Mascot history of Final Four teams in the NCAA Tournament

The Blue Devil, The Wildcat, Sparty and Bucky Badger. What is the mascot history of the Final Four teams in the NCAA Tournament?

Author:
Erick Fernandez
Publish date:
Apr 2, 2015

The NCAA tournament is down to the Final Four (Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State, Wisconsin) and as well known as these teams are for their basketball programs, they also all have rich mascot histories.

The Blue Devil. The Wildcat. Sparty. Bucky Badger.

How did these schools decide on their team nicknames and how did they get the inspiration for their current mascot costumes? Let's take a look.

Duke

The Blue Devils name was more adapted than outright selected by the school's administrators. As Duke's library notes, the then-The Trinity Chronicle (now named The Chronicle) student newspaper began referring to the athletic teams as the Blue Devils in October 1922. The nickname was inspired by the Chasseurs Alpins French infantry of soldiers during World War I. That infantry was given the nickname "les Diables Bleus," French for the Blue Devils.

The student newspapercontinued to use that nickname, and according to Duke, the name eventually caught on.

Duke began having costumed mascots a little less than a decade after. According to The Chronicle, the school mascot's made its debut in October 1929.

Through the years the costume eventually evolved from a "jumpsuit in the 1930s to a cape and Batman-style mask in the 1970s," the university says. The university has since modernized the Blue Devil look in the past 10 years.

Kentucky

Kentucky became associated with the Wildcats nickname back in the early 20th century. The university details how that happened back in 1909:

Commandant Carbusier, then head of the military department at old State University, told a group of students in a chapel service following the game that the Kentucky football team had "fought like Wildcats."

The university picked up the names for its athletic teams soon after.

Almost seven decades passed before Kentucky eventually adopted a costumed mascot, The Wildcat in the '76-77 school year.

Kentucky has added two more mascots since then. Scratch is the "more child-friendly mascot" per UK Athletics and Blue is a live bobcat in a nearby Wildlife center, but he won't ever be at the games.

Michigan State

March Madness: Ranking the Mascots in the Sweet 16

16 :: The Wildcat - Kentucky

At No. 16 is Kentucky, which is at an immediate disadvantage because of numerous wildcats in the NCAA and quite simply The Wildcat is not helping UK stand out. There are no glaring weaknesses but there is also nothing extraordinary and particularly unique either, thus sending him tumbling down the list. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

15 :: Boomer and Sooner - Oklahoma

Most folks can appreciate the simplicity of Boomer and Sooner but there’s just not enough here to warrant anything beyond a spot in the cellar, at No. 15. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

14 :: Mr. and Mrs. Wuf - NC State

Mr. and Mrs. Wuf present an interesting dilemma. Their costumes are excellent but they always appear unsure of themselves and Mr. Wuf bears too much of a resemblance to the Big Bad Wolf in Little Red Riding Hood. The two are an adorable couple but we need to see more before moving them higher than No. 14. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

13 :: Wilbur and Wilma Wildcat - Arizona

As is the case with Kentucky, Wilbur and Wilma Wildcat are at a serious disadvantage, but they recovered nicely with a couple unique features, including Wilbur’s hat and detailed facial features. The No. 13-ranked duo could still use a few tweaks to make them stand out a little more. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

12 :: Swoop - Utah

Swoop is a good mascot with great design, build and intimidation but it’s just too hard to ignore that an eagle has nothing to with the Utes. Yes, in today’s society it would be tough to dress someone up as a real Ute, therefore some leeway is given to Utah but not enough to move up from No. 12. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

11 :: Rameses - North Carolina

Rameses has a lot going for him, particularly in his lean body type and relentless attitude. He maintains a friendly demeanor but has imposing enough features to provoke a little fire. Our only two concerns: Are his horns too yellow and is the design too simple? (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

10 :: Joe and Josephine Bruin - UCLA

Our fourth power couple of the list, joining Oklahoma, North Carolina State and Arizona, Joe and Josephine Bruin are not wild party animals, nor do they come with anything especially shocking. However, their demeanor, build and moderate intimidation factor set the 10-ranked duo above the other couples. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

9 :: Cardinal Bird - Louisville

Bird mascots are dicey. They can either result in poorly constructed cartoonish designs or well-executed flashy fireballs. Louisville’s Cardinal Bird might not be a full fireball but he’s pretty close. His fierce demeanor is a perfect representation of a real cardinal and the wing flexibility is just gorgeous. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

8 :: Bucky Badger - Wisconsin

Bucky knows how to have a good time and the eight-ranked mascot has no problem gettin’ down and dirty to show how they do it in Madison. Another well-constructed mascot, Bucky maintains the deceptively sly and spooky presence of a real badger but could maybe use a little work in the weight room. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

7 :: The Blue Devil - Duke

The Blue Devil is jacked. He is plain ripped. We can deal with his superhero-like cape and mask because we’re too scared to question it. Overall, the seventh-ranked guy is witty, ambitious and presents a fantastic array of both fun and fear. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

6 :: The Leprechaun - Notre Dame

The Leprechaun is one the most recognizable mascots in all of sports, but does the human-like element help or hinder his argument? This element can completely destroy a mascot, but only if done inadequately and with unoriginal design (see Kansas State’s Willie the Wildcat). The Leprechaun is also one of the most enthusiastic mascots in college basketball, giving him instant credibility with fans of all ages, and a solid ranking at No. 6. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

5 :: Mountaineer - West Virginia

Although we have a handful of Mountaineers across D-I, D-II and D-III athletics, West Virginia boasts the most manly of them, using a burly student each year to depict the manliest of men. Using a human is really the only way to go with such a nickname and WVU nails it every year. Kudos for being No. 5. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

4 :: Spike - Gonzaga

One of the most underrated mascots in the field and entire country, Spike comes in hot at No. 4. He has one of the best mascot heads in the land and his perfect blend of wrinkles and moderate muscle tone make him an instant ladies man. Keep an eye on Spike if the Bulldogs are able to finally reach that elusive Final Four, as he could become an elite mascot very quickly. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

3 :: Wushock - Wichita State

There are zero other NCAA teams with the nickname Shockers, giving them an easy leg-up for mascot. Wushock is unique, whimsical and family-friendly while also displaying an adequate amount of intimidation. Do not change a thing. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

2 :: D'Artagnan - Xavier

Xavier has two mascots, D’Artagnan and the Blue Blob, but we’re ranking the former of the two, mostly because D’Artagnan is significantly superior. With a well-crafted costume, one that includes a meaty hat and luscious goatee, he is among the best mascots in the game, and No. 2 in this listing. His facial expression is spot-on while his build is adequately imposing but not over-the-top. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

1 :: Michigan State - Sparty

If Duke’s mascot will destroy you, then Sparty will somehow find a way to do something worse than destruction. The guy’s biceps rival those of LaRon Landry and his overall costume is just beautiful. He's No. 1 for a reason. (Text credit: Andrew S. Doughty/NextImpuseSports.com)

Like Duke, Michigan State's team name also was also adapted by a journalist and then accepted by the school. According to Michigan State athletics, they were "Aggies" before a 1925 contest selected the nickname, "The Michigan Staters." The athletics department says that the sports editor of the Lansing State Journal, George Alderton, believed that name "was too cumbersome for newspaper writing," so he went through other entries from the school's contest.

After coming across an entry that suggested the Spartans nickname, Alderton began inserting that new moniker in his articles and eventually in headlines. The Spartans caught on with the school and athletics department, and by 1926, the school took on the nickname.

The earliest versions of Sparty costumes were huge, papier-mache heads with Spartan helmets in the mid-1950s. Although other interpretations of Sparty surfaced over the next few decades, but Michigan State didn't have an official mascot costume until 1989. That full-body costumed featured Sparty with an extremely muscular frame, full-body armor and a Spartan helmet.

Michigan State officials say the current cost of Sparty's costume is $12,000.

Wisconsin

The Badger has been the official mascot for the university since 1889, according to UW Athletics. The university decided to keep the mascot relevant with Wisconsin, which is, after all, The Badger State.

After having a live badger mascot for some time, Wisconsin decided to err on the side of caution and go a different route.

In 1949, the Badgers' initial mascot costume was similar to that of Michigan St., a big papier-mache head.

A contest was later held to determine the mascot's name and Buckingham U. Badger ended up being the winner. The mascot has maintained that same name, but is more widely known as Bucky.

The costume went through modifications from just the papier-mache head to the full on costume after some time.

The mascot has become so popular that the school says it needs seven students to "meet all the various requests for Bucky Badger appearances." Even a documentary was made about the Bucky mascot experience.

With the tournament down to its final four teams, the battle on the court will determine the champion, and one of these historic mascots will be right in the middle of the celebration.