The Rowdy UTSA mascot is a well-known and beloved symbol of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Rowdy represents the school's spirit and the enthusiastic support of its athletic teams. Since his introduction in 1980, Rowdy has become an integral part of UTSA's identity. Rowdy is a roadrunner, a bird native to the southwestern United States and known for its speed and agility. This choice of mascot is reflective of UTSA's location in San Antonio and its dedication to excellence in athletics. Rowdy's vibrant orange and blue color scheme further emphasizes UTSA's school spirit.

History of the UTSA Roadrunners Mascot

Meep, meep! The UTSA Roadrunners mascot is one of the most distinctive in all of college football, but what do you know about Rowdy the Roadrunner?

After winning consecutive Conference USA titles, the UTSA Roadrunners football team is heading to the American Athletic Conference for the 2023 college football season. Their recent success is well-documented, but what do you know about the history of an important part of the program’s tradition, the UTSA Roadrunners mascot? It’s time to take a trip. Meep, meep!

Rowdy's vibrant orange and blue color scheme further emphasizes UTSA's school spirit. Rowdy is often seen at various UTSA sporting events, rallying the crowds and energizing fans. He is famous for his energetic and entertaining performances, which include dancing, cheering, and interacting with the audience.

What Is the UTSA Roadrunners Mascot?

As the name suggests, the UTSA Roadrunners mascot is a…wait for it… roadrunner. However, don’t get the mascot confused with the cartoon Road Runner, who used to outfox Wile E. Coyote in Looney Tunes.

Rowdy the Roadrunner has been the face of the UTSA athletics program since 1977. His existence far predates the formulation of a college football program at the University of Texas-San Antonio. The now highly successful football program didn’t take to the field until the 2011 CFB season.

The Roadrunners mascot design is based on the Greater Roadrunner, with a scientific name that translates to the “Californian Earth-cuckoo.” While the UTSA logo and mascot costume has evolved since 1977, Rowdy has kept his name and distinctive orange and blue coloring that has become synonymous with the football program.

Like most mascots, Rowdy has his own unique personality. According to his UTSAcheer.com profile, the Roadrunners mascot has achieved a multitude of outstanding — completely made up for fun — accolades, some of which we’ve listed out for your entertainment below.

• In 1983, Rowdy won the World Series of Poker with a hand consisting of a Joker, two of clubs, seven of spades, a green number four UNO card, and a Get Out of Jail Free Monopoly card.
• In 2011, he was cast as ABC’s next Bachelor, but due to his commitments as the UTSA Roadrunners mascot in their first college football season, Rowdy was forced to decline.
• Rowdy firmly believes that Rome would have been built in a day if they had followed his blueprints correctly.
• Rowdy once narrowly won a staring competition against his own reflection.
• The UTSA Roadrunners mascot was once voted more popular than the Kardashians.

As you can see, the UTSA mascot truly puts the fun into football, and that’s what college football is meant to be, right? Buried in amongst the never-ending arguments about NIL and the transfer portal, once you remove the competitive element of winning a national or conference title, the game is meant to be fun.

Rowdy the Roadrunner certainly adds that element.

Why Is the UTSA Mascot a Roadrunner?

Rowdy is undeniably one of the most fun and distinctive mascots in college football. However, why is the mascot for the program a roadrunner in the first place? What if we told you that, in 1977, they were nearly the UTSA Armadillos or the less imaginative UTSA Stars?

Well, that was nearly the case.

When it was decided that the program needed a mascot in 1977, it was put to a student vote to decide the name and nature of the unique identity of the university. According to documents released in 1987, there were over 50 potential suggestions.

Those were narrowed down to nine and put to a student vote in November 1977. Eagle, el conquistador, jaguar, puma, roadrunner, toro, and vaquero, were all cast aside, leaving the armadillos and stars as the top two contenders.

A 1977 sketch shows a ferocious-looking armadillo, complete with green eyes and sharpened claws, that was used as campaign material for supporters of the animal that many considered to be symbolic of the area of Texas hill country that UTSA called home.

Meanwhile, in a sentiment that was well before its time, Athletic Director Rudy Davalos argued that the star was a suitable mascot given that it “is neither masculine or feminine and equally can represent men and women athletes.”

Both arguments were declared moot when the Student Representative Assembly deemed the original vote void, and following a new ballot, the roadrunner defeated the armadillo to become the face of UTSA athletics forever more.

UTSA Mascot Tryouts

Rowdy the Roadrunner is a well-know figure not just on the UTSA campus but across the city of San Antonio. The Rowdy team makes appearances at many of UTSA athletic’s sporting events as well as UTSA events on and off campus as well as private events across the state of Texas. Additionally, the expectation of our mascot team is to compete in one national mascot competition every year and to be available to be for UTSA Cheer routines. We are looking for current UTSA students who are UTSA fanatics, able to work in a team, commit to learning as well as commit to fulfilling their duties as a Division 1 mascot.

UTSA Cheer will be holding tryouts this summer open to all current UTSA students and incoming freshmen to be the next Roadrunners mascot! We are currently accepting applications and are due on June 1, 2022. Tryout options will be either held in-person at UTSA’s Historic Convocation Center or virtually via video submission all on June 14, 2022. UTSA Cheer Head Coach, along with a mascot team member will hold a informational Zoom meeting on June 7, 2022 at 12:00pm for those interested in trying out.

• Professional
• Punctual
• Creative
• Team oriented
• Energetic/Enthusiastic
• Approachable
• Committed

• Must be an enrolled UTSA student
• Be enrolled in no less than 12 credit hours per semester (full-time)
• Maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA
• Must be in good physical shape
• Must be available for all UTSA home football games.

• Must maintain an equal commitment to both academic responsibilities and responsibilities as the mascot.
• Commit to an equally distributed amount of appearances and sporting events.
• Work well in a team environment.
• Preserve the identity of our mascot without deviating from established character including:
  • Body language/mannerisms
  • Communicating and expressing yourself non-verbally

  Raucous, Rambunctious, & Rowdy: A History of UTSA’s Mascot

  On June 5, 1969, the University of Texas at San Antonio was officially formed when Governor Preston Smith signed House Bill 42 in front of the Alamo. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of this momentous occasion, the University is spending the duration of 2019 reflecting on its history and celebrating this milestone.

  Special Collections has joined in the festivities with an exhibit curated by Kristin Law, University Archivist, and myself, currently on display outside the Special Collections reading room in the John Peace Library. Our quest: to find out how UTSA’s mascot eventually morphed into Rowdy the Roadrunner whom we all know today. Tackling this topic meant taking on five decades worth of University publications in the University Archives to search for clues. The results of our investigation are highlighted below, with more extensive coverage in the exhibit itself.

  The first section of the exhibit, Dillos vs Stars , tells the story of initial debates in the late 1970’s over what symbol would best represent the University. By the fall semester of 1977, the SRA (Student Representative Assembly, the precursor to the Student Government Association) was organizing an election for the future mascot of UTSA. By November of that year, the ballot was narrowed down via student vote to the top nine contenders: armadillo, eagle, el conquistador, jaguar, puma, roadrunner, star, toro, and vaquero.

  UTSA Dillos poster (reproduction), 1977. University Artifacts and Memorabilia Collection, UA 98.

  The armadillos (also known as Dillos) and stars won the election, knocking the roadrunner from the running. However, the SRA declared the November election void because of failure to adhere to the election rules. A new election was held and on December 12, 1977; the winning UTSA mascot was announced at a bonfire rally on Main Campus. The roadrunner emerged victorious.

  With President James Wagener, November 20, 1981.

  During a UTSA Men’s basketball game against NTSU (North Texas State University, now University of North Texas), January 14, 1984.

  Heading to a pep rally organized by Student Activities, November 11, 1987.

  The exhibit then delves into the various iterations of the roadrunner’s look with The First Roadrunner Mascot . The first mascot and cheerleading squad tryouts were held in the fall of 1981, following the University’s announcement the previous year to join intercollegiate athletics. Antonio Gonzalez III, a senior majoring in Business Management, was chosen to be the first Roadrunner Mascot.

  The Roadrunner Mascot made his first appearance

  The Roadrunner Hatches features the mascot’s first-ever appearance at a pep rally to celebrate the kickoff of the University’s inaugural basketball season on November 24, 1981.

  “I got in the egg before the game started,” Antonio Gonzalez recalled. He remembers hoping he would pop out of the egg at the right time and how gratifying it was for fans to see their first game, complete with a mascot. “It was hot,” he said of the costume. “But I was so excited about being out on the floor that it didn’t really matter.”

  When did he become Rowdy? Next, the exhibit explores when the Roadrunner officially became known as Rowdy. This question ended up being difficult to answer explicitly, but we found a general timeline encompassing the transition.

  A March 1984 article in The Roadrunner newsletter advertised upcoming cheerleader and mascot tryouts. “Raucous, rambunctious rowdies” were sought to encourage “Roadrunner Rage.” Clearly “rowdy” was a desired attribute for UTSA spirit leaders. The first documented use of the name Rowdy (that we could find) is in a January 22, 1992 article in The Roadrunner newsletter.

  Rowdy waving a UTSA flag at the Howdy Rowdy Bash, October 2009.

  The exhibit closes with an exploration of Roadrunner Pride showcased by a variety of novelty items created to express school pride. Donated to the University Archives by former faculty and staff members, these objects (such as metal statues and a megaphone) illustrate different incarnations of the roadrunner from the first two decades of UTSA.

  All materials for this exhibit are from the University Archives, which is a part of UTSA Libraries Special Collections. All photographs are from UTSA: Office of University Communications Photographs.

  

  Rowdy's presence at games creates a lively atmosphere and fosters a sense of community among UTSA students, faculty, and alumni. In addition to his game-day appearances, Rowdy is involved in various community events and outreach programs. He visits local schools, charity events, and campus activities, spreading UTSA's spirit and promoting the university's values of inclusivity and excellence. Rowdy is more than just a mascot; he represents the values and aspirations of the UTSA community. While Rowdy is primarily known for his vibrant and joyful persona, he also symbolizes UTSA's competitive spirit and drive for success. He exemplifies the university's dedication to athletics and the pursuit of excellence. Rowdy's presence at games and events not only supports the teams but also serves as a reminder of UTSA's commitment to sportsmanship, teamwork, and determination. Overall, Rowdy is an important and cherished figure at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Through his energetic performances, community engagement, and representation of school spirit, Rowdy embodies the essence of UTSA's identity and fosters a strong sense of pride among the university community..

  Reviews for "Rowdy's Secret Moves: UTSA Mascot's Dance and Cheer Routine"

  1. Lily - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Rowdy UTSA mascot. First of all, the costume looked worn out and old. It didn't have any of the energy or enthusiasm that you would expect from a mascot. Additionally, the performance was lackluster. The mascot barely interacted with the crowd and didn't seem to be enjoying themselves at all. Overall, it was a letdown and I wouldn't recommend the Rowdy UTSA mascot to anyone.

  2. Max - 1 star - The Rowdy UTSA mascot was a total flop. Not only was the costume outdated and unappealing, but the person inside the costume didn't seem to know how to properly animate the character. It was a really awkward and uncomfortable experience watching them stumble around, barely engaging with the crowd. The mascot is supposed to bring excitement and spirit to the event, but this one just left me cringing and wishing they would disappear. Definitely not a mascot I would want representing my university.

  3. Sarah - 2 stars - As an alumni of UTSA, I was embarrassed by the lackluster performance of the Rowdy mascot. It felt like the person inside the costume had no passion or energy. They barely did any interactive moves or engaged with the audience. The overall appearance of the mascot was also unimpressive, as it looked worn out and outdated. It's a shame that such an important symbol of school spirit and pride didn't deliver.

  4. Tyler - 1 star - The Rowdy UTSA mascot was a huge letdown. The costume looked cheap and poorly made, and the person inside it didn't even attempt to bring the character to life. They were stiff and unenthusiastic, and it made the whole experience feel lackluster and unexciting. It's really disappointing when the mascot is supposed to be the embodiment of school spirit, but this one just fell flat. I hope that UTSA invests in a better mascot in the future.

  Cracking the Case of Rowdy: Understanding the UTSA Mascot