Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut is reportedly the first university in the United States to adopt a mascot, dating back to the 1890’s when a student from England started the tradition.
The official bulldog is named ‘Handsome Dan’ and the university’s current Handsome Dan is Number 17! (You can read about all of the Handsome Dans on this website.)
Handsome Dan will appear at games of the university’s football team – you guessed it – The Bulldogs.
Cole Porter (class of 1913) wrote the Bulldog Song, which is the Yale fight song. It’s played by the band whenever a touchdown is scored. The song goes like this:
Bulldog! Bulldog!
Bow, wow, wow
Eli Yale
Bulldog! Bulldog!
Bow, wow, wow
Our team can never fail
When the sons of Eli
Break through the line
That is the sign we hail
Bulldog! Bulldog!
Bow, wow, wow
Eli Yale!
Official merchandise of the Yale athletics teams is known as Bulldog Blue.
And like most university mascots, the image of Handsome Dan is replicated throughout merchandise, events and student life on the Yale campus.
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