West Virginia Mountaineers forward Devin Williams (41) drives to the basket during the NCAA Big 12 Championship Men's Basketball game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The first thing that jumps out to me with the costumed mascot is definitely the hat. (Credit Image: © Brian Freed/Southcreek Global/ZUMApress.com), https://www.alamy.com/oct-11-2010-morgantown-west-virginia-united-states-of-america-west-image63263366.html, Sept. 19, 2010 - Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America - Two young West Virginia fans chat with Officer Gorby and mascot Brock Burwell before the game against Maryland Saturday. Jacob Kupferman/CSM, https://www.alamy.com/the-west-virginia-mountaineers-mascot-during-the-ncaa-college-football-game-between-the-texas-longhorns-and-the-west-virginia-mountaineers-on-saturday-october-5-2019-at-milan-puskar-stadium-in-morgantown-west-virginia-jacob-kupfermancsm-image328985475.html, The Virginia Tech Hokies on the sidelines against the Virginia Cavaliers during the third quarter at Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America, https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-virginia-tech-hokies-on-the-sidelines-against-the-virginia-cavaliers-41467222.html, Jan 13, 2008 - Durham, North Carolina, USA - NCAA Basketball: Duke Bluedevils MASCOT along with the student section known as the CAMERON CRAZIES show there school spirit as the Duke Bluedevils beat the Virginia Cavaliers 87-65 as they played Cameron Indoor Stadium located on the campus of Duke University. Virginia Tech defeated East Carolina 49-27. Mario Cantu/CSM/Alamy Live News, https://www.alamy.com/austin-tx-usa-03rd-nov-2018-texas-longhorns-mascot-bevo-in-action-during-the-ncaa-football-game-between-west-virginia-at-darrell-k-royal-texas-memorial-stadium-in-austin-tx-mario-cantucsmalamy-live-news-image224024836.html, Nov. 6, 2010 - Durham, North Carolina, United States of America - Duke mascot celebrates Duke score. While modern Virginia mascots are recognized by their flamboyant costumes and animated appearance, the earlier mascots were actually alive. (Credit Image: © Jason Clark / Southcreek, https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-dec-31-2011-atlanta-georgia-us-dec-30-2011-atlanta-georgia-auburn-40326921.html. Photo by Alan Schwartz/Cal Sport Media/Alamy Live News, https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-syracuse-ny-usa-3rd-feb-2018-the-syracuse-mascot-otto-the-orange-entertains-173422745.html, https://www.alamy.com/jan-13-2008-durham-north-carolina-usa-ncaa-basketball-duke-bluedevils-image63028366.html, The UVA mascot during the NCAA Basketball game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Virginia Cavaliers at the John Paul Jones Arena on March 5, 2016 in Charlottesville, VA. Jacob Kupferman/CSM, https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-uva-mascot-during-the-ncaa-basketball-game-between-the-louisville-97779264.html, https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-morgantown-west-virginia-usa-sculpture-of-the-west-virginia-university-125207268.html, The Virginia Cavaliers mascot during the NCAA Basketball game between the Villanova Wildcats and the Virginia Cavaliers at the John Paul Jones Arena on December 19, 2015 in Charlottesville, VA. Jacob Kupferman/CSM, https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-virginia-cavaliers-mascot-during-the-ncaa-basketball-game-between-92227385.html, The Virginia Cavaliers defeated the Connecticut Huskies 17-16 at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, VA on October 13, 2007, https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-virginia-cavaliers-defeated-the-connecticut-huskies-17-16-at-scott-59479018.html, https://www.alamy.com/jan-13-2008-durham-north-carolina-usa-ncaa-basketball-duke-bluedevils-image63028313.html, The North Carolina State Wolfpack celebrates after his team scored a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers during the fourth, https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-north-carolina-state-wolfpack-celebrates-after-his-team-scored-59270259.html, https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-morgantown-west-virginia-usa-sculpture-of-the-west-virginia-university-125207266.html, https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-virginia-cavaliers-mascot-during-the-ncaa-basketball-game-between-92227107.html, The Virginia Tech Hokies mascot on the sidelines during the fourth quarter at Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America, https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-virginia-tech-hokies-mascot-on-the-sidelines-during-the-fourth-41467235.html, The Virginia Cavaliers mascot during the NCAA Basketball game between the George Washington Colonials and the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on Sunday November 11, 2018 in Charlottesville, VA. Jacob Kupferman/CSM, https://www.alamy.com/the-virginia-cavaliers-mascot-during-the-ncaa-basketball-game-between-the-george-washington-colonials-and-the-virginia-cavaliers-at-john-paul-jones-arena-on-sunday-november-11-2018-in-charlottesville-va-jacob-kupfermancsm-image224644981.html, The UCLA Bruins mascot stands on the field during the first quarter against the Virginia Cavaliers at the Rose Bowl on, https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-ucla-bruins-mascot-stands-on-the-field-during-the-first-quarter-93088378.html, The West Virginia Mountaineers mascot during the NCAA college football game between the Texas Longhorns and the West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday October 5, 2019 at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia. As an independent, non-profit student newsroom that receives no money from the University, we rely on contributions from readers like you. Over three decades later, that prediction has certainly turned out to be true — Cav Man is a fan favorite of not only students, but the Charlottesville community as well. But for as simple of a design it may be, it’s one of the most recognizable symbols in college athletics. Saint Joseph’s Hawk That Won’t Stop, Mascot Monday: North Dakota State University Bison, Mascot Monday: The University of Florida Gators, Mascot Monday: Arizona State Sun Devils [What Have You Done, ASU?! The first documented Cavalier mascot appeared in a football game against Harvard in 1947. TCU Horned Frogs forward JD Miller (15) finished the game with 12 points during the NCAA Big 12 Championship Men's Basketball game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. West Virginia Mountaineers cheerleaders perform during a time out during the NCAA Big 12 Championship Men's Basketball game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Kendall Shaw/CSM/Alamy Live News, https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-kansas-city-missouri-usa-10th-mar-2016-tcu-horned-frogs-guard-chauncey-98548124.html, Dec. 31, 2011 - Atlanta, Georgia, U.S - Dec. 30, 2011 - Atlanta, Georgia - Auburn Tigers mascot ''Aubie'' after winning the 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl between the Virginia Cavaliers and the Auburn Tigers. Before Cav Man, the University's mascots included a slew of different dogs, a Cav Man-esque "Cavalier" embodied by members of the polo team and the highly controversial "Hoo" — a fuzzy, odd-looking creature. After an overwhelming amount of criticism, Schultz relented and agreed to terminate the mascot and its association with the University. The Boston College Eagles defeated the University of Virginia Cavaliers by a score of 17 to 13. According to the university’s Wikipedia page, the mascot is a reference to when Virginia earned its nickname, the “Old Dominion”. (Credit Image: © Anthony Barham/Southcreek Global/ZUMAPRESS.com), https://www.alamy.com/dec-4-2010-charlotte-north-carolina-united-states-of-america-the-university-image63302584.html, https://www.alamy.com/virginia-polytechnic-institute-mascot-image178791178.html, Staue of school mascot The Knight, Southern Seminary Building, Main Hall of Southern Virginia University, Buena Vista, Virginia, https://www.alamy.com/staue-of-school-mascot-the-knight-southern-seminary-building-main-hall-of-southern-virginia-university-buena-vista-virginia-image227246814.html, Harvard vs. University of Virginia football program, 1947, https://www.alamy.com/harvard-vs-university-of-virginia-football-program-1947-image214336528.html, College Park, MD, USA. Kendall Shaw/CSM/Alamy Live News, https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-kansas-city-missouri-usa-10th-mar-2016-west-virginia-mountaineers-98420560.html, Oct. 22, 2011 - Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S. - Virginia Cavaliers mascot during an NCAA football game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at the Scott Stadium. For a while the Cavalier roamed the Virginia sidelines on horseback until 1974 when the rider and horse parted company. The mascot is perhaps best remembered for urinating on a cheerleader’s megaphone at a football game against Pennsylvania in 1949. “The ‘Hoo is a video game reject,” the Cavalier Daily wrote in a 1983 article. 10th Mar, 2016. TCU Horned Frogs guard Chauncey Collins (1) shoots a jump shot during the NCAA Big 12 Championship Men's Basketball game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the TCU Horned Frogs at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.