Ivy League schools are known for their academic excellence. However, before the term came to mean “elite schools” as it does today, it originally stemmed from their history in football and sports. And what better way to unite these communities and build excitement for sporting events than with Ivy League mascots?
Mascots interact with the crowd and serve as focal points for cheering on athletes. However, each mascot has its own unique history and significance in school heritage. In this article, we’ll explore each Ivy League mascot and the stories behind them.
The 8 Ivy League Mascots
Wondering why Yale has a real bulldog in every game? Or why some Columbia fans have t-shirts with beer kegs with eyes on them? Let’s go through the famous Ivy League mascots and explain their history.
1. John Harvard / The Crimson (Harvard University)
Harvard is a unique case when talking about the Ivy League mascots. Unlike most other institutions, the school doesn’t have an officially designated mascot in the traditional sense. Instead, the university’s identity is strongly tied to the color crimson and the symbolic representation of John Harvard.
The color crimson represents the spirit and energy of Harvard athletics, serving as a unifying symbol for students, alumni, and fans.
Meanwhile, John Harvard, the university’s first benefactor, is often seen as a symbolic representation of Harvard. In older times, individuals dressed as pilgrims to resemble John Harvard for events. This practice is not very common today.
History of Harvard’s mascot
Harvard used to actually be magenta. In fact, the first issue of the Harvard Crimson was actually Magenta. However, there are two stories as to how crimson ended up being the school’s colors—although both of them agree that it had something to do with the 1875 regatta race with Union College of Schenectady and both schools were claiming magenta as the color.
Harvard’s story is that its faculty, students, and alumni held a meeting in Holden Chapel to discuss and vote on the color, where crimson eventually won. Magenta renamed itself into the Crimson, saying, “The magenta is not now, and, as was shown in the meeting, never has been, the right color of Harvard.”
Meanwhile, Union College claims that one of its students had simply written to Harvard, saying that magenta was Union College’s color and that he wanted to avoid confusion at the upcoming race.
Regardless of the true story, the Harvard Corporation officially designated crimson as the school’s official color in 1910.
2. Handsome Dan (Yale University)
Handsome Dan the Bulldog is one of the most iconic and enduring symbols not only among Ivy League mascots, but in collegiate athletics as a whole. The bulldog breed is known for its sturdy build, determined nature, and loyal temperament—which are characteristics that align perfectly with the values and spirit that Yale seeks to project.
But what makes Dan so iconic is that Yale was the first US college to have a live animal mascot, and this tradition continues until today. In fact, as of the writing of this article, 19 different bulldogs have already held the title of Handsome Dan.
History of Yale’s mascot
The story goes that Yale student Andrew Graves from the Class of 1892 bought a bulldog from a New Haven blacksmith. This bulldog, named Handsome Dan, quickly became a campus favorite, attending sporting events and garnering widespread attention. A ritual started where he was led across the field before the start of every baseball and football game to give confidence and prosperity to the athletes.
Even when Graves graduated, the bulldog stayed behind. When Handsome Dan I died in 1898, he was stuffed and sealed in a glass case in the Payne Whitney Gymnasium. Yale didn’t have a bulldog until the Class of 1937 bought another bulldog named “Dour Doruna” in 1933—who was dubbed Handsome Dan II.
And so started a lineage of bulldogs, where the title of Handsome Dan was passed on after the retirement of the previous mascot. The current mascot is Handsome Dan XIX, also known as Kingsman.
3. The Princeton Tiger (Princeton University)
The tiger is a powerful predator, representing strength, agility, and ferocity—qualities that align with Princeton athletics’ competitive spirit. The tiger also symbolizes courage and leadership, which are qualities that Princeton values.
There are many US schools that have tiger mascots, including the University of Missouri and Louisiana State University. However, Princeton is reportedly the first one to adopt the tiger mascot.
History of Princeton’s mascot
Stay with us here since we’ll do some connecting the dots.
The tiger’s association with Princeton can be traced way back to Nassau Hall, the university’s oldest building. This hall was named after William III of Orange-Nassau, King of England and Stadtholder of the Netherlands. William III was a descendant of William the Silent, Prince of Orange, who used a rampant lion on his coat of arms.
Because of that, Woodrow Wilson’s class of 1879 donated lions to Princeton to guard the main entrance to Nassau Hall. However, the tiger became incorporated into Princeton life because of several things.
In the early 1880s, the university’s football players started wearing black and orange stripes on their stockings, jerseys and stocking caps. Sportswriters called them tigers, and the term was adopted on campus. The senior class of 1882 started The Princeton Tiger, which was a humor magazine for nine issues before stopping and being reborn in 1890. The tiger also appeared in Princeton cheers and songs. An eating club called The Inn was even renamed Tiger Inn.
The tiger mascot only started appearing in the 1940s at football and basketball games. Early representations of the tiger were often more stylized and less realistic than modern depictions. They were simple and less elaborate than modern versions, focusing on conveying the basic image of a tiger rather than achieving a high degree of realism.
However, the modern tiger costumes are now more visually appealing, with realistic features like detailed fur, expressive eyes, and a dynamic posture.
4. Roar-ee the Lion (Columbia University)
Roar-ee is known for his enthusiastic and engaging personality, interacting with students, alumni, and fans at various events. He also acts as an ambassador for the school, representing Columbia at public events and community outreach programs.
History of Columbia’s mascot
The lion’s association with Columbia dates back to the university’s founding, reflecting its early connection to British royalty.
Columbia University was originally founded as King’s College in 1754, named after King George II of England. In 1910, George Brokow of the Class of 1909 suggested the lion as the institution’s mascot to reference its royal past.
The Columbia Lion went through some makeovers throughout the years. The visual representations of the Lion have changed over time—from more regal to more modern and friendly.
The most recent change was in 2005, when Roar-ee debuted at a homecoming game. His name was actually chosen through an online voting where fans worldwide could vote.
5. The Quaker (University of Pennsylvania)
UPenn’s mascot, the Quaker, is a historically significant symbol that reflects the university’s founding principles and values.
The Quaker has a pretty simple attire and demeanor that reflects the values of simplicity and humility. It serves as a reminder of the university’s commitment to intellectual pursuit and service to society, rather than material wealth.
Having a human mascot allows for a more direct connection to the university’s history and founding principles. It’s also an opportunity to educate the community about the Quaker tradition and its influence on the university.
History of UPenn’s mascot
UPenn was founded by Benjamin Franklin, who, while not a Quaker himself, held many values in common with the Religious Society of Friends (called Quakers). Pennsylvania was also established as a Quaker province by William Penn, who was a Quaker.
The university’s character was influenced by early associations with the Quaker community, which emphasized simplicity, integrity, and peace.
The Quaker mascot evolved from informal representations to the current costumed figure. The early depictions were more serious and traditional, reflecting the historical image of Quakers. But as time went on, the mascot became more animated and engaging, balancing historical accuracy with the modern mascot we see today.
6. Bruno the Bear (Brown University)
The bear has a strong connection to the regional identity of Rhode Island and the broader New England area, where bears are native animals. Because of this, the bear also represents regional pride, connecting Brown to the natural beauty and rugged spirit of New England.
The bear is also a symbol that resonates with the local community and reinforces Brown’s connection to its surroundings.
Theodore Green from the Class of 1887 described the bear as “good natured and clean. While courageous and ready to fight, it does not look for trouble for its own sake, nor is it bloodthirsty. It is not one of a herd, but acts independently. It is intelligent and capable of being educated (if caught young enough!). It is a good swimmer and a good digger, like an athlete who makes Phi Beta Kappa.”
History of Brown’s mascot
If Princeton and Yale didn’t adopt mascots, Brown wouldn’t have felt pressured to have one either.
Theodore Green decided to try to find a symbol for his alma mater in 1904, something that could rival Handsome Dan and the tiger. He was frustrated that Brown had gone 140 years without anything to properly symbolize the student body.
Green settled on the bear—and to formally establish it, he mounted the head of a bear in the Trophy Room. The idea of the bear mascot was quickly accepted by the community. In fact, in 1905, a live bear named Bruno was presented at a football game between Brown and Dartmouth. Bruno the Bear only became a costume in the 1960s.
7. Keggy the Keg (Dartmouth College)
Dartmouth has an interesting and somewhat complex mascot situation. It officially identifies with the color “Dartmouth Green” or “The Big Green,” but it doesn’t have a traditional, officially sanctioned animal mascot. However, it does have a very well-known unofficial mascot named Keggy the Keg.
“Dartmouth Green” represents the lush, natural environment of the college’s location in Hanover, New Hampshire. Meanwhile, the phrase “The Big Green” is used to refer to Dartmouth’s athletic teams and the college community as a whole.
But Dartmouth’s current mascot is Keggy, an anthropomorphic beer keg.
History of Dartmouth’s mascot
Dartmouth was founded in 1769, originally to educate the Native Americans in the land. The Indian symbol and the “Wah-Hoo-Wah” chant at sporting events started near the end of the 19th century. However, the school’s Board of Trustees scrapped the Indian caricature and symbolism in 1974 on the basis of racial insensitivity.
The institution hasn’t adopted any new mascot since then. So, in 2003, the club members from the Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern created Keggy. The goal was to create a mascot that was not racist, homophobic, or sexist. He’s meant to represent all the good and bad things about Dartmouth.
Because of this, Keggy’s symbolism is largely satirical, challenging traditional notions of college mascots and school spirit. Can you imagine spotting an unserious-looking human-sized keg of beer amidst other Ivy League mascots that symbolize qualities like ferocity and integrity?
Regardless, Dartmouth loves him. Despite being unofficial, you can buy merchandise like t-shirts!
8. The Big Red Bear (Cornell University)
Cornell doesn’t have an official mascot, but the community has embraced the Big Red Bear as the school’s unofficial one. The bear represents strength, power, and resilience, which are qualities that are highly valued in athletics.
History of Cornell’s mascot
The bear has been Cornell’s most recognized symbol in its athletic history. In fact, in 1915, the first live Cornell bear (named Touchdown) appeared in a football match. The female bear cub must have really hit it off as a good luck charm since that was Cornell’s undefeated and national championship football season.
In 1970, Ron Winarick, a student, donated a bear costume and cheered Cornell’s sports teams on as Touchdown during his spare time.
But it was only in the early 2000s that Touchdown became a more permanent part of the Cornell community. The Big Red Bears is a student-run organization that manages Touchdown’s appearances. You can even request for him to appear!
Significance of Ivy League Mascots
Ivy League mascots, whether official or unofficial, are a tangible symbol of school pride. They promote school spirit and tradition within their institutions. Their playfulness and lively interactions with the crowd also help create a lively and engaging atmosphere. This adds more fun and entertainment to sporting events and campus gatherings.
Mascots serve as a link between generations of students and alumni. They also often reflect the unique history, values, and traditions of their schools. This helps preserve the heritage and traditions of the Ivy League, which are often deeply rooted in history—such as the historical significance of the Quaker at UPenn.
Despite being mascots in the Ivy League, they also have national recognition, adding to the overall cultural impact of college sports within the U.S.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Harvard have a mascot?
Harvard University doesn’t have an official mascot. Instead, its athletic identity is primarily represented by the color crimson. The statue of John Harvard serves as a symbolic figure, and he appears in certain games, but he’s not a traditional mascot.
2. What is Columbia University’s mascot?
Columbia University’s mascot is Roar-ee the Lion. The institution adopted the lion as a mascot in 1910 as a commemoration of its past of originally being named after King George II of England.
3. What is Dartmouth’s mascot?
Dartmouth College does not have an official mascot, but its unofficial mascot is “Keggy the Keg,” a humorous and student-created character that represents a beer keg. Historically, Dartmouth teams are known as the Big Green, which refers to the school’s color rather than an animal or character.
4. What is Cornell’s mascot?
Cornell University’s mascot is the Big Red Bear. Although unofficial, the Bear has become a recognized symbol in its athletic history since 1915 when they debuted a live bear in their football season.
5. What is the mascot of Yale University?
Yale’s official mascot is Handsome Dan, a bulldog that has represented the school since 1889. Handsome Dan was the first live college mascot in the U.S., and there have been multiple successors over the years—each one taking on the same name. The current one is Handsome Dan XIX (Kingman).
Takeaways
The famous Ivy League mascots add to the overall college experience, creating memorable moments and fostering a sense of belonging.
- The eight Ivy League mascots are John Harvard/The Crimson for Harvard, Handsome Dan for Yale, The Tiger for Princeton, Roar-ee the Lion for Columbia, The Quaker for UPenn, Bruno the Bear for Brown, Keggy the Keg for Dartmouth, and the Big Red Bear for Cornell.
- Ivy League mascots shape the college experience and promote a sense of belonging within their respective institutions. They provide a focal point for cheering, rallying, and celebrating during both athletic and on-campus events.
- Interested in the history of Ivy League mascots and curious about their respective universities? If you’re considering whether these schools are a good fit for you, a college admissions consultant can help you explore their pros and cons and guide you through the admissions process.
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