No doubt about it, Americans love their collegiate sports teams — and behind each college is a beloved mascot. In most cases, this is really just a high-energy costumed character. But some, like the University of Georgia, use a real live animal who’s there on the sidelines along with the players and coach.
Bulldog
The most popular collegiate dog mascot is the bull dog. Yale University was the first college to claim a mascot. Handsome Dan, an English Bulldog, was adopted by the University in 1889. To date there have been seventeen “Handsome Dan’s”. Today there are twenty American colleges and universities who proudly call on the bulldog as their mascot. There are many other universities that have the Bulldog as their collegiate mascot; University of Georgia (Uga and Hairy Dawg), Butler, Gonzaga, Fresno State, and Mississippi State to name a few.
Scottish Terrier
Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania holds the Scottie dog near and dear to their hearts. Carnegie Mellon athletes call themselves “Tartans” They adopted the Scottish Terrier as a mascot in 2007.
Husky Mascots
Meet Jonathan XIV, UConn’s newest husky mascot. A purebred Siberian Husky, Jonathan XIV is joining a long line of husky mascots dating back to 1935. The name Jonathan was selected because, according to legend, during the American Revolution, none other than George Washington is said to have referred to Connecticut’s then-governor Jonathan Trumbull as ‘Brother Jonathan.
· Blizzard T. Husky of Michigan Tech
· Harry the Husky of University of Washington
· Jonathan of U Conn
· King Husky of Northeastern
· Mingo of Houston Baptist University
· Roongo of Bloomsburg University of PA
· Victor E. Husky of Northern Illinois University
Other Dog Mascots.
· The Southern Illinois Carbondale has a Saluki
· Texas A & M has Reveille which is a Collie
· Siena College has Bernie, a St. Bernard
· Boston University has Rhett which is a Boston Terrier
· Carnegie Mellon has a Scottish Terrier
· Agnes Scott College also has a Scottie
· University of Albany has a Great Dane
· University of Indianapolis has a Greyhound
· John Jay College of Criminal Justice has a Bloodhound
· University of Tennessee has Smokey, a Bluetick Coonhound
Can you name some other popular dog mascots in college athletics?
