Butch T. Cougar

Butch T. Cougar
Butch T. Cougar
	Butch T. Cougar at Martin Stadium
Team	Cougars
University	Washington State University
Conference	Pac-12
Origin of name	Butch Meeker

Last updated November 29, 2024

Butch The Cougar is the mascot of Washington State University.^[1] As his name indicates, Butch is a cougar.

History

Though the cougar was adopted as Washington State University's mascot in 1919 it was not until 1927 when a cougar cub was presented to the student body of Washington State that Butch T. Cougar was born.^[2] The cougar was named Butch after Herbert "Butch" Meeker of Spokane, a WSU football star from the 1920s.^[3]

Butch was represented by a live cougar until 1978; Butch VI, in declining health with multiple ailments and approaching age 15, was euthanized in late August.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8] That October, university president Glenn Terrell decided to discontinue the live mascot tradition.^[8]

Today, Butch is represented by a costumed student. Butch T. Cougar was the 2006 Capital One Mascot of the Year.^[9]^[10]

Origin

Butch T. Cougar was born on October 1, 1927. Governor Roland H. Hartley presented the university with the first live cougar mascot during the 1927 football Homecoming game, and thus Butch's character was born. In the years since, Butch has undergone a few physical changes as he has been living on campus, surrounded by students. Nonetheless, he still has an untamed heart and continues to prowl around campus and athletic events.

Duties

The primary duty of Butch is to be an ambassador of WSU. He can be seen roaming the sidelines at home American football and basketball games leading spirit chants and tossing shirts into the stands.^[11] Butch also makes appearances at official University events and other events to promote the image of WSU.^[12] The student playing Butch is anonymous throughout the school year. At the last home sporting event of each year, usually, the last home basketball game, the student beneath the Butch mask is revealed.^[13] Butch cannot only be seen at athletic events but also at other functions related to the university and its constituent groups. He is a source of pride for members of the Cougar family and a means of promoting the university.

Related Research Articles

Beasley Coliseum is a general-purpose indoor arena in the northwest United States, located on the campus of Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. The home venue for the Cougars men's and women's basketball teams of the Pac-12 Conference, it opened 51 years ago in 1973, and its current seating capacity is 12,058 for basketball.

The Washington State Cougars are the athletic teams that represent Washington State University. Located in Pullman, Washington, WSU is a member of the Pac-12 Conference in NCAA Division I. The athletic program comprises ten women's sports and seven men's intercollegiate sports, and also offers various intramural sports.

Rogers Field was an outdoor athletic stadium in the northwest United States, on the campus of Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. It was the home venue of the WSU Cougars football and track teams until severely damaged by a fire in April 1970. Partially demolished in early 1971, Rogers Field was replaced by the concrete Martin Stadium, which was built on the same site and opened in 1972.

Bailey–Brayton Field is a college baseball stadium in the northwest United States, on the campus of Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. It is the home field of the Washington State Cougars of the Pac-12 Conference, and is located on the east side of the WSU campus, just southeast of Beasley Coliseum. The approximate elevation of the north-aligned diamond is 2,550 feet (775 m) above sea level and its seating capacity is 3,500.

Neale Stadium was an outdoor athletic stadium in the northwest United States, located on the campus of the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. Opened 87 years ago in 1937 for college football, it was used for over three decades, through the 1968 football season; the track team moved to the venue in the late 1940s.

The Battle of the Palouse refers to an athletic rivalry in the northwest United States, between the Vandals of the University of Idaho and Cougars of Washington State University.

The Idaho Vandals are the college football team that represents the University of Idaho and plays its home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho. Idaho is a member of the Big Sky Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Vandals are coached by Jason Eck.

The 1975 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. In their eighth season under head coach Jim Sweeney, the Cougars compiled a 3–8 record (0–7 in Pac-8, last) and were outscored 295 to 262.

The 1982 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth season under head coach Jim Walden, the Cougars compiled a 3–7–1 record, and were outscored 255 to 170.

The 1983 Washington State Cougars football team represented Washington State University in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season as a member of the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10). Led by sixth-year head coach Jim Walden, WSU was 7–4 overall, and played their home games at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane and at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington.

The 1974 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. In their seventh season under head coach Jim Sweeney, the Cougars compiled a 2–9 record, and were outscored 272 to 162.

The 1964 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) during the 1964 NCAA University Division football season. In their first season under head coach Bert Clark, the Cougars compiled a 3–6–1 record, and were outscored 208 to 165.

The 1927 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State College during the 1927 college football season. Head coach Babe Hollingbery led the team to a 1–3–1 mark in the PCC and 3–3–2 overall.

The 1966 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. Led by third-year head coach Bert Clark, the Cougars compiled a 3–7 record, and were outscored 211 to 132. Two home games were played on campus at Rogers Field in Pullman, and three at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane.

The 1967 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) during the 1967 NCAA University Division football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach Bert Clark, the Cougars compiled a 2–8 record, and were outscored 266 to 141.

The 1968 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. In their first season under head coach Jim Sweeney, the Cougars compiled a 3–6–1 record, and outscored their opponents 189 to 188. The final two games were shutout victories.

The 1969 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. Under second-year head coach Jim Sweeney, the Cougars compiled a 1–9 record, and were outscored 339 to 143. Two home games were played on campus in Pullman at Rogers Field, with two at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane.

The 1977 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. In their only season under head coach Warren Powers, the Cougars compiled a 6–5 record, and outscored their opponents 263 to 236.

The 1979 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second season under head coach Jim Walden, the Cougars compiled a 3–8 record, and were outscored 366 to 241.

The 1970 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho as a member of Big Sky Conference during the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. The Vandals were led by first-year head coach Don Robbins. Without a usable stadium on their Moscow campus for a second year, they played their home games at Rogers Field at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.

References

↑ Greene, Brenna (July 2, 2020). "Mascot Mania: How the Cougars became the Cougars". KREM.com. KREM (TV) . Retrieved September 24, 2022. By the way the name Butch T. Cougar? That wasn't penned until 1998. The 'T' merely stands for "the."
↑ "Washington State University, The Presidents". Archived from the original (English) on 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
↑ "Traditions". Archived from the original (English) on 2008-04-06. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
↑ "Washington State University, The Presidents" (English). Retrieved 2008-03-12.
↑ "Butch VI put to sleep". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. August 25, 1978. p. 10.
↑ "WSU mascot 'Butch' dies". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). August 25, 1978. p. 12A.
↑ Connor, Tim (September 21, 1978). "Butch's death: news bureau 'blew it'". Daily Evergreen. (Pullman, Washington). (Washington State University). p. 1.
1 2 "Butch VI will be last of his line". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 18, 1978. p. 16A.
↑ "Spirited Butch T. Cougar roars to top spot". Archived from the original (English) on 2008-02-21. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
↑ Capital one bowl.com Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
↑ "Butch T. Cougar - College Football" (English). Retrieved 2014-03-26.
↑ "Request Butch". Archived from the original (English) on 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
↑ "The Man Behind the Mascot". Archived from the original (English) on 2014-03-27. Retrieved 2014-03-26.

External links

Butch T. Cougar Homepage

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[MiddleNameKREM-1] Greene, Brenna (July 2, 2020). "Mascot Mania: How the Cougars became the Cougars". KREM.com. KREM (TV) . Retrieved September 24, 2022. By the way the name Butch T. Cougar? That wasn't penned until 1998. The 'T' merely stands for "the."

[2] "Washington State University, The Presidents". Archived from the original (English) on 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2008-03-12.

[3] "Traditions". Archived from the original (English) on 2008-04-06. Retrieved 2008-03-12.

[4] "Washington State University, The Presidents" (English). Retrieved 2008-03-12.

[sleepb-5] "Butch VI put to sleep". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. August 25, 1978. p. 10.

[budis-6] "WSU mascot 'Butch' dies". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). August 25, 1978. p. 12A.

[dlyevr-7] Connor, Tim (September 21, 1978). "Butch's death: news bureau 'blew it'". Daily Evergreen. (Pullman, Washington). (Washington State University). p. 1.

[lohln-8] 1 2 "Butch VI will be last of his line". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 18, 1978. p. 16A.

[9] "Spirited Butch T. Cougar roars to top spot". Archived from the original (English) on 2008-02-21. Retrieved 2008-03-12.

[10] Capital one bowl.com Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine

[11] "Butch T. Cougar - College Football" (English). Retrieved 2014-03-26.

[12] "Request Butch". Archived from the original (English) on 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2008-03-12.

[13] "The Man Behind the Mascot". Archived from the original (English) on 2014-03-27. Retrieved 2014-03-26.

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v t e Washington State Cougars football
Venues	Rogers Field (1895–1969) Joe Albi Stadium (1950–1983 as alternate; 1970–1971 as sole) Martin Stadium (1972–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Idaho: Battle of the Palouse Washington: Apple Cup Northwest Championship
Culture & lore	Butch T. Cougar "Fight Song" Marching band Coug it Ol' Crimson
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

v t e Washington State Cougars men's basketball
Venues	Bohler Gymnasium (1928–1973) Beasley Coliseum (1973–present)
Rivalries	Idaho Washington
Culture & lore	Butch T. Cougar
People	Head coaches NBA players Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 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
Helms and Premo-Porretta national championship in bold; NCAA Final Four appearance in italics

v t e Washington State Cougars women's basketball
Venues	Bohler Gymnasium (1970–1973) Beasley Coliseum (1973–present)
Rivalries	Idaho Washington
Culture & lore	Butch T. Cougar
People	Head coaches
Seasons	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