Oski the Bear

Oski the Bear
Oski the Bear
	Oski in front of Bowles Hall
University	University of California, Berkeley
Conference	Pac-12
Description	Anthropomorphic Bear
First seen	September 27, 1941

Oski the Bear (Oski) is the official mascot of the University of California, Berkeley ("Cal"), representing the California Golden Bears. Named after the Oski Yell, he made his debut during Cal Football's season-opener against St. Mary's College on September 27, 1941.^[1] Prior to his debut, live bears were used as Cal mascots.^[2]

Oski's name, design, and character were developed by William “Rocky” Rockwell, who was the first student to play the role, and Warrington Colescott, an editor of The Daily Californian and famed satirist. Since his debut, Oski's activities have been managed by the Oski Committee, which also appoints a new Oski whenever a replacement is required; Oski's identity is protected by the Committee, and wearers of the suit generally do not disclose their identity. To that end, there may be multiple members of the Committee who wear the suit, depending on their schedules.

Songs

Oski is mentioned by name in several California fight songs. In the songs, the name "Oski" is used interchangeably with the title "Golden Bear". Several of the songs give an impression of Oski being a powerful guardian-being dwelling in the heavens, as well as sallying forth from a lair on Earth. Oski is identified as the astronomical constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear). Although Oski has his benign side ("patient" and "silent"), he is more often presented as growling, fighting, rumbling, grumbling, thundering, and shaking the ground. He is described as sturdy and mighty. It is said of Oski that he "wears a Paderewski hair", referring to Oski's shaggy hair.

Oski is described as "Our totem", and Cal's teams (or perhaps Cal students in general) are described as sons of the Golden Bear. In one song, Oski is referred to as "He" with a capital "H", as one refers to the Deity. One song appears to attribute to Oski the ability to fly through the air. These characteristics are seen in the following lyrics of Cal fight songs:

Fight for California --

Our sturdy Golden Bear Is watching from the skies; Looks down upon our colors fair, And guards us from his lair.^[3]

Big "C" --

Golden Bear is ever watching; Day by day he prowls^[3]

The Stanford Jonah --

When our Oski rips through the air. Like our friend Mister Jonah, Stanford's team will be found, In the tummy of the Golden Bear.^[3]

Cal Band March --

And when the game's done, California's Golden Bear has carried the day.^[3]

California, We're For You --

All our rival's hopes are doomed to die, When our Golden Bear looks down on high; Hear our Oski's mighty thunder,
...
Brawn and brain are all in vain Unless our spirit's there In ev'ry son of the Golden Bear.
...
Let the echoes ring our Oski^[3]

Golden Bear --

Oh, have you seen the heavens blue, heavens blue, When just sev'n stars are shining through, shining through Right overhead a jovial crew? They're joining hands to make the Bear
...
And oh, that Bear's a glorious sight, glorious sight, A-circling 'round the pole all night, pole all night; And once you've seen him, you're all right, You've seen our California Bear.
...
He has a very patient air, patient air, He wears a Paderewski hair, 'rewski hair, He's the center rush of the heavens I swear, Our silent, sturdy Golden Bear.
...
A Californian through and through, Our totem, He, the Golden Bear.^[3]

Make Way for the Bear --

Rumbling, grumbling, loud upon the air, Sounds the growling of the mighty Bear. Californians gather 'round his Lair, And march to Victory.
...
Marching along for California We stride beside the fighting Bear.^[3]

California Marching Song --

Californians fight with the sturdy might of the growling Golden Bear. Our Oski sounds and shakes the ground As vict'ry fills the air.^[3]

References

^ Kell, Gretchen (September 26, 2016). "Birthday Bear: Iconic Oski turns 75". UC Berkeley.
^ "Berkeley: Traditions". University of California History. 1966. Retrieved 2015-12-01. After 1946, Oski was the charge of a special committee. This group of men between 5'2" and 5'4" in height and possessed of considerable gymnastic ability, determined Oski's schedule, planned his stunts, and took turns assuming his character.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Cal Songs ~ University of California Marching Band".

External links

Oski.com includes many photos of Oski.
Oski biography at Official Cal Athletic Site.
The original Oski discusses the mascot's origin.
Cal Songs from the Cal Marching Band website.

[UCB2016-1] Kell, Gretchen (September 26, 2016). "Birthday Bear: Iconic Oski turns 75". UC Berkeley.

[2] "Berkeley: Traditions". University of California History. 1966. Retrieved 2015-12-01. After 1946, Oski was the charge of a special committee. This group of men between 5'2" and 5'4" in height and possessed of considerable gymnastic ability, determined Oski's schedule, planned his stunts, and took turns assuming his character.

[berkeley.edu-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Cal Songs ~ University of California Marching Band".

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e California Golden Bears
Teams	Baseball Basketball Men's Women's Football Rugby Soccer (Men's) Softball Volleyball (Women's)
Venues	California Memorial Stadium Haas Pavilion Evans Diamond Levine-Fricke Field Edwards Stadium
Symbols/Lore	The Big "C" Oski The Bench The Stanford Axe Big Game The Play Tightwad Hill
Songs	Fight for California Big C Sons of California All Hail Blue and Gold Hail to California Stanford Jonah California Indian Song California Drinking Song

v t e California Golden Bears football
Venues	California Field (1904–1923) California Memorial Stadium (1923–2010, 2012–present) Oracle Park (2011)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Stanford: Big Game (Stanford Axe) UCLA
Culture & lore	Oski "Fight for California" "Big C" History Marching band Tightwad Hill The Play
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National championship seasons in bold

v t e California Golden Bears men's basketball
Venues	Original Harmon Gym (1907–1933) Oakland Civic Auditorium (alternate, 1914–1933) Oakland Coliseum-Arena (1997–1999) Haas Pavilion (1933–1997, 1999–present)
Culture & lore	The Bench Oski "Fight for California" "Big C"
People	Head coaches NBA players Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Premo-Poretta national championship in bold; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics; NCAA championship in bolded italics

v t e California Golden Bears women's basketball
Venues	Oakland Arena (1997–1999) Haas Pavilion (1973–1997, 1999–present)
Culture & lore	History Oski "Fight for California "Big C"
People	Head coaches
Seasons	1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
NCAA Final Four appearance in italics