The Timeless Classic – Handsome Dan (Yale University)
Some things never go out of style, and Yale’s Handsome Dan is one of them. As the first-ever live college mascot, this English Bulldog has been Yale’s symbol since 1889 since the dog who became Handsome Dan was picked out by a student named Andrew Graves. Due to the dog’s appearance—refined yet bold—and ferocity towards other mascots and colors such as the Princeton Tiger and Harvard Crimson, Graves’ dog soon became a Yale legend. Since, Handsome Dan became the official mascot and been a staple of the Yale experience for generations, whether students see him strutting across campus or sitting proudly on the sidelines at games.
The Powerhouse – Big Al (University of Alabama)
It might be surprising that one of the biggest SEC schools—whose teams embrace strength and ferocity—has an elephant for a mascot. But its origins do come from football dominance. When sportswriter Everett Strupper called Alabama’s football team a “red elephant stampede,” after a blowout win against Ole Miss in 1930, the name caught on. Students began dressing up as the elephant, and eventually administrators and athletic staff recognized it as a staple of Alabama culture. By the late 70s, Big Al officially debuted as Alabama’s mascot.
The Beast – Mike the Tiger (LSU)
There aren’t many mascots in college sports that are as intimidating—or as beloved—as Mike the Tiger. LSU’s tradition of having a live Bengal tiger dates back to 1936 when a group of students and athletic staff, led by trainer Mike Chambers, decided a mascot that embodied the school’s energy was needed. So they raised $750 (equivalent to about $16,000 today) by collecting donations from students, faculty, and Baton Rouge businesses, and purchased a real tiger cub from the Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas. The Tiger soon arrived on campus, and is now known as "Mike" in honor of Chambers. Today, concerns about animal welfare led to changes in how Mike participates, but he remains an essential part of LSU culture. He now lives in a state-of-the-art habitat on campus.
The Cult Favorite – Bruno the Bear (Brown University)
Brown’s mascot came about at the beginning of the 20th century, when an alumnus introduced the concept of the bear. He chose the animal to signify “strength, independence, and courage,” and in 1905, a live bear named Bruno debuted at a football game versus Dartmouth. This began a tradition of live bears until they transitioned into costumed-mascots in the 60s. Bruno the bear is not just present at games, but built into the university. Across Brown's campus are four Bruno statues, including a 10-foot-tall bronze statue dubbed “The Swearer Bear.”
The Gladiator – Traveler (USC)
Traveler — a man dressed as a Trojan riding a white horse — made its USC football games debut in 1961 against Georgia Tech in the home opener. Richard Saukko was spotted riding his white horse, who became Traveler I, in the 1961 Rose Parade, by Bob Jani, USC’s director of special events, and Eddie Tannenbaum, a USC student. The two convinced Saukko to ride his white horse at the Coliseum during USC games as the mascot. Since then, whenever USC scores a touchdown, Traveler gallops victoriously around the field as the band plays “Conquest.”
The Unofficial – Keggy the Keg (Dartmouth College)
In 2003, Dartmouth's humor magazine, the Jack-O-Lantern, created the anthropomorphic beer keg, Keggy the Keg, which soon became integrated into Dartmouth culture. Because the keg is controversial, especially as a representation of an institution of higher learning, it is not recognized as Dartmouth’s official mascot. There was a mixed reaction: the student body president ignored it, while most of the administration was not in favor, aside from the Dean who praised the students for their creativity. Students embraced the keg since “The Big Green” has been the extent of Dartmouth's spirit since the Native American mascot was abolished in the 70s.