The Enduring Legacy of Bully: A History of the Mississippi State University Mascot
Mississippi State University's athletic teams are known as the Bulldogs, a moniker that reflects the tenacity and strength displayed by its athletes. While the Bulldog has become synonymous with Mississippi State athletics, the journey to solidify this identity involved various nicknames and traditions, ultimately culminating in the beloved mascot known as Bully.
From Aggies to Maroons: The Evolution of a Nickname
Like many universities, Mississippi State's athletic teams went by different nicknames throughout the years. As Mississippi A&M College, the teams were initially called the "Aggies," a nod to the school's agricultural roots. This reflected the university's origins and focus on agricultural education.
When the institution officially became Mississippi State College in 1932, the teams adopted the nickname "Maroons," a reference to the color of their uniforms. The maroon color became a visual representation of the university's athletic teams.
Bulldogs became the official title for State teams in 1961, not long after State College was granted university status.
The Rise of the Bulldog: A Symbol of Tenacity
Newspaper reports of the victory Over the University of Mississippi commented on the 'bulldog' style of play by the A&M eleven, and the Bulldog was soon publicly accepted as a school athletic symbol.
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The story of how the Bulldog became the official mascot is intertwined with a pivotal football game against their arch-rivals, the University of Mississippi, on November 30. Newspaper reports of the victory commented on the 'bulldog' style of play by the A&M eleven, and the Bulldog was soon publicly accepted as a school athletic symbol.
The First Bully: A Mascot is Born
The tradition of having a live bulldog mascot began in 1935 when head football coach Major Ralph Sasse sought to inspire his team. Accounts of a 1926 pep rally in Meridian, Miss., had another bulldog parading with students. Use as an official game mascot began in 1935 when coach Major Ralph Sasse, on 'orders' from his team, went to Memphis, Tenn., to select a bulldog. After Tol's arrival, Mississippi State defeated both Army (a college football powerhouse during that era) and Alabama. Ptolemy's littermate became the first mascot called "Bully" shortly after Sasse's team beat mighty Army 13-7 at West Point that same year, perhaps the greatest victory in MSU football history.
This bulldog, named Ptolemy, was a gift from the Edgar Webster family to Coach Sasse. A litter-mate of Ptolemy became the first mascot called 'Bully' shortly after Sasse's team beat mighty Army 13-7 at West Point that same year, perhaps the greatest victory in MSU football history.
Tragedy and Remembrance: The Legacy of Bully I
But Bully (retroactively named "Bully I") earned other fame the hard way, in November 1939 when he was struck and killed by a campus bus. The students held a funeral for Bully so elaborate that it was covered by LIFE magazine.
Tragedy struck when Bully I was struck and killed by a campus bus in November 1939. Days of campus mourning followed, as Bully lay in state in a glass coffin. A half-mile funeral procession accompanied by The Famous Maroon Band and three ROTC battalions went to Scott Field where Bully was buried under the bench at the 50-yard line. Even LIFE Magazine covered to the event.
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A Lineage of Bulldogs: Continuing the Tradition
Following the untimely demise of Bully I, a lineage of bulldogs has carried the mantle of "Bully," each with their unique personalities and contributions to Mississippi State's spirit.
Bully II ("Beau Legg", 1939-1940): Donated by Jayn Legg of Gulfport, Bully II served as mascot from 1939 until 1940, even presiding over an Orange Bowl win during his tenure, until he too met a tragic end after being struck by a bus.
Bully III (1942): Donated to Mississippi State by J.W.
Bully V: A brindle bulldog purchased in July 1945 from a Greenwood resident by then-student body president David L. Cline. Despite his mascot status, the student newspaper was running advertisements to find him a home by January 1946.
Bully VI: Represented by two dogs. Mississippi State Athletics purchased one of the dogs ("Bully VI-A") from Sid Parker of West Point in September 1947 to serve as the mascot for the varsity football team. Similarly to Bully IV, he was named "Big Dog on Campus," but was affectionately known as "BDOC" for short. He was the first Mississippi State bulldog mascot to be "dog-napped"; prior to their game in October 1951, University of Georgia students dognapped Bully, but Mississippi State would persevere and win the football game 6-0. Photos from the Reveille yearbook show this Bully pulling on his leash, lunging toward opponent mascots including LSU's Mike the Tiger, the Baylor bear, and Alabama's live elephant Alamite. The other dog representing Bully VI ("Bully VI-B") was bought from Oklahoma City Kennels and given to the school as a gift in November 1947.
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Bully VII ("Mr. Muggs"): A white bulldog provided in September 1953 by student Billy Underwood, who lived in Philadelphia. Due to repeated dog-nappings by students from rival schools Ole Miss and Southern Miss, he was allowed to return to Philadelphia with Underwood on the weekends as a protective measure.
Bully VIII: A dark brindle bulldog donated to Mississippi State by Alex Dittler of Atlanta through the Mack Trucks company. According to the Reveille, he is said to have lived the "longest, most neglected life of all Bullys." He was dognapped in 1958 by Ole Miss students, who painted him in red and blue lead-based paint and turned him loose at the Ole Miss-Mississippi State basketball game in Oxford. He almost died after being exposed to the lead paint, but he would survive and serve as mascot through 1964. He also presided over the team when Mississippi State College became "Mississippi State University," as well as when the teams officially became known as the "Bulldogs," in 1961. He also presided over the Bulldogs' 1963 Liberty Bowl victory over North Carolina State, which was also the first nationally televised game in school history.
Bully IX ("Joker"): Purchased by Lambda Chi Alpha in 1964. After it had been discovered that predecessor Bully VIII suffered a history of neglect, the fraternity assumed responsibility in taking care of the mascot and would oversee these duties until 1974.
Bully X ("Sergeant Mac"): The second mascot to serve under the care of the MSU Lambdas.
Bully XII ("Teeway's Romeo"): Nicknamed "Romeo," was purchased by Lambda Chi Alpha shortly after Bully X's death, but he was "murdered" following the 1972 season.
Bully XIII: Served by two dogs, a mother and son duo, both purchased in 1974 in Jackson. Bully XIII-A, named "Trajan," was the son, and he served from 1974 to 1975. He was once dognapped by Ole Miss students, but he was returned unharmed when the UM students discovered that he was undergoing treatment for stomach cancer. He would sire Bully XIV. Bully XIII-B, "Sissy," was Trajan's mother and the only female Bully in Mississippi State history. She too was dognapped by Ole Miss students, but was recovered when a female UM student tried to smuggle her into the Egg Bowl.
Bully XIV ("Champion Bully of MSU"): Called "Champ," was a piebald bulldog sired by Trajan through Molly, a bulldog owned by Mrs. Frazier Thompson, Jr. of Bentonia. He served as mascot from 1976 through 1982. A second bulldog, Bully XIV-B, served from 1985 to 1991.
Bully XV ("Little Bully"): Served during the 1991 and 1992 seasons. He was bred by Dr. Joe G. Martin, owner and veterinarian at Martin Kennels of Ripley. Retired in 1992, Little Bully died in 1994 and was cremated.
Bully XVI ("Replica of Corker"): Known as "Corker," was a piebald brindle bulldog bred by Whitley Wilson of Eupora and served as mascot from 1992 to 1994.
Bully XVIII ("Dontae"): Was donated by alumnus Greg Daly of Flowood in 1998.
Bully XIX ("Tonka"): Was the 19th English bulldog to assume the role of official mascot.
Bully XX ("Champ"): Was the 20th English bulldog to serve as the official mascot of Mississippi State University. Champ was sired by TaTonka Gold (Bully XIX) on September 24, 2006. He was registered by the American Kennel Club under the name "TaTonka's Golden Sun." In October 2014, Champ sired the next Mississippi State mascot, Bully XXI (Jak), who assumed mascot duties following the Maroon and White Spring Game on April 18, 2015. Champ retired with an overall record of 46-31 (.597), featuring wins in the Gator Bowl, Music City Bowl, and Liberty Bowl during his tenure, as well as a trip to the Orange Bowl and the first #1 poll ranking ever achieved by Mississippi State football.
Bully XXI ("Jak"): Was the 21st English Bulldog to serve as the official mascot of Mississippi State University. His formal name is "Cristil's Golden Prince" named in honor of the long-time radio voice Jack Cristil. Jak was sired by "Champ" (Bully XX) in October 2014.
Bully XXII ("Dak"): Is the 22nd English Bulldog to serve as the official mascot of Mississippi State University. His formal name is "Mississippi State Gold N Son Prescott", nicknamed, "Dak". In late March 2023, Mississippi State University announced the next English Bulldog in the line of live mascots. Taking his name from previous Mississippi State quarterback & current Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, "Dak" (Bully XXII) took over mascot duties from the current mascot "Jak" (Bully XXI) on April 15, 2023, at halftime of the 2023 Spring Football game during Super Bulldog Weekend. The ceremony included the "passing of the harness" and blessing ceremony. "Dak" was born March 1, 2021 and is owned by Julie & Bruce Martin of Meridian, MS. "He is very playful. He wants to be around other people," said Julie Martin, his owner. "He will exhaust himself, actually, to just go to every single person." Whether roaming the sidelines at Davis Wade Stadium, soaking in the sights and sounds at The Dude, or guarding the baseline at The Hump, “Dak” looks forward to looking out onto the sea of maroon and white for MSU sporting events, living out any Bulldog’s dream.
Bully Today: A Symbol of Mississippi State Spirit
Bully is the official mascot of the Mississippi State University Bulldogs in Starkville, Miss. The live mascot, an American Kennel Club-registered English bulldog, carries the inherited title of “Bully,” which serves as a traditional name rather than the specific identity of each dog. While early Bullys once roamed campus freely or lived in fraternities, today the official university mascot is housed at the College of Veterinary Medicine when not on duty at State home football games.
By the mid-1970s, Bully's look changed again so that he had dark brown fur and no collar. In 1980, a more cartoonish Bully graced the sidelines at Mississippi State games, one that looks similar to the one seen in the present day. Today, Bully's team consists of six students plus an alternate. Beginning the 2008-2009 school year, Mississippi State added a Bully mascot to its Meridian campus.
The first costumed mascot at Mississippi State appeared during the 1964-65 school year. Early in the 1980s, Bully often wore a tank top and maroon or white shorts.
Bully gained national attention in 2013 after being struck by an ESPN cart during that season's Egg Bowl game between Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
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