Sic 'em Bears - Athletics - Mascots

Mascots

Baylor’s mascot is the American black bear. The university has two live bears on campus named Joy and Lady. The school’s costumed mascot is named Bruiser.

Although Baylor began intercollegiate athletic competition in the 1890s, students didn’t elect the university’s mascot until 1914. The other two dozen nominees included the bald eagle and the bookworm. Three years later, the 107th Engineers, a U.S. Army troop stationed in Waco, gave Baylor its first live bear. After the troop left, the Baylor University Chamber of Commerce began caring for the animal. The organization still cares for the university’s live bears.

The university’s costumed mascot, Bruiser, was introduced at the beginning of the 1981-1982 basketball season. The mascot appears at football and basketball events, along with university pep rallies and community events. Bruiser also travels with the basketball team to games for the Big 12 Basketball Tournament, NIT and NCAA Tournaments.

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