of Baylor student, Bill Boyd. Boyd
bought the bear from a Texas zoo that went broke. He then approached
Baylor's president and offered to take care of the bear in exchange for
free tuition. The president accepted the deal and the tradition of live
bears as mascots has continued since.
Handsome Dan (Bulldog), Yale. The oldest continuous
college mascot. For over 115 years and 15 previous bulldogs have
represented Yale.
Rameses (Ram), University of North Carolina. In 1922, the idea of
having a ram as a mascot came from a bruising fullback named Jack
Merritt. Merritt was nicknamed "the battering ram" for the way he
plunged into lines. It seemed natural to have a mascot to symbolize the
style of play of this player.
Smokey
(Blue tick hound), University of Tennessee.
In 1953, a student poll revealed a desire to select a live mascot. The
Tennessee Pep Club held a contest in 1953 to select a coonhound, a
native breed of the state, as the mascot to represent the school.
Announcements of the contest in local newspapers read, “This can’t be an
ordinary hound. He must be a ‘Houn’ Dog’ in the best sense of the word.”
Comments:
Sooner Fan said:
posted on August 11, 2005 2:20 AM — 209.30.21.190 — link — abuse?
Not that Texas scores that much, but Bevo is about the WORST mascot I could pick. Does the thing ever even move once it gets its fat butt situated on the field? At least Ralphie runs. And a barking dog, are you kidding me? I hope these were chosen as historical tradition and not excitement to watch. I'm partial to the Sooner Schooner though we didn't see it run much in Orange Bowl, did we? Oops. =)
Rob Stanford said:
posted on August 11, 2005 9:48 AM — 68.221.199.36 — link — abuse?
I don't see how a dog - a domesticated animal for many years, should be so prevalent in this list. As Dave Frey said, the Tiger would enjoy lunch with many of these mascots - especially the dog. And bulldogs? The eagle would eat those right up! I like some of the other, more unique mascots, though.
posted on August 12, 2005 1:44 PM — link — abuse?Kevin Donahue said:
A horned frog would so kick you butt, Chuck. :)
dogman said:
posted on August 12, 2005 2:36 PM — 63.164.145.198 — link — abuse?
ralphie--is by far the best and most intimidating mascot in the land. I love to watch him run down the sidelines of the opposing team.
hell even smokey is better than a bulldog, the damm bulldog cannot even run fifty yards, like somkey does , when they run him through the "T" at neyland.
Mike said:
posted on August 12, 2005 6:07 PM — 68.219.111.231 — link — abuse?
the extra points won this for Uga...and it is well deserved-I was watching that game live when Uga jumped up (high) and tried to bite the Auburn player running down the sideline with the ball-the trainer had to really yank him back in the air or he would have grabbed hold...that might be the best moment caught on tv of a mascot-so I have to agree with the number one ranking...dog or not...
Arcadia Nole said:
posted on August 31, 2005 4:18 AM — 138.180.190.66 — link — abuse?
I'd like to see a battle of the mascots. Let's pair them up and see what happens. Winner takes all.
First round:
Mike the Tiger vs The Baylor Bear
Herbie Husker vs The Mountaineer
Smokey vs Reveille
Hamsome Dan vs UGA
Auburn's Eagle vs Rameses
Traveller (and that gay Trojan) vs Chief Osceola
Ralphie vs Bevo (everytime I see Bevo, all I can think about is a nice T-Bone steak)Arcadia Nole said:
posted on August 31, 2005 4:18 AM — 138.180.190.68 — link — abuse?
I'd like to see a battle of the mascots. Let's pair them up and see what happens. Winner takes all.
First round:
Mike the Tiger vs The Baylor Bear
Herbie Husker vs The Mountaineer
Smokey vs Reveille
Handsome Dan vs UGA
Auburn's Eagle vs Rameses
Traveller (and that gay Trojan) vs Chief Osceola
Ralphie vs Bevo (everytime I see Bevo, all I can think about is a nice T-Bone steak)Arcadia Nole said:
posted on August 31, 2005 4:19 AM — 138.180.190.66 — link — abuse?
I'd like to see a battle of the mascots. Let's pair them up and see what happens. Winner takes all.
First round:
Mike the Tiger vs The Baylor Bear
Herbie Husker vs The Mountaineer
Smokey vs Reveille
Handsome Dan vs UGA
Auburn's Eagle vs Rameses
Traveller (and that gay Trojan) vs Chief Osceola
Ralphie vs Bevo (everytime I see Bevo, all I can think about is a nice T-Bone steak)Buff Chick said:
posted on November 8, 2005 12:26 AM — 24.10.78.141 — link — abuse?
I Hate CU! is jealous of the most electrifying mascot in college football. Honestly, when Ralphie charges down the field I get goosebumps.
Ralphie runs down the field during home games whenever CU scores, and after looking at their record she may be getting pretty damn tired! GO BUFFS!
Boullemet said:
posted on January 26, 2006 1:56 PM — 199.72.174.154 — link — abuse?
"Big Al" is a person in a charcterized elephant costume, so let's not kid ourselves. Even an actual elephant with all of it's majestic power and mighty truck has fallen to guys with guns, tigers, and even indains with flaming spears. Don't get me wrong "Roll Tide" but I don't believe comparing strengths of mascots is Alabama's best bet until they change their mascot to SuperMan, then my friend we could all say with confindence "SuperMan would destroy any mascot brave enough to challange him." Until then let's just hope Shula keeps on keepin on.
GO NOLES!!!! said:
posted on July 1, 2006 1:05 AM — 71.65.200.11 — link — abuse?
This list is absolutely ridiculous. EVERYONE (whether they'd like to admit it or not) knows that the Florida State Seminoles is the most badass mascott in ALL of sports. When you hear those first few beats of that war chant going and then look around and see 80,000+ fellow fans accompanying you in that war chant complete with the chop motion..... I promise you, theres NOTHING like it and everyone should get to experience it!!!!!!
Tomcat said:
posted on July 24, 2006 7:00 AM — 68.91.91.48 — link — abuse?
Texas A&M's mascot died one year in the seventies right before the game against the Rice Owls in Houston. The Rice band played where or where has my little dog gone during halftime and formed a fire hydrant in the middle of the feild.
A bunch of Aggies Corpman with swords would not let the Rice band out of the dressing room.
Best Mascot Baylor Bear
Worst Mascot USC Trojan
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dave.frey said:
posted on August 11, 2005 12:06 AM — 206.124.221.226 — link — abuse?Mike the Tiger could catch, kill and eat everything on that list, with the possible except of the eagle. That's gotta be worth something.