Mascot Day: Fun Facts About State Of Utah’s Sports Mascots

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Did you know June 17th every year is National Mascot Day? I’m guessing you probably didn’t, but now you know.

In honor of National Mascot Day, here are some fun facts that you might not know about the sports mascots in our beloved state of Utah.

Jazz Bear – Utah Jazz

The Jazz went without a mascot their first 15 years in Salt Lake City from 1979-1994. On November 4th, 1994, The Bear was introduced to Jazz fans everywhere. From ring of fire dunks to sledding down aisles, the Jazz Bear gained instant popularity.

In 2006, Jazz was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame.

Can't bear-proof this camp 🐻#MetGala pic.twitter.com/YiKrQcvmzM

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) May 7, 2019

Buster The Bear – Salt Lake City Stars

The Jazz Bear’s cousin “Buster The Bear” was introduced in 2016 as the mascot for the G-League’s Salt Lake City Stars. Buster is considered to be the most photogenic mascot ever.

Buster's gonna Buster. 😈 pic.twitter.com/LD1k3m0wkE

— Salt Lake City Stars (@slcstars) February 8, 2018

Leo the Lion – Real Salt Lake

Originally introduced as Leonardo The Lion, Leo joined the RSL family in 2010. Other names that were considered for RSL’s proud lion were King Richard, High King Leon, Kingsley, and Lumumba, among several others.

Leo and the gang all here pic.twitter.com/m21jmocFY6

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) October 18, 2019

Cleo the Lioness – Utah Royals FC

Introduced in 2017, Cleo the Lioness was born at the same time the NWSL’s Utah Royals were formed.

Cleo out here trying to take @Shotboxer's job 🤣 pic.twitter.com/sjEu36QVte

— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) June 28, 2018

Theo the Lion – Real Monarchs

The newest mascot in the state of Utah. Theo the Lion was introduced last fall and shortly after being introduced the Monarchs won the USL Championship.

Theo is a Friday mood pic.twitter.com/96v0ZYDliZ

— Real Monarchs (@RealMonarchs) October 11, 2019

Bumble – Salt Lake Bees

In 2019, Bumble won an award for Best Marketing Campaign from the commercials he was part of promoting the Bees “Family Night” promotion.

👋Mascot friends pic.twitter.com/Y3QZBb7RBZ

— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) May 3, 2018

Grizzbee – Utah Grizzlies

Grizzbee wears the number 95 because he was introduced in the fall of 1995, the same year the Grizzlies came to Salt Lake City. Standing at 7-foot-5 and weighing 550 pounds, Grizzbee is one of the biggest mascots the state of Utah has to offer.

Throwback Fan Thursday: Grizzbee took the wheel on the Zamboni in 2009. pic.twitter.com/m7Kyt1ocIy

— Utah Grizzlies (@UtahGrizzlies) August 9, 2018

Oggie – Ogden Raptors

Born at Ogden’s Lindquist Field, Oggie’s hobbies include dancing on the Lindquist Field dugouts and leading cheers for fans cheering on the Ogden Raptors.

@ogdenraptors’ Oggie is the best Pioneer League mascot in @MiLB #MascotMania http://t.co/xbzzaImaCb #VoteOggieRaptors pic.twitter.com/IdY9NezGNC

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) July 22, 2014

Hootz & Holly – Orem Owlz

Married in 2009, Hootz and Holly are the only married mascot couple in the state of Utah.

Hootz and Holly are here! pic.twitter.com/d3mtsGaJbr

— Orem Owlz (@OremOwlz) April 20, 2019

Cosmo – BYU

BYU’s high-flying Cosmo earned his first-ever college mascot National Championship this past April taking down Hall of Fame mascot “Big Red” from Western Kentucky.

Out here vibin with the @BYUCougarettes 😼
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀#CosmoCougar pic.twitter.com/hc2ZokCfg2

— Cosmo Cougar (@byu_cosmo) May 9, 2020

Swoop – University of Utah

Swoop wears a number 96 jersey because that was the year it was introduced to Utah Utes fans. Swoop is a red-tailed hawk, an indigenous bird to the state of Utah.

We hear it's #NationalMascotDay…

Shout out to the best in the business, @SwoopHawk! pic.twitter.com/KGUlm9vrPS

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) June 17, 2020

Big Blue – Utah State

Big Blue used to be a real white bull that was painted blue before home football games. In 1986, Big Blue took on costume form and has been representing the Aggies ever since.

Big Blue Classic!

The animal himself is taking a break to enjoy it. #USU | #UtahState | 🐂 pic.twitter.com/72FDnUgCb9

— Aggies Unlimited (@AggiesUnlimited) September 27, 2019

Waldo the Wildcat – Weber State University

In 2019, Waldo captured first place in the NCA Collegiate National Mascot Championships. The fifth time in the last eight years Waldo and the Weber State spirit squad have won the award.

And still another national championship! Who’s the best mascot in the nation? It’s Weber State’s own Waldo, who today won the Mascot National Championship! Congrats Waldo! #WeAreWeber 👊👍💯 pic.twitter.com/gluGeU5QgX

— Weber State Athletics (@weberstate) April 7, 2018

Thor the Thunderbird – Southern Utah University

SUU has been named the Thunderbirds since 1951. Thor is believed to have been introduced during the 1980s.

Let's talk about Thor's glow up for a second… ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/qTDD2qrumN

— SUU Thunderbirds ⚡️ (@SUUThunderbirds) July 31, 2019

Willy the Wolverine – Utah Valley University

Willy’s face was once turned into a corn maze down in Payson in the fall of 2011.

Welcome home Willy!

Yesterday we welcomed a statue of Willy the Wolverine to our beautiful @UVU campus. Come by and snap a selfie with the new statue outside of the SLWC. 📸#UVU #GoUVU #ProtectTheDen pic.twitter.com/H8VPWWLWIv

— Utah Valley Wolverines (@GoUVU) September 24, 2019

Brooks the Bison – Dixie State University

Dixie State rebranded to the Trail Blazers and introduced a new mascot, “Brooks the Bison.” The name comes from Samuel Brooks, the first student to enroll at Dixie State University in 1911.

Brooks the Bison says, "Welcome to #TrailblazerNation"🌴 Enjoy your first day of classes‼️ pic.twitter.com/QfMSE6auQU

— DixieStateUniversity (@DixieState) August 19, 2019