List of Weird College Mascots
The mascots of the university continue to play an important role in the general promotion of the school, and this is true not only among the current students but also the alumni. However, when it comes to the characteristics they possess, not all school mascots are built the same. There are some very strange ones that will, at the least, guarantee to leave us enthralled with them.So, let’s check the list of weird college mascots out there!
Check to see whether the school of your choice is on the list of Outlandish and Weird College Mascots. These mascots serve a variety of purposes, from entertaining the audience to representing their college throughout the state and the country.
In addition, we will be adding supplemental info about mascots like how hot it can get and tips on how to have a cool mascot experience.
What are the weird college mascots known today?
What are the most unusual college mascots today? If the Harvard Turkey and Stanford Tree aren’t strange enough for you, we’ve selected some of the most peculiar and weird college mascots from throughout the United States for you to check out.
Some of these were inside jokes among the students that became popular. Some of these were student demonstrations against university administrations that were seen as being too stiff or corrupt. Some of them were half-hearted attempts to be vicious.
The Boll Weevil
Have you ever come across a boll weevil? Cotton production in the United States was almost entirely wiped out by a bug in the 1920s. This insect consumes cotton buds and flower buds. The rough-and-tumble beetle with a drooping Squidward nose was selected as the rough-and-tumble mascot for the University of Arkansas at Monticello by the university.
According to the website for the institution, the choice of the bug as the school’s mascot was made in the early 20th century, when the pest was respected for its tenacity and the fear it could strike the farmers. In the end, it would appear that Boll Weevils is not an opponent that is very simple.
Cayenne
It is common knowledge that cayenne pepper adds a spicy flavor to cuisine; nonetheless, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has elevated the hot spice to the status of mascot for its Ragin’ Cajuns. Cayenne, an anthropomorphic cayenne pepper, with arms that are engulfed in flames and a complexion that is rusty red.
Cayenne is the fourth mascot for the university, following in the footsteps of a pair of real bulldogs (during the time when the athletic teams were known as the Bulldogs), an animated version of Mr. Ragin’ Cajun, and the Fabulous Cajun Chicken (the most popular mascot in the history of the school).
An unconventional approach was taken in the development of Cayenne. Cayenne is not a physical depiction of the Ragin’ Cajuns as is the case with other mascots; rather, it is the embodiment of the Ragin’ Cajun spirit that resides in Acadiana.
Cayenne was first introduced in the year 2000, and he wears different clothes depending on what kind of sporting event he is attending. For example, when he is at a football game, he wears a Ragin’ Cajun football uniform, and when he is at a basketball game, he wears a UL Lafayette basketball jersey.
Smokey
The University of Tennessee is represented by Smokey, a seemingly sleepy dog, which makes us wonder how he ever makes it through a game without falling asleep despite the fact that their sports teams are known as the Vols (the Volunteers – which could make a list of strange college sports team names), which makes us wonder how their sports teams got their names.
The time has come for Smokey to hand off the role of Volunteer to another deserving dog with the same name.
Smokey X, the beloved mascot of the University of Tennessee, is going to hang up his boots soon. And Smokey XI, still another bluetick coonhound descended from the same family, will make his debut on campus this autumn as the most recent top dog since the tradition was established in 1953. Smokey XI shall continue the legacy of being part of weird college mascots because of its ‘sleepy features’
In the video that was uploaded to Twitter to announce the change, UT featured both the previous dog and the new dog. However, a spokeswoman for the University of Tennessee stated that there is a possibility that Smokey X may start the 2022 season until Smokey XI is completely ready to take up responsibilities on the sideline.
The Purple Cow
Purple Cow became Williams College’s official mascot in 1907, taking its name from a student comedy journal of the same name. Williams College is located in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
It wasn’t until the summer of 2010 that a Division III school’s mascot, the purple cow, made its debut in an ESPN College Football GameDay commercial, joining the likes of mascots from UPenn, Texas Tech, Ohio State, Oregon, and Florida. This marked the first time that a mascot from a Division III school had appeared in an ESPN College Football GameDay commercial. Appropriate, considering that the Ephs became the first school from Division III to host ESPN College Football GameDay on November 10, 2010.
Since then, the purple cow has been featured in a number of ESPN College Football Game Day ads. This is a feat that few of weird college mascots can achieve.
Purple Cow can also be seen in “The History of Lee Corso’s Head Gear,” a documentary that pays tribute to Lee Corso, an analyst for College Football Game Day (2013).
Sammy the Banana Slug
Making it to our list of weird college mascots is the yellow banana slug from UC Santa Cruz named Sammy, who is also quite relaxed and a good dancer.
Institutions frequently unite around a representative mascot, however we doubt students at the University of California – Santa Cruz (one of the finest colleges in California to study marine biology) are doing so.
What is a banana slug? You might ask. The banana slug is a yellow gastropod that is slimy and may be found in the area of Santa Cruz, which is located on the coast of northern California.
As a satire on the way that many institutions place an excessive amount of focus on athletics, the school chose to have the slug serve as its mascot. None of the attempts to replace the mascot with something else were successful.
In real life, Sammy the Banana Slug has a dapper appearance, despite the fact that he wears glasses and holds a Plato book on the university’s mascot emblem.
The Billiken
Attendees at Saint Louis University sporting events are accustomed to seeing the school’s mascot, Billiken, who resembles a cross between a bat and an elf.
As the school’s mascot, the Billiken, which is modeled after a popular toy from the early 1900s, is meant to be auspicious and bring the institution success.
Artie the Fighting Artichoke
Students at Scottsdale Community College in the 1970s demonstrated the importance of one of the defining characteristics of a college education: the willingness of students to speak up in defense of their ideals.
Students chose the ludicrous mascot Artie the Fighting Artichoke as a form of protest against the fact that university authorities were recruiting athletes using scholarship funding that had been put aside for Native American students. This mascot continues to be used at the institution to this day.
Today, the charming mascot of Scottsdale Community College, Artie the Artichoke, constantly scores high in fan appeal and excitement. Artie participates in a wide variety of activities both on campus and in the surrounding community, where he helps generate enthusiasm for the College and promotes SCC Athletics.
How hot can mascots get?
How sweltering can a mascot be? Regardless if it’s one of those weird college mascots or not, extreme heat is a problem that many of us constantly have to deal with.
Indoor events are not nearly as problematic (there are, of course, always going to be outliers), but outdoor competitions and games are where most of the difficulties lie. It is possible for the temperature to get up to or even exceed 140 degrees Fahrenheit under the fur and feathers, which, as you can guess, is both excruciatingly painful and hazardous.
How do performers keep cool in a hot mascot costume?
How can performers stay cool when wearing a heated mascot costume? As the courageous performers venture out into the vast outdoors, here are some pointers, pieces of advice, and things to keep an eye out for.
1. Mascot Performers Need Proper Hydration And Nutrition
People in mascot employment, which includes performers in weird college mascots, should avoid eating anything substantial or oily in the hours leading up to their appearances in order to keep their cool throughout their duties. Consuming rich and fatty diets may diminish the vigor of a mascot performer.
Performers should increase their salt diet before stepping on stage so that their bodies can retain more water.
Furthermore, enough water consumption is required. Mascot character actors must drink enough fluids before, during, and after their performances in order to stay cool. Water, Gatorade, or juice are the three liquids that mascot performers should drink.
2. Refresh Yourself With A Mascot Cooling System
Using a mascot cooling system is one method for keeping your character at a reasonable temperature during the performance. A mascot cooling system provides both ventilation and temperature control for the mascot suit.
A mascot cooling system cold kit will typically cost you $195. The usage of cold kits is a practical and cost-effective method of cooling down a mascot performance.
3. Dress in Light Clothes
When performing as a mascot, it is critical to wear light clothing. Wearing wicking shorts and a t-shirt underneath a mascot costume is great. This will assist in keeping you dry and comfy.
Under a mascot costume, fabric that wicks moisture away from the performer’s skin can be worn to help eliminate excess moisture.
4. Give Yourself a Break
Mascot performers are strongly advised to take regular breaks during hot performances to avoid overheating. Plan on spending half an hour in costume and the other half outside of costume.
Even if the performer is unable to change completely between performances, it is recommended that the performer remove the head from the outfit. Some of the heat will be able to escape as a result of this.
Performers who play mascots should pace themselves so that they do not grow weary while acting.
Mascot performers are generally given time to calm down and cool off by being soaked in ice and taking pauses.
How do mascot performers breathe?
How do mascot actors breathe? Our answer for that is mascot costume fans. Mascot costume wearers may have fans on the outside as well as the inside of their garments. A mascot head fan is a tiny device that improves a costume’s ventilation by bringing in fresh air from the outside and discharging stale air from the inside.
If there is a mascot fan, the performer will breathe much easier while wearing a custom mascot costume since it improves air circulation in the area. Mascot fans typically cost approximately $200.
Experience school spirit with your school of choice
No matter how weird college mascots can be, they are designed to cultivate a community at the school that is all its own. One day, you, too, will have the opportunity to carve one.
Seek the guidance of experts in the field of college admissions, like those at AdmissionSight, to increase your chances of admittance to a highly selective university.
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Get in touch with us as soon as possible so that we can schedule your free initial consultation (we can’t stress this enough, a consultation that is free of charge).
