Breathitt County High School - Mascot, School Colors, and School (fight) Song

Mascot, School Colors, and School (fight) Song

In the early days, Breathitt County High School's mascot was preferably known as the "Owls". It wasn't until the mid 1930's, just before the move to Jackson, they changed from Owls to the Bobcats. It has been allegedly said that the current mascot of "Bobcats" was adopted due to during after school time and after a basketball game they (ball players) would go to the store just down the hill in Quicksand and most players would buy Bobcat Candy. This was a popular brand of candy or candy bar in the community at the time. It, eventually, stuck with the team and seemed to have a more intimidating sound than "Owls". And, would be adopted by the school as the official mascot.

Just like the mascot, the school colors are not the same as they were when the school was founded. In the beginning the school colors were purple and gold. Supposedly, they were "borrowed" from the neighboring high school and rival Jackson City School. But, the colors were only kept for a couple of years and were changed to red, white, and blue. Eventually (around the early 1930s), the red was dropped and the primary colors were just royal blue and white. The fact that they are royal blue and white instead of just blue and white was probably due to the rise of the University of Kentucky men's basketball program and Coach Adolph Rupp. Other variances that are still used include: LadyCats or Lady Bobcats, BatCats, VolleyCats, and Cats. There have been other variances that have been used and since been dropped like those of the sport at the front with "Cats" at the end. i.e. TrackCats or GolfCats. Most clubs/sports have been dropped and just use Bobcats or LadyCats. The only exception is that sometimes of Baseball (BatCats) and Volleyball (VolleyCats).

The School Song, sometimes called the Fight Song, is based on the University of Notre Dame's School Song. The melody is exactly the same as main melody of Notre Dame's School Song. The lyrics, of course, are not the same. It is uncertain who exactly came up with the lyrics or what year they were written. It's possible they were written in the 1930s or 1940s when basketball at the high school was rising in interest.

The lyrics go as follows:

We are the Bobcats of Breathitt High!

We are the fellows who do or die!

Let our Blue and White fly high,

all other colors we'll pass by!

O' Alma Mater, we'll praise your name,

we'll always keep your honor the same!

As we in our lives go marching onward to victory!

B! O! B! C! A! T! S! Bobcats, Bobcats, Go Bobcats!!!