Truman the Tiger
| Truman the Tiger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | University of Missouri |
| Conference | SEC |
| Description | Anthropomorphic Bengal tiger |
| Origin of name | Missourian Harry S. Truman |
| First seen | 1986 |
Truman the Tiger is the official mascot of the athletic teams of the University of Missouri Tigers.[1] Truman is named after U.S. President Harry S. Truman, who was from the U.S. state of Missouri. The mascot was named on September 12, 1986, though the use of a Bengal tiger as Missouri's mascot is traced to the 1890s. Truman has been awarded "best mascot in the nation" several times, most recently in 2014.[2]
Truman is best known to Mizzou fans for his "tail-spin" during the "Missouri Waltz", doing push-ups with the ROTC after Tiger scores, and for riding into home football games on a 1950s-vintage Boone County fire truck ("Truman's Taxi"), painted gold and black and outfitted with several Missouri flags. The mascot makes hundreds of appearances statewide at university functions, sporting events and at private parties, where he can be hired for a small donation. Actors playing Truman, in contrast to at other schools, are semi-public: they are usually introduced as "Truman" during Senior Night festivities at the last home football and basketball games of the year. The day of the 2011 Independence Bowl featuring Missouri and North Carolina, Truman accidentally broke the crystal bowl that was part of the trophy to be awarded to the victorious team.
History
In 1864, while in the midst of the American Civil War, the board of curators suspended operations of the university. It was during this time that the residents of Columbia formed a "home guard" unit that became notoriously known as the "Fighting Tigers of Columbia". This name was given because of the group's steadfast readiness to fight against Confederate bushwhackers, hoping to plunder the city and university, under the command of "Bloody Bill" Anderson. Later, in 1890, an alumnus suggested the university's newly formed football team be called the "Tigers" out of respect for those who fought to defend Columbia.
The Tiger
"The Tiger" was the official mascot of the University of Missouri before Truman took his place in 1986. Truman's predecessor was a "plain grey" tiger with black stripes that was simply known as "The Tiger". During his tenure in the 1970s and early 1980s, "The Tiger" came to be known, among other things, for his "lewd" behavior toward opposing teams and fans on the sidelines of Missouri football games, especially for pulling his tail between his legs and making a gesture of masturbation. "The Tiger" was officially replaced by the more family-friendly "Truman The Tiger" before the 1986 football season. Since his retirement, the University of Missouri has quietly tried to erase "The Tiger" from all forms of its media; in fact, the only place where evidence of him can be found is in Missouri football gameday programs from the era.