College Mascots

Came across a story on Yahoo about the top ten college live mascots. My sister Julie will be happy. Nephew Andy will not.

They also gave a short history of how the animal came to represent the school.

This list was taken from America's Best On Line at www.americasbestonline.net/cmascots.htm.

1. General Scott (mule) Army. Legend has it that when Navy showed up for an 1899 game with their "smelly" goat, Army decided they needed a mascot. The stubborn army mule was pressed into service. Cadets ran out and found a passing mule-drawn wagon and used it.

2. Uga- (bulldog)- Georgia-- Herschel Walker took Uga to the Heisman Awards ceremony, saying Uga looked better in a tux than he did. Receives extra points for attacking an Auburn player at a game.

3. Bevo-(Texas Longhorn cow)- Story has it that Texas A&M, after a particularly humiliating loss to Texas, branded a Longhorn cow with 13-0, the score of the last A&M victory over Texas. They sent it to U. Texas. The creative Texas lads turned the 13 into a "B" and the hyphen into an "E", added a V in the and kept the 0, hence the name "Bevo." As the article said, making lemonade out of lemons.

4. Ralphie- (buffalo)- Colorado is actually a she.

5. Bill the Goat- Navy- first used in 1913. Now on Bill XXXI.

6. Traveller- (white horse)--USC- first appearance in 1961. Gallops around the stadium after USC TDs.

7. Falcon-- USAF-- first collegiate mascot to perform free and untethered.

8. Mike the Tiger-- LSU--tradition is that for every Mike growl before a game, LSU will score a TD. We saw Mike on our visit to Baton Rouge. He could have cared less to be in our presence, Stuck Up Tiger!!!

9. Renegade- (horse) -FSU ridden by Chief Osceola. How come they can keep Chief Osceola, and we had to give up Chief Illiniwek?

10. Reveille (American collie)- Texas A&M- In 1931, cadets in a car hit her. Took her back to campus to care for her. When "Reveille" was blown the next morning, she started barking.

How come NIU's Victor E. Huskie isn't on the list? Is it because we're having a horrible season?

I'll give the ten runner-ups eventually, as well as the 25 Worst Mascots.

Sorry, Andy. No Smokey Here. Get That Grin Off Your Face, Julie. So Uga Was #2. --RoadDog