Celebrating 150: The Bulldog

Bulldogs, both canine and Spike forms, have appeared in University parades, rallies and on the sidelines to help cheer the athletic teams on to victory for more than a century.

Although the term “bulldogs” was first used by Coach O.C. Bell to describe the football team’s tenacity in 1909, it was not until 1915 that Bulldogs became the official mascot. In 1915, after several losing seasons — and no wins at all in 1914 — a committee was formed to see what could be done about reviving school spirit. While the student body was very supportive of the 1914 team, the committee knew they were somewhat discouraged, so they decided that some type of emblem to inspire enthusiasm was needed.

They suggested the bulldog be adopted as the team mascot because of its tenacity and ability to hold on and fight desperately until the end. Football coach H.L. “Curly” McWilliams had referred to his 1914 team as bulldogs because they did not quit.

It was the baseball team who played under the Bulldog name for the first time in the spring of 1915 and the football team began using it a year later. More information about the mascot name can be found at library.truman.edu/archives/mascot.asp.