The Big Ten has the best mascots, and the full ranking was done yesterday, but today, let's consider something the Big Ten doesn't have much of at all. In fact, if it wasn't for the Pac-12 and the schools that joined the Big Ten a few seasons ago, the conference wouldn't have any live mascots at all. While there have been some over the history of the Big Ten, there are only two currently part of the ongoing game-day traditions.
Let's look at both live mascots and dig into some history, and even suggest a couple of ideas for live mascots for the conference.
"Dubs" - The University of Washington
Washington may have the only official live mascot in the conference. The following one is more like a game-day tradition featuring a live animal, but for the sake of this article, we will count it. Dubs doesn't really have a moment in the stadium; he truly is like a normal mascot, where he patrols the sidelines, and fans take pictures with him.
"Dubs" is the latest version of the live mascot at Washington and the second Alaskan Malamute with the name, so technically the one on the sidelines is Dubs II. The live mascot dog on the sidelines goes back to the 1930s for Washington. The original dog was named "Frosty."
"Traveler" - University of Southern California (USC)
The second live mascot is a white horse named Traveler for USC. However, Traveler is less of a traditional mascot and more of a game-day tradition. The horse is part of a touchdown routine after USC scores. The horse runs around the field after a touchdown with a person dressed up as a Trojan.
Traveler, the horse mascot, goes back to 1961. It's obviously not the same horse throughout the whole time, but the tradition itself is that old. Before the 1960s, USC actually had a live dog on the sidelines too. Eventually, a horse with a Trojan warrior on its back made a lot more sense.
History of Big Ten live mascots
This isn't a complete history, but there were live mascots in the history of the Big Ten. Wisconsin has even had, at times, badgers on the sidelines. Also a raccoon? Michigan has had live wolverines: Bennie and Biff back in the 1920s. They even did dogs at one point too. Not much more in history has been done, though; get real ancient, and who knows. The 1920s were wild.
New traditions?
The Big Ten has decided to major on marching bands, fight songs, crowd traditions like Jump Around and White Out, and they also have the best costumed mascots. However, the conference could add a few more live mascots or other game-day traditions like USC does with Traveler. Or would you like to see this left to other conferences? Leave the Big Ten out of it?
The Hawkeyes could add a Hawk in one way or another. Turtle races at Maryland? Illinois could use something after canceling their mascot. Or Indiana, which has nothing going for it. Michigan could even add something back. Just some ideas.
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