Conference CAA First seen 2001-2005 | Description Green and Gold Frog | |
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University The College of William & Mary Origin of name "Tribe" spelled backwards | ||
Colonel Ebirt was the unofficial school mascot for The College of William & Mary from 2001–2005. A green and gold frog that donned a tri-corner hat, Colonel Ebirt was originally used as a promotional tool for Colonial Williamsburg. It became involved with the College athletics program when someone from the William & Mary gymnastics program volunteered to wear the costume. "Ebirt" is Tribe spelled backwards ("ebirt" is analogous to the more commonly heard frog call "ribit"), and "Colonel" comes from the school's historical and geographical ties to Williamsburg, Virginia, specifically that of Colonial Williamsburg.
The athletic department decided to "retire" Ebirt upon the conclusion of the 2005–06 school year. On April 6th, 2010, William and Mary announced that their mascot to replace Ebirt was a griffin.