Timeout (mascot) - Transition To Costumed Mascot

Transition To Costumed Mascot

A live dog was brought to football games as the mascot for several decades, until the 1980s when the Bulldogs moved into a bigger stadium and became more successful. A costumed Bulldog was introduced in 1981, and was created by a student named Gary Johns. While Timeout has become a costumed mascot, there are still live bulldogs brought to the game. The costumed mascot, like those at other universities, has become a staple of the football experience, and will occasionally mock-fight the other mascot. A particularly memorable instance occurs when Fresno State plays the conference rival Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the annual Battle for the Bone.

In addition to being a costumed mascot, Timeout is also featured in other ways by the athletic department in promotions and contests. Timeout has been made into a bobblehead figure, sold in the Bulldog Shop on the campus of the university and provided in other promotions. Timeout is also used by the University as the information search engine for new students, in the feature "Ask Timeout".