Happy 100th Birthday, Wildcat!
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 9, 2009) – Today, the University of Kentucky's most iconic figure celebrates his centennial!
“Wildcat looks pretty good for his age, doesn’t he?” said UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. “I wish him a very happy birthday and hope he can bring the university some good luck during his centennial celebration.”
On Oct. 9, 1909, UK defeated the University of Illinois 6 to 2. Commandant Carbusier, then head of the military department at old State University, told a group of students in a chapel service following the game that the Kentucky football team had “fought like wildcats.” The nickname for our athletic teams stuck, and thus, the University of Kentucky Wildcat was born.
The Wildcat mascot first appeared on the sidelines of Commonwealth Stadium in 1976. UK student Gary Tanner was the first Wildcat, and students have continuously filled those size 20 paws. In his 100-year history, Wildcat has rarely roamed the sidelines alone. In the early 1980s era of the twin towers Melvin Turpin and Sam Bowie, Wildcat was joined by another Cat - walking on stilts. Nowadays, Wildcat is seen with Scratch, mascot of UK's Junior Wildcat Club.
Besides cheering on athletic teams, Wildcat serves as an ambassador for the university at events across the Commonwealth.
“Being the Wildcat takes heart, passion and pride in everything that UK stands for,” Wildcat said. “It’s my job at games to reflect the enthusiasm of the fans who are rooting on the team from their sofas at home as well as lead the crowd in the stands to help our teams win. It’s really important to me to be the best that I can be in representing UK. Each year, I want to top what I did the year before – I want to do things bigger, better and bluer than ever before!”
When Wildcat first appeared at games, he usually appeared all natural, sporting just his perfectly coiffed fur, but now elaborate costumes and skits are standard for the Cat. While his moves have gotten fancier and his costumes more creative, Wildcat still represents the pride that all of Kentucky has in its university.
Wildcat fan and UK Hoops Head Coach Matthew Mitchell is impressed by Wildcat. “Happy Birthday, Wildcat! He has great dance moves for a centenarian.”
Being the Kentucky Wildcat is hard work. Wildcat spends several hours each week rehearsing skits and routines for games, creating new costumes to wear and brushing up on our opponents. Game days are even longer. Wildcat is one of the first to arrive at the stadium and one of the last to leave, but he says it’s all worth it.
“I still get that nervous excitement each time right before we do the ‘Big K’ at basketball games or get ready to lead the team onto the field before football games. It’s the best part of being the Kentucky Wildcat. Seeing all of Big Blue Nation dressed in blue slowly rise as we pass – there is nothing else that compares in this lifetime; and I should know, I have nine lives.”
Happy Birthday, Wildcat! Here's to 100 more!
Click through the images below to see Wildcat through the years!
Thank you to the K Book, University Archives and Special Collections Library and UK Athletics for information that contributed to this story.