Mississippi State University’s athletic teams are known as the Bulldogs, which reflects the grit and determination of the student-athletes who have represented the school for decades.
The official mascot, an English bulldog registered with the American Kennel Club, is named “Bully.” Since the 1930s, Bully has been a cherished symbol of the Bulldogs’ long and storied history.
So, how did Mississippi State finally settle on the Bulldog as their official mascot?
Who (or What) Is the Mississippi State Mascot?
Bully is the official mascot of the Mississippi State University Bulldogs in Starkville, Miss. The costumed mascot and the live English bulldog seen at State games share the title.
The live mascot, an American Kennel Club-registered English bulldog, carries the inherited title of “Bully,” which serves as a traditional name rather than the specific identity of each dog. Each individual “Bully” is also given their respective name.
The tradition began in 1935 when head football coach Major Ralph Sasse introduced an English bulldog to inspire his team. The dog, named “Ptolemy” after the Greek mathematician and astronomer Claudius Ptolemy, was affectionately nicknamed “Tol.”
After Tol’s arrival, Mississippi State enjoyed a successful season, including victories over powerhouse teams like Army and Alabama, finishing with an 8–3 record. The positive impact of having a mascot was clear. Alumnus Joe Rice Dockery, owner of Dockery Farms, purchased a bulldog named “Bully” — a littermate of Ptolemy — and presented him to the school, establishing the beloved tradition of Bully at Mississippi State.
The newest edition of Bully is Bully XXII, which was named “Dak” in honor of former Mississippi State quarterback and current Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who led the Bulldogs from 2011-15 and led the Bulldogs to their first-ever No. 1 ranking in 2014.
The first costumed mascot at Mississippi State appeared during the 1964–65 school year. By 1971, a more polished costume was introduced, and, like the live bulldog mascot, the character was named “Bully.”
Early in the 1980s, Bully often wore a tank top and maroon or white shorts. Still, as the years passed, he began wearing Mississippi State’s official uniform for whichever sport he represented.
Why Is Mississippi State the Bulldogs?
Over the years, Mississippi State teams have been known by several different nicknames.
Initially, the teams were called the Aggies when the school was The Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi. In 1932, when the school became Mississippi State College, the nickname “Maroons,” inspired by the team’s uniform color, became popular.
By 1961, after the institution gained university status, “Bulldogs” became the official nickname for the teams. However, the name “Bulldogs” had been used as early as 1905 and was often mixed in with “Aggies” and “Maroons” long before it was officially adopted.
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