Petey (mascot)

Last updated
Petey
UniversityCanisius College
Conference MAAC
DescriptionAnthropomorphic golden griffin
First seen1967

Petey is the mascot for the Canisius Golden Griffins, the athletic teams of Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, USA. Petey is an anthropomorphic golden griffin who performs live at all Canisius athletic events. Canisius adopted the nickname "Golden Griffins" for their school athletic teams in 1932, in honor of Great Lakes explorer La Salle's ship, Le Griffon . [1] Canisius first used an unnamed costumed griffin as a sideline mascot in 1967. [1] In preparation for the 2002–2003 athletic season, the griffin mascot was completely re-designed and given a new costume and name. The name "Petey" was chosen as a reference to St. Peter Canisius, who Canisius College is named for. [1]

Canisius' golden griffin has been called one of the most unusual of all NCAA mascots. [2] [3] In 2010, after the College of William & Mary adopted the Griffin as their new school mascot, Petey "wrote" a satirical open letter to the William & Mary griffin that was published in USA Today , welcoming the new griffin mascot to the college mascot community. [4] [5]

In 2013, the Catholic website Busted Halo held a March Madness-style competition to determine the title of "Best Catholic Mascot" through online voting. Petey won the online tournament, besting a field of 32 Catholic school mascots, including Notre Dame's Leprechaun and Boston College's Baldwin the Eagle. [6] [7] [8] [9] The following year, Petey advanced to the Final 4 of the same Busted Halo contest, but was ultimately defeated by Iggy the Royal Wolf from the University of Scranton. [10] [11] In 2015 Petey was entered in to the College Court Report "Mascot Mayhem" contest, where he made it to the Final 4 - surpassing Butler, North Florida, St. Louis, and UNLV. [12] Sam the Minuteman from the University of Massachusetts Amherst claimed the 1st place prize. [13] In 2016 Petey faced off against Boomer from Missouri State in the semi-finals of Court Report's "Mascot Mayhem" contest. [14] Over 7,000 votes were cast in the final contest pairing, and Petey was narrowly defeated by a margin of 56.8% to 43.2%, claiming the 2nd place title. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canisius University</span> Jesuit college in Buffalo, New York, US

Canisius University is a private Jesuit university in Buffalo, New York. It was founded in 1870 by Jesuits from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. Canisius offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and minors, and around 34 master's and certificate programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo, New York)</span> Former sports stadium in Buffalo, New York

War Memorial Stadium, colloquially known as The Rockpile, was an outdoor football, baseball and soccer stadium in Buffalo, New York. Opened in 1937 as Roesch Memorial Stadium, the venue was later known as Grover Cleveland Stadium and Civic Stadium. The stadium was home to the Canisius Golden Griffins (NCAA), Buffalo Indians-Tigers (AFL), Buffalo Bills (AAFC), Buffalo Bulls (NCAA), Buffalo Bills (AFL/NFL), Buffalo Bisons (IL), Buffalo White Eagles (ECPSL), Buffalo Blazers (NSL), Buffalo Bisons (EL/AA) and Canisius Golden Griffins (NCAA). It also had a race track and hosted several NASCAR events. The venue was demolished in 1989 and replaced with the Johnnie B. Wiley Amateur Athletic Sports Pavilion, which retains entrances from the original stadium.

Robert MacKinnon was an American college and professional basketball coach. He coached three different professional teams in his career; the American Basketball Association's Spirits of St. Louis, and the NBA's Buffalo Braves and New Jersey Nets. MacKinnon also served as the Nets' general manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reggie Witherspoon (basketball)</span> American basketball coach (born 1961)

Phillip Reginald Witherspoon is an American college basketball coach who is the former men's basketball head coach of the Canisius Golden Griffins and the Buffalo Bulls.

Edward Frank Book is an American-New Zealand former professional basketball player. Listed at 211 cm (6'11") and 112 kg, Book played the centre position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canisius Golden Griffins</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Canisius University

The Canisius University Golden Griffins are composed of 16 teams representing Canisius University in intercollegiate athletics. These teams include men's and women's basketball, cross country, track, lacrosse, soccer, and swimming and diving. Men's sports include baseball, ice hockey, and golf. Women's sports include volleyball, soccer, and softball. The Golden Griffins compete in the NCAA Division I and are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) for most sports, excluding men's ice hockey which competes in Atlantic Hockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canisius Golden Griffins men's ice hockey</span> College ice hockey team

The Canisius Golden Griffins men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Canisius University. The Golden Griffins are members of Atlantic Hockey America, formed shortly after the 2023–24 season by the merger of their former hockey league, the Atlantic Hockey Association, with College Hockey America. They play at the LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, New York across the street from KeyBank Center, home of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. Canisius has won an automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament twice, after winning the Atlantic Hockey title in the conference playoffs in both 2013 and 2023, but lost in the first round to the top-ranked team each time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball</span> Mens college basketball team for Canisius University

The Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball team, or the Griffs, represent Canisius University in Buffalo, New York, United States. Canisius is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and play their home games at Koessler Center. Canisius has appeared in the NCAA tournament four times, most recently in 1996. In 1955 and 1956, the Golden Griffins appeared in the NCAA tournament Elite Eight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canisius Golden Griffins football</span> College football team of Canisius University

The Canisius Golden Griffins football program were the intercollegiate American football team for Canisius College located in Buffalo, New York. The team competed in the NCAA Division I-AA and were members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The school's first football team was fielded in 1918. Canisius participated in football from 1918 to 1949, and again from 1975 to 2002, compiling an all-time record of 241–251–26. At the conclusion of the 2002 season, the Canisius football program was discontinued, along with seven other school athletic programs, as part of an effort to overhaul and streamline the school's athletic department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canisius Golden Griffins baseball</span> Varsity intercollegiate baseball team of Canisius College in Buffalo, NY

The Canisius Golden Griffins baseball team is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, United States. The team is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team plays home games at the Demske Sports Complex in Buffalo, New York. The Golden Griffins are coached by Matt Mazurek.

The Rev. James M. Demske Sports Complex is a baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and softball venue in Buffalo, New York, United States. It is home to the Canisius Golden Griffins baseball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's lacrosse, and softball teams of the NCAA Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Built in 1989, the venue has a capacity of 1,200 spectators. The building is named for Rev. James Demske, who served as the President of Canisius College from 1966 until 1993. It is located behind the Koessler Athletic Center on Canisius' campus. To save space and money in the college's urban setting, the 14-acre (5.7 ha) facility is home to six Canisius athletic programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canisius Golden Griffins softball</span> College softball team of Canisius University

The Canisius Golden Griffins softball team represents Canisius University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Golden Griffins are currently led by head coach Kim Griffin. The team plays its home games at the Demske Sports Complex located on the college's campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of the Bridge (Canisius–Niagara)</span>

The Battle of the Bridge is the name of the all-sports rivalry between the Canisius Golden Griffins and the Niagara Purple Eagles. Both schools are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The two teams compete every school year in 14 sports; men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's golf, men's ice hockey, women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, women's softball, men's and women's swimming & diving, and women's volleyball. The overall winner of the annual series receives the Canal Cup trophy. The two long-time Western New York rivals created the trophy in 2007 to enhance the historic rivalry between the two schools. The name of the series is a reference to the Grand Island Bridge, which each team crosses when traveling along I-190 to the other's campus. The name of the trophy is a reference to the Erie Canal, which separates Erie County, where Canisius is located, and Niagara County, where Niagara is located.

Brian Cavanaugh is a former ice hockey coach who led Canisius for 23 years before being fired during the 2004-05 season. Though he had established himself over a long tenure with the Golden Griffins, leading them to becoming a Division I program, Cavanaugh was fired by the athletic director in December 2004 due to a slew of complaints from the team. He has since retired as the athletic director at D'Youville College.

Clancy Seymour is a former Canadian ice hockey coach and player at the college level. He is currently an instructor at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016–17 Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2016–17 Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball team represented Canisius College during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Golden Griffins, led by first-year head coach Reggie Witherspoon, played their home games at the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They finished the season 18–16, 10–10 in MAAC play to finish in a tie for sixth place. They defeated Marist in the first round of the MAAC tournament to advance to the Quarterfinals where they lost to Saint Peter's. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they lost in the first round to Samford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Manhertz</span> American football player (born 1992)

Chris Manhertz is an American professional football tight end for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He played college basketball at Canisius.

Petey may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019–20 Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2019–20 Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball team represented Canisius College in the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Golden Griffins, led by fourth-year head coach Reggie Witherspoon, played their home games at the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They finished the season 12–20, 7–13 in MAAC play to finish in tenth place. They lost in the first round of the MAAC tournament to Iona.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Petey Griffin behind the beak". The Griffin. January 19, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  2. ↑ "Unusual college sports mascots". Boys' Life . November 2011. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  3. ↑ "Mascot Monday: The Canisius College Golden Griffins". SurvivingCollege.com. August 26, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  4. ↑ "An open letter to William & Mary from a (really) old friend". USA Today . April 7, 2010. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  5. ↑ "Petey the Griffin Sounds Off About Canisius' History". Buffalo Rising . April 16, 2010. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  6. ↑ "Catholic Mascotology: And the Winner is…". Busted Halo. October 12, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  7. ↑ "Petey Griffin Named Best Catholic Mascot". Canisius College. October 16, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  8. ↑ "Petey Voted Best Catholic Mascot". GoGriffs.com. October 12, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  9. ↑ "Prestigious Petey wins 'Best Catholic Mascot'". Buffalo.com. October 14, 2013. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  10. ↑ "Catholic Mascotology 2014: The Winner is... | Busted Halo". Busted Halo. 2014-09-20. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  11. ↑ "Petey Griffin in Final Four of Catholic Mascot Contest | The Dome". blogs.canisius.edu. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  12. ↑ "Vote Petey 2015 | The Dome". blogs.canisius.edu. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  13. ↑ "Sam the Minuteman Claims College Court Report's Mascot Mayhem Challenge Title". Office of News & Media Relations | UMass Amherst. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  14. 1 2 Bennett, T. (2016-10-18). "3rd Annual College Court Report Mascot Mayhem Challenge Recap". College Court Report. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.