While college basketball fans have plenty to celebrate in the 2024 NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments, many of them also enjoy the mascots.
The bulldog is one of the most iconic ones in college sports. As many as 15 NCAA Division I schools have bulldogs as their mascots. Schools such as the Yale Bulldogs, Drake Bulldogs and Gonzaga Bulldogs will all have the breed represented in March Madness.
But bulldogs won’t be the only mascots roaming the sidelines. From adorable animals to unique nods to school history, here’s a breakdown of some mascots featured in this year’s tournaments.
Stetson Hatters
Three Florida teams are playing in the men’s bracket. While many know of Albert the Gator — the No. 7-seeded Florida mascot — and Owlsley the Owl from Florida Atlantic, lesser known No. 16 Stetson has a mascot who might turn heads.
This will be the Hatters’ first appearance in the tournament since becoming a Division I team in 1971. The Hatters’ origin comes from John B. Stetson — the inventor of Stetson hats. Stetson made a donation to the DeLand Academy when the school was facing financial issues and Stetson was named chairman of the board of trustees in 1889,
