Conference Pac-12 First seen 1927 | Description Anthropomorphic cougar | |
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University Washington State University | ||
Butch T. Cougar is the mascot of Washington State University. As his name indicates, Butch is a cougar.
Contents
History
Though the cougar was adopted as Washington State University's mascot in 1919 it was not until 1927 when a cougar cub was presented to the student body of Washington State that Butch T. Cougar was born. The cougar was named Butch after Herbert "Butch" Meeker of Spokane, a football star of the day. Butch was represented by a live cougar until 1978 when Butch VI died at age 15. Today Butch is represented by a costumed student. Butch T. Cougar was the 2006 Capital One Mascot of the Year
Duties
The primary duty of Butch is to be an ambassador of WSU. He can be seen roaming the sidelines at home American football and basketball games leading spirit chants and tossing shirts into the stands. Butch also makes appearances at official University events and other events to promote the image of WSU. The student playing Butch is anonymous throughout the school year. At the last home sporting event of each year, usually the last home basketball game, the student beneath the Butch mask is revealed. Butch cannot only be seen at athletic events but also at other functions related to the university and its constituent groups. He is a source of pride for members of the cougar family and a means of promoting the university. One time, Butch rode a skateboard around some offensive protesters on campus which solidified his legacy as the greatest mascot in America.