Bucky Badger
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| Bucky Badger | |
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| University | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
|---|---|
| Conference | Big Ten |
| Description | Anthropomorphic badger |
| Origin of name | Winning entry in competition |
| First seen | 1949 |
| Related mascot(s) | Regdab Raccoon |
| Hall of Fame 2006 | |
Bucky Badger is the official mascot of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His full name is Buckingham U. Badger and he attends all major sporting events for the Wisconsin Badgers as well as hundreds of other events around Wisconsin every year.
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[edit] Origin
The as-yet unnamed Wisconsin mascot appeared as a human-like cartoon figure in University of Wisconsin publications in the 1930s.[1] The most familiar portrayal of Bucky Badger, wearing a "W" sweater and strutting forward with a fierce expression, was drawn by California-based commercial artist Art Evans in 1940, and first sold from Brown's Book Store in Madison.[2][3] An actual badger from Eau Claire was used at the first few football games that year, but proved to be too fierce to be controlled properly and was retired to the nearby Henry Vilas Zoo. After that, the school replaced the live badger with a live raccoon named Regdab ('badger' backwards). In 1949, a Bucky head-piece was created and a contest was started to properly name the mascot. The winning entry was Buckingham U. Badger. In 2006, Bucky was inducted as a charter member of the Mascot Hall of Fame's College Division, joining YoUDee from Delaware and Aubie from Auburn.
[edit] Attire and attitude
Bucky wears a cardinal red and white Wisconsin sweater along with a gruff look on his face (the costumed-mascot version is decidedly cheerier, with a beaming smile).
During sporting events, he is generally seen interacting with the crowd, especially the rambunctious student section. For example, during football games Bucky often directs Section O to dance along with the band's music or pretends to pick fights with certain students. He also has a history of playfully fighting other team's mascots like the University of Minnesota's Goldy Gopher or Purdue University's Purdue Pete. Although fighting is no longer allowed by NCAA mascots, Bucky still frequently interacts with other mascots through skits.
Bill Sagal was the first costumed Bucky Badger. The original Bucky costume was introduced at a pep rally on Friday, November 11, 1949, before the next day's Homecoming game against Iowa (Wisconsin 35, Iowa 13). Carolyn (Connie) Conrad, a UW art student, designed the original chicken wire and paper mache head. Sagal, then head cheerleader, wore his regular cheerleader trousers and sweater and added boxing gloves.
[edit] Logo
The modern Bucky Badger logo was part of a group of "comic collegiate badger mascots" created by the Anson W. Thompson Company of Los Angeles in 1940. The company was one of several that manufactured decals and other logowear for universities. The Madison-based Brown's Book Store (no longer in business) was the first to order the pose. Other bookstores in the area ordered other poses. The UW athletic department first used the logo on the cover of the 1948 Football Facts and Centennial Sports Review.
That image of Bucky was adopted and used by many local businesses in and around Madison. In 1988 the University of Wisconsin-Madison formed a trademark licensing program to register the Bucky logo, which was opposed by local merchants. Ownership was decided in the case University Book Store v. University of Wisconsin-Madison Board of Regents. The United States Patent and Trademark Office allowed the UW to register the marks despite previous third-party use on the grounds that the public identified the Bucky Badger logo with the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In 2003, Bucky was given an update, with simplified lines and the "motion W" on his sweater. This might have been done in part to give the University a version of Bucky that was associated with the University alone, and had never been used in any other context. The mascot costume was also updated to feature the motion W.
[edit] Variations
Blind Bucky is sometimes used to represent the University of Wisconsin Law School as a variation of the allegorical figure of blindfolded Lady Justice.[4]
Bucky with a stethoscope is occasionally used by the Medical Alumni Association.[citation needed]
Similarly, a design of Bucky wearing a Roman-style toga is used by the university's Classics Society (and shared with the Classics Department).[citation needed]
The College of Agriculture & Life Science's Short Course has a Farmer Bucky, clad in Motion W overalls and carrying a pitchfork. In addition, the Collegiate FFA has Bucky in Official Dress, including the standard FFA Jacket.
[edit] Student portrayal
The students (usually 7) who portray Bucky Badger are all volunteers, without scholarships or financial reimbursement, as is the system in some universities. Tryouts include tests of dancing skills, expressiveness in suit, ability to work with props, and the number of push-ups a candidate can do, as well as an interview and the ability to write and perform an original skit. The Bucky Team attends mascot training camp every year in August. They perform throughout the year, including breaks and holidays, representing the university and the state at athletic events, but also at ceremonies, parades, festivals, weddings, and even an occasional funeral.
Bucky appearances can be purchased; rates in 2007 were $250 plus $100 per hour, a "typical price" for school mascots.[5]
[edit] Film portrayal
In 2009, Bucky Badger made it to the silver screen in the documentary, Being Bucky. The film, which was created by Chicago ad-men John Fromstein and Scott Smith, both Wisconsin natives, follows the 2007–2008 Buckys: Chris, Blake, Dave, Sky, Ryan, Craig and Jeff. It was released on April 4th at the Wisconsin Film Festival and featured in theaters across the state in the following weeks.
[edit] References
- ^ Gwen Schultz, The Bucky Badger Story, Madison, Wisconsin: Hammock & Inglenook, 1981. ISBN 0915988518.
- ^ "ONline Wisconsin - August 2001" (in English). 08 2001. http://waa.uwalumni.com/onlinewisconsin/2001-8.html. Retrieved on 2007-01-11.
- ^ "Ask Abe Archives - Campus Traditions" (in English). http://www.uwalumni.com/home/coolstuff/askabe/askabe_campus/askabe_campus.aspx. Retrieved on 2007-01-11.
- ^ Blind Bucky, Wisconsin Law Alumni Association Emporium, University of Wisconsin Law School.
- ^ Cuthbert, Adam (2007-08), "Rent a Mascot", Kiplinger's Personal Finance (The Kiplinger Washington Editors), http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2007/08/1000mascot.html
[edit] External links
- Bucky Badger History
- UW Badgers Website
- Photos of classic Bucky costumes from The University of Wisconsin-Madison Collection online database
- The UW-Madison Office of Trademark Licensing controls the Bucky Badger logo's trademark.
- Site of the "Being Bucky" documentary, a documentary about what it's like to be the mascot
- http://badgerherald.com/artsetc/2009/04/22/it_aint_easy_being_b.php
