Bill The Goat (Navy)
Some mascots are inspirational, regal animals, that inspire feelings of courage and strength. Some are goats. That’s the case for the mascot of the Navy Midshipmen, Bill the Goat. Goats have a history with the Navy, with some old vessels keeping them aboard as livestock. Their role as mascot, however, starts in 1893, with a surely very confused goat named El Cid. El Cid lived aboard the USS New York, and when its sailors attended the fourth Army-Navy football game in Annapolis, they brought El Cid with them. Navy won, and El Cid found himself as an unlikely champion.
Like it or not, El Cid was now part of the team, receiving his own uniform, in the form of a blue and gold blanket, and was eventually renamed “Bill.” So began a long tradition and a series of goats that would suddenly find themselves thrust into the spotlight and showered with either praise or insults, depending on whether they brought the team wins or losses. Despite the public scrutiny, it was good to be Bill the Goat. One goat, Bill VIII, was provided with his own New York hotel room filled entirely with straw. If you see a goat in a lovely blue blanket at Navy games today, you’re looking at Bill XXXVII, unknowingly carrying the legacy of 36 Bills before.
Related: An Accidental Norwegian Goat Cheese Fire Burned For Days
Ralphie (Colorado-Boulder)
The University of Colorado is home to the Buffaloes. Surely, you might think, this can’t be where this is going. Yet, it is. Yes, the University of Colorado are the proud owners of Ralphie, a whole-ass buffalo that they charge around the field before games. Since 1966, a live buffalo has been part of the gameday experience up in Boulder. Unlike other mascots on this list, Ralphie isn’t kept in a cage or shielded from the public, but allowed to demonstrate every bit of her thundering glory, at least for a brief bit of time. She (female buffalo are less aggressive, which seems like small comfort) is led, all 1200 pounds of her, with a top speed of almost 25 miles per hour, by 5 student handlers, all of which I’m sure have signed a stack of waivers you could press a rose with.
Have a personal favorite real-life animal mascot? Longhorns fan who’s furious I left Bevo off the list? Sound off in the comments!
Top Image: Pexels/GetawayPaul27