What Is Washington State University’S Mascot?

Washington State University (WSU) is a public land-grant research university in Pullman, Washington, founded in 1890. It has been using the cougar as its official mascot for 100 years, with the first live cougar mascot named “Butch” in 1927 to honor football star Herbert “Butch” Meeker. Dean N. Grevé is credited with creating the character’s signature swagger and being the first student dedicated to playing the role.

The mascot Butch T. Cougar was adopted in 1919 but was not introduced until 1927 when a cougar cub was presented to the student body of Washington State. The cougar replaced the inanimate stuffed cats in 1927, which were gifted to the school from Gov. Roland Hartley. The Washington State University Cougar-head logo, created by art student Randall Johnson in 1936, is as distinguishable as its history.

The mascot program at WSU is run by the WSU Spirit Squads as part of the WSU Athletics department housed on the WSU-Pullman campus. The mascot has earned the national title as the Capital One Mascot of the Year. After using a couple more dogs as mascots (Billie and Bull), WSU started using Native American-themed names such as Indians, Chiefs, and Braves.

The mascot has evolved into the beloved mascot that captures the hearts of students and fans for years to come. The mascot program is a student program run by the WSU Spirit Squads as part of the WSU Athletics department.


📹 Mascot Mania: How the Cougars became the Cougars

One of WSU’s original mascots involves a highly unique, and seemingly risky, story.


Why is the University of Washington mascot a Husky?

The Husky was chosen for its ease of cartooning, fitting name for an athletic team, and short use in newspaper headlines. A poll published in the Daily newspaper revealed that 16 out of 24 students and faculty favored the Husky over Sundodger. The committee believed the Husky captured the true spirit of the Northwest, as Seattle was recognized as the “Gateway to the Alaskan frontier”. The University of Washington uses the Alaskan Malamute Husky breed, as it is the largest and strongest of all Husky breeds.

In 1922, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity adopted the first Husky mascot, Frosty I and II. Frosty was a fox gray puppy with a sweet disposition and attended football games with enthusiasm. After a winning season, Frosty made his California debut in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

What is a cougar vs Puma?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What is a cougar vs Puma?

The term “Puma” is commonly used to refer to Latin American cats, while “cougar” is a North American term. However, the distinction between these three species is unclear. The puma, also known as the cougar, mountain lion, and other names, is a large cat belonging to the felidae family. It is found in various habitats throughout the Americas, similar in size to the jaguar. The six subspecies are known by various names throughout their range, which spans 22 countries.

The scientific name “Puma concolor” is also confusing as it doesn’t accurately describe the color of the adult pumas. Young pumas are spotted, while adults are a mix of shades, with the overall hue ranging from grey to rust. Despite the confusion, all three species are considered the same cool cat.

Why is the WSU mascot a cougar?

In 1927, a live cougar was introduced to a school as a gift from Gov. Roland Hartley, named after the team’s current quarterback, Herbert “Butch” Meeker. Meeker, despite being 5 feet 5 inches tall, was known for his fierce competition. The Butch legacy was born, with six cougars representing the school’s spirit for five decades. The first cougar, Butch I, reigned until 1938, and the remaining mascots were Butch II through VI until 1978.

What is the mascot for Washington state?

Washington State University’s mascot, Butch T. Cougar, was adopted in 1919 but was not born until 1927 when a cougar cub was presented to the student body. Named after Herbert “Butch” Meeker of Spokane, a 1920s football star, Butch was represented by a live cougar until 1978 when Butch VI, in declining health and approaching age 15, was euthanized. In October, university president Glenn Terrell decided to discontinue the live mascot tradition. The cougar was named after Herbert “Butch” Meeker of Spokane, a former football star.

What is the nickname for WSU?

Washington State University (WSU) is known for its athletic teams, which compete under the Cougar name. Students and alumni wear the school’s crimson and gray colors to identify as WSU Cougars. Pullman, a student-centered community, has grown around the university for over 130 years. University students make up 59 of the town’s 34, 000 residents, along with local professionals, faculty, staff, and families.

What mascot is Washington State University?

Washington State University’s mascot, Butch T. Cougar, was adopted in 1919 but was not born until 1927 when a cougar cub was presented to the student body. Named after Herbert “Butch” Meeker of Spokane, a 1920s football star, Butch was born in 1927. He was represented by a live cougar until 1978 when Butch VI, in declining health and approaching age 15, was euthanized. In October, university president Glenn Terrell decided to discontinue the live mascot tradition. The cougar was named after Herbert “Butch” Meeker of Spokane, a former football star from the 1920s.

What is the University of Washington mascot?

Harry the Husky is the athletic mascot for the University of Washington, one of two used by the university. He has two siblings, Hendrix the Husky in UW Tacoma and Holly the Husky in UW Bothell. The university’s first mascot was Sunny Boy, a 3-foot-tall gold-painted statuette from 1921. The mascot retired when lost in Bush Auditorium, and the university adopted the nickname “Huskies”. In 1922, the university began using live sled dogs as mascots, initially a non-hereditary line of Siberian Huskies and, since 1961, a hereditary line of Alaskan Malamutes. Due to the size of the animals, travel difficulties, logistics, and handler schedules, the mascots typically only appear at home football games.

How is the WSU logo a cougar?

Johnson created a cougar head logo with an open-mouthed, snarling C on it, which was initially difficult to fit together. After a discussion with Dean Rounds, the drawing was presented to President Holland, who was on sabbatical at the time. Dean Herbert Kimbrough approved the design and it was used on a new college truck. In 1959, when the college became a university, Johnson revised the logo at the request of President C. Clement French, changing the “C” to a “U”. Johnson signed over the creative rights for the Cougar-head logo to the university for a token $1.

What is the Washington State University logo?

The Cougar head is the university’s most recognizable visual symbol, created by Randall Johnson in 1936. WSU logos represent the entire university, its campuses, colleges, and extensions, incorporating visual elements and text treatments to provide brand familiarity and competitive differentiation. To protect the integrity of WSU’s logos and marks, competing visual graphics must be kept outside the designated clear space. The university’s logos and marks must be used as provided and not altered.

What is the WSU mascot dog?

Edlund and Dash visited Pullman, where students recognized him as the “hotdog dog”. They brought Dash to Pullman more often, and he became an honorary mascot. He became the only non-human member of the Mug Club at The Coug, best friends with WSU mascot Butch T. Cougar, and received his Dog-torate in Veterinary Medicine. Dash loves Pullman and has met athletes and Butch several times in his career.

Why is the WSU mascot named Butch?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Why is the WSU mascot named Butch?

Herbert “Butch” Meeker, a diminutive 5-foot-5 and 150-pound quarterback, was an all-conference first team selection for the Cougars in 1925. He set season and career field records as a drop-kicker and was an outstanding broken-field runner. Cougar mascots were named after him, with Governor Roland H. Hartley suggesting the name “Butch” in honor of the WSU football hero of the day. Meeker was active in student affairs and served as vice president of the student body. After his time in Pullman, he played professional football for two seasons with the Providence Steamrollers.


📹 Butch T Cougar Mini-Documentary

This is my History Mini-Doc project on WSU’s mascot, Butch T. Cougar.


What Is Washington State University'S Mascot?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Pramod Shastri

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