What Are the Top Ten College Team Mascots?

Which college mascots comprise the top ten list will be debated as long as college sports exist. Some mascots have been around since their college’s inception; others have only recently been introduced within the past few years. Each has its own story – some funny, others serious.

The following ten mascots make this list for their creativity, longevity, or because they simply represent a darn good team.

1. The Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech

The Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech is one of the few inanimate objects serving as a school mascot.
The first official Ramblin’ Wreck drove onto the field at the opening football game of the 1961 season, and was a 1930 Model A Ford Sport Coupe that had been restored.
The previous owner of the car had fixed it up and planned to give it to his son, but was convinced to sell it to the school for $1000.
The car joined the previous mascot, the Yellow Jacket, and now the two together form the official school mascot. At each home game it leads the football team onto the field.

2. The Notre Dame Leprechaun

The Notre Dame Leprechaun represents the Fighting Irish and became the school’s mascot in 1965.
Each year a student is selected through an audition process to dress as the mascot, and along with the varsity cheerleading squad, leads the football team out of the tunnel and onto the field.

3. Roc the Panther

A few hundred miles east, a student at the University of Pittsburgh also dresses as the school’s mascot.
Roc the Panther has been Pitt’s mascot since 1909, and was chosen in part because panthers had roamed the Pittsburgh area.
It is a school tradition that the identity of the student under the costume be kept a secret.

4. Nittany Lion

Pennsylvania’s other famous mascot is, of course, Penn State’s Nittany Lion.
Also based on the panthers of the area, it dates back to a 1904 baseball game against Princeton.
At the time Penn State did not have mascot, so a student invented one on the spot, saying that a “Nittany Lion” could easily beat the Bengal Tiger, Princeton’s mascot.
Penn State did indeed win, and the mascot stuck, becoming so popular that there was never a need to vote to make it official.

5. Sammy the Slug

Since 1986, Sammy the Slug has been the official mascot of the University of California at Santa Cruz.
However, the bright yellow banana slug was the unofficial mascot for years before that, since the school’s early days.
In 1980, the mascot was changed to a sea lion, something the chancellor thought to be more dignified.
The students hated the new mascot, however, and a banana slug movement continued for five years, until the sea lion was removed and the yellow slug officially restored to its rightful position.
Real banana slugs live in the redwood forests surrounding the campus.

6. The Florida Gaters

The Florida Gators are now represented by mascot Albert E. Gator, but old Al’s only been around since 1970.
Before that, a live alligator was the mascot – yikes!
Female Alberta joined Albert in 1986, and together they cheer on the football team. They separate to cheer on other sports throughout the year.

7. The Sooner Schooner

The Sooner Schooner is the official mascot of the University of Oklahoma. (How could a school with teams named the Sooners not make this list?)
The Schooner is a modified version of the Conestoga wagons that were used in the late 1800’s and referred to as “prairie schooners.”
“Sooners” referred to settlers who came into the Oklahoma territory before it was officially open for settlement.
The Schooner is pulled by two white ponies named Boomer and Sooner, and is driven onto the field after OU touchdowns.
Each year one new Schooner driver is chosen.

Numbers 8-10

Rounding out the list are more live animals:

The three Army Mules at West Point, named Raider, Ranger II, and General Scott
Bill the Goat at the U.S. Naval Academy (yes, a live goat)
Traveler, the majestic white horse at the University of Southern California

So, now you have a list of the top ten college team mascots... of course, this list is subjective and if your school or favorite isn't on here, feel free to make your own.