The Mississippi state mascot, known as Bully the Bulldog, is a beloved symbol of the university and the state as a whole. Bully has been the official live mascot of Mississippi State University since 1935, and serves as a rallying point for fans, students, and alumni alike. The tradition of having a live bulldog as the university's mascot began when the dean of men, T.K. Martin, brought a bulldog named "Ptolemy" to campus in 1935. Ptolemy quickly became a beloved figure on campus and was officially named the university's mascot.
Meet MSU’s newest mascot ‘Dak’ (Bully XXII) during SBW
STARKVILLE, Miss.—The 2023 edition of Super Bulldog Weekend at Mississippi State University will be highlighted by Dak running onto the field at Davis Wade Stadium for a halftime ceremony in his honor.
To be clear, the “Dak” referenced is formally known as Bully XXII, the new live English Bulldog official mascot of Mississippi State University. Named after beloved former MSU and current Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, “Dak” is of royal Bulldog bloodlines, from the long and historic lineage of past MSU live mascots including “Tonka” (Bully XIX) and “Champ” (Bully XX).
The English Bulldog has been the live mascot of MSU since 1935, when “Ptolemy” or “Tol” first captured the hearts of State fans after Head Football Coach Major Ralph Sasse acquired “Tol” from a Memphis family. “Dak,” born March 1, 2021, and owned by Julie and Bruce Martin of Meridian, succeeds “Jak” (Bully XXI) and will officially assume his duties at halftime of the Spring Game with an on-field “passing of the harness” and blessing ceremony. “Jak” will serve as mascot in the first half and then after the halftime ceremony, “Dak” will serve as mascot from that point forward.
The Martins are longtime, generous supporters of MSU and are proud of “Dak’s” designation as Bully XXII and even prouder to be the lucky dog’s family. “Jak” will return to the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine after the ceremony and continue to live an incredibly happy dog’s life.
As “Jak” enters retirement, “Dak” enters a new and exciting life as the face of MSU and will earn a special place – as have his predecessors – in the hearts and memories of MSU fans. While he will make frequent trips to Starkville with his family, “Dak” will continue to live in his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi, on the Martins’ farm.
“We love sharing ‘Dak’ with MSU’s fans and friends, but we likewise want him to have some quiet time to rest and spend time with us,” said Bruce Martin. “We are committed to giving ‘Dak’ a balanced, happy life – and for him to enjoy his time as Bully.”
In 2021, representatives of Mississippi State University began their search for the successor of “Jak.” Soon after the search ensued, it became clear that “Dak” is the essence of MSU. He was the smallest of his litter, but Dak’s determination and perseverance despite the odds led to his selection as the future live mascot of Mississippi State.
Whether roaming the sidelines at Davis Wade Stadium, soaking in the sights and sounds at The Dude, or guarding the baseline at The Hump, “Dak” looks forward to looking out onto the sea of maroon and white for MSU sporting events, living out any Bulldog’s dream. He is proud to represent Mississippi State University and one of the Bulldogs’ greatest football players by continuing one of MSU’s greatest traditions.
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Wednesday, March 22, 2023 - 10:56 am
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"Bully" The Bulldog
Mississippi State University athletic teams are called Bulldogs, a name earned and maintained over the decades by the tough, tenacious play of student-athletes wearing the Maroon and White. The official school mascot is an American Kennel Club registered English Bulldog, given the inherited title of 'Bully'.
As with most universities, State teams answered to different nicknames through the years. The first squads representing Mississippi A&M College were proud to be called Aggies, and when the school officially became Mississippi State College in 1932 the nickname Maroons, for State's uniform color, gained prominence. Bulldogs became the official title for State teams in 1961, not long after State College was granted university status. Yet references to school teams and athletes as Bulldogs actually go back to early in the century, and this nickname was used almost interchangeably with both Aggies and Maroons, since at least 1905.
On November 30 of that year the A&M football team shut out their arch-rivals from the University of Mississippi 11-0 in Jackson, Miss. The campus newspaper, The Reflector, reported: "After the game, filled with that emotion that accompanies every great victory, there was nothing left for the cadets to do but to complete the great victory by showing sympathy for the dead athletic spirit of the University, by having a military funeral parade.
"A coffin was secured, decorated with University colors and a bulldog pup placed on top. It was then placed on the shoulders of a dozen cadets, and the procession started down Capitol Street, preceded by the brass band playing a very pathetic funeral march."
Other newspaper reports of the victory commented on the 'bulldog' style of play by the A&M eleven, and the Bulldog was soon publicly accepted as a school athletic symbol. Accounts of a 1926 pep rally in Meridian, Miss., had another bulldog parading with students.
Use as an official game mascot began in 1935 when coach Major Ralph Sasse, on 'orders' from his team, went to Memphis, Tenn., to select a bulldog. Ptolemy, a gift of the Edgar Webster family, was chosen and the Bulldogs promptly defeated Alabama 20-7.
A litter-mate of Ptolemy became the first mascot called 'Bully' shortly after Sasse's team beat mighty Army 13-7 at West Point that same year, perhaps the greatest victory in MSU football history. But Bully I earned other fame the hard way, in 1939 when a campus bus cut short his career.
Days of campus mourning followed, as Bully lay in state in a glass coffin. A half-mile funeral procession accompanied by The Famous Maroon Band and three ROTC battalions went to Scott Field where Bully was buried under the bench at the 50-yard line. Even LIFE Magazine covered to the event. Other Bullys have since been buried by campus dorms, fraternity houses, and also at the football stadium.
For years Bully was a target for kidnappers, the last incident occurring prior to the 1974 State-Ole Miss game. The Bulldog team won anyway, 31-13. While early Bullys once roamed campus freely or lived in fraternities, today the official university mascot is housed at the College of Veterinary Medicine when not on duty at State home football games. For all their fierce appearance and reputation, today's mascot bulldogs are good-natured, friendly animals and favorites with children.
A student wearing a Bulldog suit, also answering to Bully, is part of the MSU cheerleading team and assists in stirring up State spirit at games and pep rallies.
Mississippi State names their newest Bulldogs mascot after Dak Prescott
Dak is the 22nd dog to take the reins as the Mississippi State Bulldogs mascot.
Dak was introduced as the 22nd mascot in the history of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Twitter: @BullyXXII
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T he Mississippi State Bulldogs have a new mascot and they've named it Dak, in honor of the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Dak Prescott, who played there a couple of years ago while he was in college, prior to being a star in the NFL.
Ptolemy quickly became a beloved figure on campus and was officially named the university's mascot. Since then, there have been several bulldogs that have served as Bully, with each one holding the prestigious position for several years before retiring. The selection process for the next Bully is rigorous, with the university's Alumni Association overseeing the process.
Dak is Bully XXII for the Mississippi State Bulldogs
Dak is formally known as Bully XXII, as he's taking over Jak, who was the 21st English Bulldog to be the school's mascot, with the official "passing of the harness," being scheduled for a spring game on April 15, with a ceremony being planned for halftime.
He was born on March 1, 2021 and comes from a bloodline of past MSU mascots, like Tonka and Champ, Bully XIX and Bully XX respectively.
His owners are Bruce and Julie Martin from Meridian.
- NCAAF - English
- Dallas Cowboys - English
- Dak Prescott - English
- NFL - English
Mississippi State University - Bully
Hail State! Maroon and white, fight fight fight! How cute is our version of Bully? We worked hard to recreate the official mascot of Mississippi State to ensure even the youngest fan would fall in love with the Bulldogs! The only thing he needs is more cowbell!
The current "Bully" mascot is named Jak in honor of long-time radio voice Jack Cristil. He is the 21st English Bulldog to serve as the official mascot of Mississippi State University.
Every crowd will applaud for Gamezies! Designed thoughtfully and with safety top of mind, our plush mascots are CPSIA safety standard tested, BPA free and the easy to attach pacifiers are made with medical-grade, latex-free silicone. They are also ASTM tested to ensure durability and strength.
The plush mascots are the perfect size for your little ones to hold. We’ve all been there when a pacifier has been dropped, misplaced or just lost for good. The attached plush toy is easy to spot and is the perfect replica of your favorite college mascot. Created specifically in each mascot’s likeness, the lightweight design and soft fabric makes it the perfect cuddle toy for your baby.
Each mascot is removable with a clip on, clip off feature, enabling you to change out the pacifier, mascot or even the function of the product. Once you’ve retired your baby from a pacifier, you can clip the Gamezies mascot onto a keychain or backpack or just use it as a forever toy or even a Christmas ornament.
We know you’re busy so we’ve made our products easy to clean. For best results, follow the below instructions.
Plush toy: wash plush product in cold water on the gentle cycle in a linen bag. Use low tumble or air dry for the best results.
Pacifier: wash gently with warm water and soap.Pacifier is recommended for newborns and/or babies without teeth and is not recommended for teething. The plush product is great for all ages! Measures 6.5" L x 4" W. Imported.
We are passionate about our customers, families and teams. Safety is incredibly important to us as we created Gamezies for our own little ones, friends and family.
Each Gamezies product is created in accordance with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and is pull tested. By using the highest level of materials, we ensure our products meet our own safety levels and all applicable standards. All products are thoroughly safety tested and are free of chemicals such as BPA, lead and Phthalates. The easy to attach pacifiers are made with medical-grade, latex-free silicone.
For more information on general safety, review the below resources:
Pacifier safety – American Academy of Pediatrics
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Bully plays a prominent role at Mississippi State athletic events, often leading the teams onto the field before games and interacting with fans throughout. The crowd always cheers for Bully, and he has become a symbol of pride and tradition for Mississippi State. In addition to his role at sporting events, Bully also makes appearances at various university functions, community events, and public rallies. He is a beloved figure in the community and provides much entertainment and joy to everyone he encounters. Bully is a symbol of the university's dedication to athletics, school spirit, and tradition. He embodies the fighting spirit and determination of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, and his presence adds excitement and energy to any event he attends. In conclusion, Bully the Bulldog is an iconic figure at Mississippi State University and represents the pride and spirit of the university and the state of Mississippi. With a rich history and a legacy of excellence, Bully is more than just a mascot - he is a symbol of unity and a cherished part of the Mississippi State community..
Reviews for "The Mississippi State Mascot: More Than Just a Symbol, a True Teammate"
- John - 1/5: I was really disappointed with the Mississippi State Mascot. I found it to be uninspiring and lacking in creativity. The design was generic and did not capture the essence of Mississippi or its culture. I expected more from a university that prides itself on its sports teams. Overall, it left me feeling underwhelmed and unimpressed.
- Sarah - 2/5: The Mississippi State Mascot just didn't resonate with me. It felt outdated and cliché. The choice of a bulldog as the mascot is unoriginal and many other universities have similar mascots. I was hoping for something unique and representative of the state's history and identity. Unfortunately, this mascot missed the mark for me.
- Michael - 2/5: As a dedicated sports fan, I was highly disappointed with the Mississippi State Mascot. It lacked energy and enthusiasm, failing to rally the crowd or create a sense of excitement during games. The design was forgettable and did not stand out among other mascots. It simply did not bring anything new or engaging to the table, leaving me feeling unenthusiastic about supporting the team.