The Top 5 Weirdest College Mascots

From a banana slug to a WuShock from Wichita State, the USA’s colleges have some of the weirdest college mascots. Read on to find out more about the top 5 most outrageous college mascots and why they each have their own unique story.

Banana Slug from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

As students at the University of California, Santa Cruz wanted to avoid having a “traditional” mascot like a lion or bear, they decided on the banana slug instead. This slimy creature may not be fierce, but is well-loved by students and alumni alike. The banana slug is known for its incredibly long lifespan, representing the university’s resilience and its commitment to being sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Boll Weevil from University of Arkansas

Perhaps the least intimidating of them all is the Boll Weevil from the University of Arkansas. This little critter may not seem like much, but it is in fact a powerful symbol within America’s agricultural industry. The Boll Weevil has been adopted as an unofficial mascot of Arkansas, honoring this tiny bug for its role in driving changes to farming practices and boosting agricultural production throughout the region.

Billiken from Saint Louis University

The Billiken is the official mascot of Saint Louis University. It is a charmingly mischievous elf-like figure with a broad grin, a pointed beard, and short horns. It’s said that rubbings its tummy will bring luck and good fortune. The origins of this character are mysterious; however its image has been around since 1908 when it was first used in the pages of a children’s magazine.

Stanford Tree from Stanford University

The Stanford Tree is the official mascot of Stanford University, and it certainly isn’t your typical campus mascot. The Tree, an evergreen shrub native to the Palo Alto area, has become famous throughout college sports nation due to its eccentric and outlandish costumes that range from a giant banana to ironic political statements. Although there are lots of other trees in the vicinity of Stanford’s campus, their tree continues to be the uniquely weird representation of their school spirit!

WuShock from Wichita State

WuShock is a creature that actually looks like a giant bag of wheat or straw. He used to actually be made out of wheat, but he has since been replaced by an inflatable version because of the fire hazard associated with him. And although his look is silly and his origin story isn’t clear (rumor has it there’s something about an earthquake), WuShock has become the source of pride for Wichita State University and their athletic teams.