Getting help ranking the Big Ten mascots
I’ve never really cared about mascots. I was always more interested in what was taking place on the field than the guy in a knockoff Disney World costume telling me to get fired up for the defense or doing pushups after every score. I’m trying to watch a football game. Could you please stop trying to distract me? I don’t want to have to focus on two things at once, so I simply never paid attention as a result.
So when I decided to rank the Big Ten mascots, I knew I needed help. There’s only one person I could turn to, and that person… is my wife. She’s never seen or heard of most of the mascots, so these rankings are her initial impressions. One thing is clear, college football fans place a lot of emphasis on tradition when it comes to our mascots because, without that knowledge or understanding of that tradition, we get a very different list.
Buckle up Big Ten fans. Things are about to get interesting.
Michigan
Michigan does not have a mascot.
Michael Allio-USA TODAY Sports
Indiana
Indiana does not have a mascot.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Illinois
Illinois has not had a mascot since 2007.
Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Nittany Lion (Penn State)
My wife’s thoughts: The costume is boring.
© Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK
Purdue Pete
My wife’s thoughts: He looks like a lawn gnome without a beard.
(Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Ohio State (Brutus Buckeye)
My wife’s thoughts: He has crazy eyes
© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Herky the Hawk (Iowa)
My wife’s thoughts: I don’t understand why he has to be so mean.
(Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
Scarlett Knight (Rutgers)
My wife’s thoughts: I like the concept of a knight but the costume could look a little better.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Willie the Wildcat (Northwestern)
My wife’s thoughts: He is what he is without any extra pizzazz
Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports
Goldy Gopher (Minnesota)
My wife’s thoughts: He’s got a cute face
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Bucky Badger (Wisconsin)
My wife’s thoughts: He’s creepy but it screams Wisconsin (Editor’s note: I have no idea what that means)
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Herbie Huskers (Nebraska)
My wife’s thoughts: He looks like a guy you’d want to spend time with. (Editor’s Note: I think that’s a good thing)
Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Sparty (Michigan State)
My wife’s thoughts: He’s very rugged
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Testudo (Maryland)
My wife’s thoughts: He’s a cute bird… what… he’s a turtle… that’s even better… I like turtles
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
