While the on-field traditions have changed in recent years, there’s a rich heritage behind the Baylor Bears mascot that goes beyond the normal adoration of the face of college football pageantry and strikes at the heartstrings of anyone associated with the program.
What Is the Baylor Bears Mascot?
Bruiser and Marigold are the costumed Bears mascots, representing Baylor at athletics events, including college football. One of two Baylor mascot traditions, the costumed bear dates back to 1981 when a man in a somewhat realistic-looking bear outfit became a feature at the Bears’ basketball games. The first costumed Bears mascot was known as Wendy’s Bear as it was sponsored by, you guessed it, Wendy’s.
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Wendy’s Bear didn’t last long, however. By the late 1980s, a less sinister outfit, one complete with a jersey and sporting a more mascot-esque demeanor, had emerged. For a short time, this was replaced by a green bear, followed by a return to the brown bear who was sometimes seen riding a motorcycle.
After a dalliance with “Inflatable Judge,” the late 2000s saw the emergence of “Bruiser” as the Bears’ mascot. In 2017, he was joined by Marigold, a female bear with a fetching yellow headband. The pair help deliver the university mission: “to grow in faith, excellence, and service to our community.”
Why Is Baylor the Bears?
Although Baylor began competing across various college sports in the 1890s, the program was without an official mascot until 1914. As college mascots gathered traction and became an integral part of the pageantry of intercollegiate sports, students and alumni decided the program needed to embrace a mascot.
According to the university, George Baines Rosborough proposed a contest to decide the name that Baylor would come to adopt for the next 100 years and more. Bears was ultimately chosen from over 20 submissions that included buffalo, antelope, frog, and ferret.
Does Baylor Have a Live Bear Mascot?
Although they’re no longer allowed on the sideline, the Bears’ mascot is still officially a live bear. The university has an on-campus enclosure known as the “Bear Habitat” where the bear (or bears) live. The program takes great pride in its gold-standard Association of Zoos & Aquariums accreditation.
A live animal has been a feature of the Bears’ mascot since 1917. The original bear — known as both Ted and Bruin — was gifted to the program by the 107th Engineers of the Army’s 32nd Division, who were stationed in Waco and first appeared at the 1917 clash with Texas A&M at Cotton Palace.
One of the most famous Baylor mascots was Joe College, a brown bear who weighed around 500 pounds at his heaviest. His owner, Bill Boyd, sought donations from campus dining halls to meet the incredible food demands of the beast, which began the tradition of feeding and caring for bears on Baylor’s campus.
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While several animals filled the role of the Bears’ mascot following Joe College, in 1974, a new tradition was born where each of the Baylor bears was named Judge, followed by an independent surname.
The tradition was in deference to Judge R.E.B. Baylor, who lent his name to the university, and the president at the time Abner V. McCall, who was known as Judge McCall. The most recent Bears mascots were Judge Joy Reynolds and Judge Sue “Lady” Sloan. Judge Joy sadly passed away in 2022, with a heartfelt obituary expressing the epitome of the love felt for the program’s bears.
The live animal Bears mascots prowled the sidelines at Baylor home games up until 2010, although several conservation groups had been trying since 2003 to ban the university from using live animals. Ultimately, a USDA ruling involving animals classified as wild brought to an end one of the more surreal college football sideline shows.
