The original Penn State mascot, dating back to 1904, was a live lion named "Chick." Chick was donated to the university by the Barnum and Bailey Circus and was kept on campus in a specially-built cage. However, due to various logistical and safety concerns, Chick was ultimately replaced as the official mascot by a costumed student in 1921. This student, Raymond "Bucky" Engel, wore a lion costume and entertained crowds at athletic events. In 1939, Penn State held a competition to design a more permanent mascot logo. The winning design was a stylized lion's head with the letters "PSU" incorporated into the design.
Old Coaly: The Mule Who Built Penn State
Sure, we’re all about the Nittany Lion here at Penn State. But before the stately Lion, we had Old Coaly, Penn State’s favorite mule, original mascot, and superstar construction worker.
The Lion Ambassador Source Book tells the story of Old Coaly’s journey to Penn State. Way back in 1857, Coaly made the trip from Kentucky to State College with his owner, Piersol Lytle. Lytle’s son, Andy, was a laborer working on Old Main and recruited the mule for help. Coaly spent long days at a stone quarry where Allen Street now is, carrying stones up to the construction site.
When construction ended after six years, the University decided to buy the mule they’d grown to love, paying $198 for its furry friend (the jury’s still out on whether or not that was the common price of mules in the 1800s). From there, Old Coaly became a symbol of Penn State pride. You could catch him around campus, snacking on grass or mowing the lawn. Back then, students were required to do manual labor as part of their tuition. Quickly, they became fast friends with the mule.
To the student body’s dismay, Coaly passed away of natural causes in 1893. His bones were immediately preserved and later put on display. When Penn State celebrated its 150th anniversary, Coaly’s bones were moved to the HUB, where they’re on display now. Let’s be honest, some of us (okay, I) thought they were dinosaur bones. But seriously, Old Coaly’s skeleton is there to remind students of his characteristics, ones that all Penn Staters should possess — strength, surefootedness, endurance, long service, and loyalty.
That’s not the only tribute to Coaly on campus — you can also spot a tribute to Coaly at Medlar Field, where a concession stand is called Coaly’s Corner. The College of Agriculture’s honorary society also bears the name of the legendary mule.
Yes, Coaly is in our memory, but some would say he’s even more present than that. A blog called Seeks Ghosts claims that Coaly’s ghost still roams campus. After Coaly’s bones were moved for the first time, students reported seeing a mule wandering around Watts Hall.
So, there you have it. The Nittany Lion is still No. 1 in our hearts, but Old Coaly is by far Penn State’s favorite mule. If Penn State were Pawnee, Old Coaly would be Lil Sebastian.
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Why your mascot sucks: Penn State University
The Mule arrived at State College in 1857 and assisted in construction, by hauling limestone blocks. Old Coaly was purchased for $190 once construction was completed.
He spent 30 years helping with landscaping and farming on campus from 1863-1893 and served as the school’s unofficial mascot of the school.
He was so loved by students, that Old Coaly’s skeleton is preserved and is still on display at the HUB-Robeson Center.
Eleven years later, the Nittany Lion began its tenure, serving as the official mascot at Penn State.
While most schools flip flop around and change their official mascot, PSU has stayed the course with its mascot of choice. The mascot originated in 1904, when Harrison D. “Joe” Mason, a baseball player for Penn State came up with the mascot on the spot, against Princeton.
Princeton showed Penn State a statue of Princeton’s Bengal Tiger, to show the merciless treatment they were about to encounter on the field.
Which is such a 1904 thing to do… look at this statue of our mascot, you’re in trouble.
Since Penn State was mascot-less, Mason was quick on his feet and shot back at the nerds from Princeton saying that their school’s mascot was the Nittany Lion, “the fiercest beast of them all,” who could overcome even the tiger.
I get it, my high school’s mascot was a Purgolder… made up big cats are the best, and obviously quite ferocious.
Coincidentally, the fake cat rebuttal worked and Penn State won the game.
As time went on, the Nittany Lion gained widespread support among students, alumni and fans and was adopted as the school’s mascot without an official vote.
Last I checked this was a democracy and not a mascotracy.
While the Nittany Lion is basically your run of the mill cougar, mountain lion, puma, panther, catamount or mountain screamer the ‘Nittany’ of its name comes from the Nittany Mountain, which is part of the Appalachian Mountain range, which is located partially in Pennsylvania.
The Mountain’s peak sits 2,077 feet above sea level and is 800 feet or more over the Nittany Valley.
Penn State University’s Park campus is located at the midway point of the Nittany Valley, which spans about 60 miles, four counties and is more than five miles wide.
The terrain is mostly farms and small towns, with the mountains on either side, which are densely forested.
The forested area is where mountain lions once roamed central Pennsylvania until the 1880s. However, there had been some unconfirmed sightings, long after that.
While there was no lion mascot public appearance until the 1920s, the school erected a pair of lion statues named ‘ma’ and ‘pa,’ that were placed on top of the columns at the university’s main entrance.
The school also had two stuffed lions that were placed in Rec Hall.
As you can see, it was. well. constructed.
The first public appearance for the lion mascot was in 1922, when Richard Hoffman, a student at the school, was chosen to wear an African lion suit to athletic events.
And obviously, it has to be an African lion costume. that is totally inter-changeable with a mountain lion. (that was sarcasm).
Hoffman was the perfect choice to wear the costume, as he played a lion in a production of “Androcles and the Lion.”
The lion’s name was Nittany Leo I, and the wearer was required to walk/crawl on all fours.
Just think of the grass stains. and all before Tide was introduced in 1946.
After a short break in the 1930s, the lion came back in 1940 and more closely resembled a mountain lion, however this was short-lived, as the African lion costume was back in 1960.
Once the school got over it’s indecisiveness, the lion returned to its mountain lion design in the 1980s and it has remained since then.
The winning design was a stylized lion's head with the letters "PSU" incorporated into the design. This logo, known as the "Nittany Lion" logo, has since become the iconic symbol of Penn State Athletics. Today, the Nittany Lion is a central figure in Penn State's sports culture.
Appearance
Ugh… where to start… I mean… it’s a dumpster fire.
I mean look at it.
While most mascots are human-like versions of the animal it represents, whether it be bull, a badger, a wildcat, or even a nut, the Nittany Lion isn’t a human-like Nittany Lion, by design, it’s a person, wearing a lion costume.
The suit is loose fit and far too baggy. What is this amateur hour?
The sleeves and gloves do not connect and it looks like it would be far too easy for the sleeve to roll up.
The head is decent, but the extra baggy flap of neck skin that hangs down, is just too much and looks awful.
Apart from looking rough, it also looks super creepy.
LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE!
And the scarf? My guess is the conversation went something along these lines:
“Well, the mascot needs to wear something that signifies PSU.”
“What about a shirt?”
“No, that would cover up too much of the burlap sack, we’re calling a costume.”
“Okay, how about a basketball jersey?”
“No, because then he can’t pull a “Winnie the Pooh,” and he would have to wear the shorts.”
“And that would be bad. ”
“Well, you clearly hate all of my ideas, what do you propose?”
Adjusts scarf, throwing it over his shoulder “A scarf!”
“Yes. It’s settled.”
As you can see, they didn’t have the best decision makers.
Whether it wears just a scarf, or any other article of clothing, it’s is guaranteed to haunt my dreams.
And to think, it’s in the Mascot Hall of Fame.
*Me sharing all of my evidence, showing that the Nittany Lion, shouldn’t be in the Mascot Hall of Fame*
The mascot, portrayed by a student dressed in a lion costume, attends athletic events, rallies, and other campus activities, generating school spirit and fostering a sense of pride among students and fans. The Nittany Lion is highly recognizable and has become a beloved symbol of Penn State's rich athletic history..
Reviews for "From Concept to Reality: The Creation of the Original Penn State Mascot"
1. John - 2 stars: The original Penn State mascot was a complete disappointment. The design was lackluster and didn't embody the energy and spirit of the school. It looked more like a generic cartoon character than a fierce representation of our beloved Nittany Lion. I was not impressed with the overall appearance and felt like it didn't do justice to the university's rich history and tradition.
2. Sarah - 1 star: As a proud Penn State alumna, I was expecting so much more from the original Penn State mascot. It was underwhelming and unoriginal, lacking any unique features or representation of our school's values. The design seemed rushed and uninspired, which was a letdown for all of us who were excited to have a mascot that truly embodied the spirit and pride of Penn State. I hope they take the feedback into consideration and come up with a better, more vibrant mascot in the future.
3. Michael - 2 stars: In my opinion, the original Penn State mascot was a missed opportunity. It lacked the charisma and charm that a mascot should have, especially for a prestigious university like Penn State. The design felt outdated and didn't capture the excitement and energy of our school's athletic programs. I believe there is immense potential for a great mascot that can bring the Penn State community together, but unfortunately, the original version fell short of those expectations.
4. Emily - 2 stars: The original Penn State mascot was a disappointment to me. It lacked the creativity and uniqueness that I was hoping for. It felt like a generic and generic-looking lion, without any distinguishing features or personality. Penn State deserves a mascot that truly reflects the passion and spirit of our university, and sadly, the original incarnation fell flat in that regard. I hope they reconsider their approach and come up with something more inspiring in the future.
5. David - 1 star: The original Penn State mascot was a huge letdown. It appeared more like a poorly drawn cartoon character than a fierce representation of our university's pride and tradition. The design lacked depth and creativity, giving a flat and uninspiring look. I was genuinely disappointed to see such a lackluster mascot representing our beloved Penn State. It may be time to rethink the design and come up with something that truly embodies the spirit of our university.