The Baylor mascot name has been a topic of discussion and controversy for many years. The original mascot name for Baylor University was the "Bears," chosen because of the prominent bear population in the surrounding area. However, in recent times, there have been calls to change the mascot name due to concerns of cultural appropriation and insensitivity. Some individuals believe that using the name "Bears" is an appropriate representation of the fierce and strong characteristics associated with the animal. They argue that the name reflects the university's values of strength, courage, and resilience. On the other hand, others argue that the use of the "Bears" mascot name is an example of cultural appropriation.
Baylor Bear Mascots
Another responsibility of the Chamber has been the maintenance of the bear mascots. The first bears were given to the University in 1917, and the Chamber assumed responsibility for them soon afterwards.
The Bear Pit, the greatest physical evidence of the work of the Chamber on the Baylor campus, has undergone a series of renovations. In 1949 and 1953, little cages were added. It was also in 1953 that a special trailer was purchased to transport the mascot to the games. In 1962, another new cage was added to accommodate the growing mascot population.
In 1950, Mrs. Essie Forrester O'Brien wrote a history of the bear mascots since 1914, when the idea of a mascot was first proposed. Sponsored and distributed by the Chamber, The Baylor Bear Mascots chronicled the first live bears, as well as the early trainers. The proceeds of this book were applied to the Chamber's pledge for the stadium fund. In 1969, the pit was again remodeled and the book was revised by Mrs. O'Brien. This time, the proceeds were earmarked for the permanent fund established to maintain the mascots.
The year 1976 marked a complete renovation of the Bear Pit area, as well as the renaming of the area as the Steve Hudson Memorial Bear Plaza.
The current habitat, The Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat, was opened in 2005 and includes many features that make that space more natural for the bears. Features include a waterfall, river, caves, as well as a spacious indoor facility where the bears can spend their nights.
Current Mascots -
- Judge Sue "Lady" Sloan (for Baylor's former first lady Sue Sloan, who is the wife of Dr. Robert Sloan, the 12th President of Baylor)
- Judge Indy (for Independence, Texas. The birthplace of Baylor University)
- Judge Belle (for the McLane Carillon bells – housed in the iconic tower of Pat Neff Hall)
Why Your Mascot Sucks: Baylor University
Just like most universities, Baylor began its foray into collegiate sports mascot-less. Finally in 1914, George Baines Rosborough, a former student proposed that the school should hold a contest to give the university a mascot. He wanted them to have a mascot “around which to wreathe the sentiment of the school in poems and songs and yells, and in college customs which add so much to college life.”
Whatever that means.
The schools received 24 entries for the contest and when it held its vote, 206 of the 406 ballots cast came back with bear as the chosen mascot.
In 1917 U.S. Army troops came to Waco, Texas following the creation of Camp MacArthur. Members of the 107th Engineers of the Army’s 32nd Division were stationed at the camp and acquired a live bear as their mascot.
During a Baylor football game in Nov. 1917, the Engineers decided to bring their bear to the stadium with them, which the first time a bear attended a Baylor event. Or so they thought. security mistook these two for fans in 1916.
The Engineers later donated their bear to Baylor in 1918 (probably because it was a f***ing bear and had no place on an Army base).
As time has gone on, Baylor has had a number of bears on campus and living at near-by zoos, which have appeared at football games. One, even lived in a student’s backyard and shockingly got too big to live in a backyard.
No one EVER saw that coming.
And what’s the worst that could happen with a bear in a stadium?
Today, the Bill & Eva Williams Bear Habitat, which was dedicated during Homecoming in 2005, stands on campus in Hudson Plaza. The habitat provides natural landscaping with room for the bears to roam and it is licensed as by the USDA as a Class C Zoo.
C’s get degrees and Baylor knows all about that. ranked No. 76 in the nation, academically.
Who thinks they’re going to lose to Wisconsin?
Judge Joy Reynolds and Judge Sue “Lady” Sloan are the names of the bears that currently live on campus, who were named after the former university first ladies. The pair are biological sisters born in 2001 and 2002. They have been on campus since they were cubs and will likely live out the rest of their lives there.
Apart from the pair of live bears on campus, Baylor also has a pair of costumed bears as well. Baylor first introduced a costumed bear in 1981 and their bears have seen a lot of changes over the years.
And just as time has advanced, so has the mascot’s design. Baylor has used the bear above in the 1980, then moved to on a green bear in the mid 1990s, then back to a brown bear in the early 2000s, even having the bear ride a motorcycle to match interests of then football head coach, Guy Morriss.
The schools has even used an inflatable mascot, named Judge, after one of the earlier live bears that the school featured.
His strengths were being adorable and being very flexible, while his weeknesses were sharp edges.
The current design, named Bruiser was introduced in the late 2000s. Bruiser can be seen roaming the sidelines and stands at Baylor games, wearing a Baylor uniform. The detail used in Bruiser is great, featuring a full mouth of teeth and green eyes.
While bears are typically seen as a menacing beast, I think that the design of Bruiser should lean a bit more away from menacing and should focus more on being a more kid-friendly bear.
In 2017, the school decided to introduce Marigold, which would become Bruiser’s partner.
Marigold has a headband of flowers.. wait. are those marigolds. Those creative bastards! Like Bruiser, she features an open mouth, with a full set of teeth, but her canines are much smaller than her partners.
I think this is the wrong move, bears have sharp teeth, just because she is a female, doesn’t mean they should fully lean into the femininity of her design. c’mon Baylor it’s 2021. She has the headband, what more do you want from her?
And I have to be honest, I really prefer the first mascot to the current design. The lush fur, the detailing the face. it looks like a real bear! A few updates, maybe to the paws and that would be a great bear mascot, in this day and age.
Normally you see schools refine their design as time goes by and they make leaps and bounds in their designs, but Baylor seems to have hit the nail right on the head in the 1980s.
On the other hand, others argue that the use of the "Bears" mascot name is an example of cultural appropriation. They believe that using indigenous animal names as mascot names demonstrates a lack of respect for Native American cultures and reinforces harmful stereotypes. They call for a more inclusive and culturally sensitive approach in choosing a mascot name that does not offend or marginalize any group.
More From Bucky's 5th Quarter
- Badgers QB Myles Burkett enters transfer portal
- Badgers 2025 four-star safety target to announce decision Friday
- Three offensive players earn All-Big Ten honors for the Badgers
- BREAKING: Badgers land commitment from 2024 safety
- Badgers center becomes first to enter transfer portal
- BREAKING: Badgers land commitment from top 2025 LB target
History of the Baylor Bears Mascot
From the adoption of a name to the adoption of a live animal, the history of the Baylor Bears mascot is one of the most extraordinary in all of football.
April 6, 2023 April 6, 2023While the on-field traditions have changed in recent years, there’s a rich heritage behind the Baylor Bears mascot that goes beyond the normal adoration of the face of college football pageantry and strikes at the heartstrings of anyone associated with the program.
In response to these concerns, Baylor University formed a task force to evaluate the use of the "Bears" mascot name. The task force consisted of students, faculty, staff, and alumni who conducted research, gathered feedback, and engaged in extensive discussions. After months of deliberation, the task force recommended that Baylor retain the "Bears" as the official mascot name. The decision to keep the "Bears" mascot name was not without controversy. While some individuals supported the task force's recommendation, others felt that it did not adequately address the concerns raised about cultural appropriation. They argued that Baylor should have taken a more proactive and inclusive approach in selecting a new mascot name that better represents the diverse community and values of the university. In conclusion, the Baylor mascot name has been the subject of ongoing debate and discussion. While some believe that the "Bears" mascot name is an appropriate symbol of strength and resilience, others argue that it is an example of cultural appropriation. The university's decision to retain the "Bears" mascot name has been met with both support and criticism, highlighting the complexities surrounding mascot names and their impact on cultural sensitivity and inclusion..
Reviews for "Choosing the Perfect Mascot Name for Baylor: An Inside Look at the Selection Process"
1. John - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really disappointed with the new Baylor mascot name. It just doesn't capture the spirit of our university at all. I was expecting something strong and fearless, but instead, we got a name that sounds more like a cartoon character. It's just not representative of the proud athletic tradition we have here at Baylor. I hope they reconsider and come up with something more fitting in the future.
2. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars - As an alumna of Baylor, I am extremely let down by the new mascot name. It lacks the prestige and tradition that our university deserves. The name doesn't inspire any sense of loyalty or pride, and it feels like a poor attempt to appeal to a younger demographic. It's a shame to see Baylor watering down its image with such a weak mascot name.
3. Michael - 2 out of 5 stars - The new Baylor mascot name is a disappointment. It feels like the university is trying too hard to be trendy and modern, but it comes off as forced and inauthentic. I was hoping for a name that would reflect the rich history and values of Baylor, but instead, we got something that feels generic and uninspired. I hope the university reconsiders and chooses a more fitting name that resonates with the Baylor community.
4. Jessica - 3 out of 5 stars - While I understand the intention behind the new Baylor mascot name, I can't say that I'm completely sold on it. It's a playful and lighthearted name, but it lacks the fierce and determined connotations that I would associate with a university mascot. I appreciate the effort to appeal to a wide audience, but I think they missed the mark on this one. Overall, it's a decent choice, but I was expecting more from the university.
5. David - 2 out of 5 stars - I have to say, I'm a little underwhelmed by the new Baylor mascot name. It feels too safe and predictable. I was hoping for something that would really capture the essence of what Baylor stands for. This name just feels like a missed opportunity to create a memorable and powerful mascot identity. I hope the university reconsiders and chooses a more inspired name in the future.