Most Ridiculous College Mascots and Nicknames of All Time

30. Virginia Tech Hokies - HokieBird

The Hokie isn't even a real thing. It is defined as a devoted Virginia Tech fan and is modeled after a turkey. It looks like a jolly, old mascot, but it's strange to have someone you'd eat for Thanksgiving dinner as the symbol for your school.

30. Virginia Tech Hokies - HokieBird

The Hokie isn't even a real thing. It is defined as a devoted Virginia Tech fan and is modeled after a turkey. It looks like a jolly, old mascot, but it's strange to have someone you'd eat for Thanksgiving dinner as the symbol for your school.

29. Georgetown Hoyas - Jack the Bulldog

He looks like a nice guy doesn't he? There's having an intense mascot and then there's having a mascot that looks like he's ready to attack you. Additionally, the mascot doesn't even match the team name, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

29. Georgetown Hoyas - Jack the Bulldog

He looks like a nice guy doesn't he? There's having an intense mascot and then there's having a mascot that looks like he's ready to attack you. Additionally, the mascot doesn't even match the team name, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

28. TCU Horned Frogs - Super Frog

This mascot falls into the "random" category. All told, the mascot is actually pretty cool looking. He looks like a buff alien. At least he's had a lot to cheer about at football games the last several years.

28. TCU Horned Frogs - Super Frog

This mascot falls into the "random" category. All told, the mascot is actually pretty cool looking. He looks like a buff alien. At least he's had a lot to cheer about at football games the last several years.

27. Auburn Tigers - Aubie

Obviously a tiger is a very popular nickname for a team, but Aubie is very strange looking. Essentially, Aubie looks like a librarian that happens to be a tiger. That's not exactly the intense look the program is probably looking for.

27. Auburn Tigers - Aubie

Obviously a tiger is a very popular nickname for a team, but Aubie is very strange looking. Essentially, Aubie looks like a librarian that happens to be a tiger. That's not exactly the intense look the program is probably looking for.

26. Alabama Crimson Tide - Big Al

From one Alabama school to their rival, the Alabama mascot doesn't make much sense either. Crimson Tide is actually a pretty cool nickname for a school, but who's the one who piped up and was like, "We're the Crimson Tide, I know, let's make our mascot an elephant!" Separately, the nickname and mascot are pretty cool, but together they make no sense.

26. Alabama Crimson Tide - Big Al

From one Alabama school to their rival, the Alabama mascot doesn't make much sense either. Crimson Tide is actually a pretty cool nickname for a school, but who's the one who piped up and was like, "We're the Crimson Tide, I know, let's make our mascot an elephant!" Separately, the nickname and mascot are pretty cool, but together they make no sense.

25. Oklahoma State Cowboys - Pistol Pete

The huge head on Pistol Pete is what really gets people. Everything else looks like a normal cowboy, but then the head is gigantic. He really looks like he's a caricature of a cowboy, which probably isn't what Oklahoma State wanted when they created him.

25. Oklahoma State Cowboys - Pistol Pete

The huge head on Pistol Pete is what really gets people. Everything else looks like a normal cowboy, but then the head is gigantic. He really looks like he's a caricature of a cowboy, which probably isn't what Oklahoma State wanted when they created him.

24. Iowa State Cyclones - Cy

What represents a cyclone any better than a bird? Nothing about the Cyclones' mascot makes any sense, although it would be hard to have a mascot that perfectly represented rapidly spinning winds. Everyone seems to agree they could've come up with something better than a cardinal, though.

24. Iowa State Cyclones - Cy

What represents a cyclone any better than a bird? Nothing about the Cyclones' mascot makes any sense, although it would be hard to have a mascot that perfectly represented rapidly spinning winds. Everyone seems to agree they could've come up with something better than a cardinal, though.

23. Texas A&M Aggies - Revielle

Reveille is actually an absolutely beautiful dog and mascot, but he doesn't match with the team's name. Texas A&M is named after the agriculture industry, so having a dog doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Sure, it would be weird to have any foods grown on a farm, but they could have cattle or something like that.

23. Texas A&M Aggies - Revielle

Reveille is actually an absolutely beautiful dog and mascot, but he doesn't match with the team's name. Texas A&M is named after the agriculture industry, so having a dog doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Sure, it would be weird to have any foods grown on a farm, but they could have cattle or something like that.

22. St. Louis University Billikens - Billiken

Billiken looks like something straight out of a horror movie. Really, he looks like the trouble maker, pale child who plays tricks on people in some old, abandoned mansion. Perhaps that's going too far, but this mascot is beyond creepy and it's hard to believe he can inspire much excitement without scaring people.

22. St. Louis University Billikens - Billiken

Billiken looks like something straight out of a horror movie. Really, he looks like the trouble maker, pale child who plays tricks on people in some old, abandoned mansion. Perhaps that's going too far, but this mascot is beyond creepy and it's hard to believe he can inspire much excitement without scaring people.

21. Delta State - Mr. Okra

This one is a real head scratcher. Who thought it would be a good idea to make the school mascot Okra? That might be the least intimidating nickname of all time and the mascot just emphasizes the obscurity of the name.

21. Delta State - Mr. Okra

This one is a real head scratcher. Who thought it would be a good idea to make the school mascot Okra? That might be the least intimidating nickname of all time and the mascot just emphasizes the obscurity of the name.

20. Wake Forest Demon Deacons - The Demon Deacon

One has to think this mascot was modeled after the first head master of the school or something like that, because that's what he looks like. For some reason, he rides in on a motorcycle, despite the fact he looks like an old man that belongs in his law library. Nothing about it makes sense.

20. Wake Forest Demon Deacons - The Demon Deacon

One has to think this mascot was modeled after the first head master of the school or something like that, because that's what he looks like. For some reason, he rides in on a motorcycle, despite the fact he looks like an old man that belongs in his law library. Nothing about it makes sense.

19. California Golden Bears - Oski

Poor, Oski. Golden Bears is a pretty cool nickname for a team, but Oski looks so bizarre. His face is far too large and something about him just looks off. Yes, he looks pretty nice, but without knowing who he was the mascot for, most people probably wouldn't be able to guess what he was.

19. California Golden Bears - Oski

Poor, Oski. Golden Bears is a pretty cool nickname for a team, but Oski looks so bizarre. His face is far too large and something about him just looks off. Yes, he looks pretty nice, but without knowing who he was the mascot for, most people probably wouldn't be able to guess what he was.

18. MIT Engineers - The Engineer

C'mon MIT, you're some of the smartest people in the country, you couldn't think of a more creative name? People going to the school are mostly engineers and so their teams are named after that profession. Can you imagine if every school made their mascot according to this? There would be a lot of schools with the mascot of the "Undeclareds".

18. MIT Engineers - The Engineer

C'mon MIT, you're some of the smartest people in the country, you couldn't think of a more creative name? People going to the school are mostly engineers and so their teams are named after that profession. Can you imagine if every school made their mascot according to this? There would be a lot of schools with the mascot of the "Undeclareds".

17. Texas A&M Corpus-Christi - Izzy the Islander

Izzy is actually one of the coolest mascots in college sports. However, that doesn't make him any less strange. His big Tiki head walking around strikes people right away and makes him a prime target for a photo op with fans. Count him as one of the most creative mascots in college athletics.

17. Texas A&M Corpus-Christi - Izzy the Islander

Izzy is actually one of the coolest mascots in college sports. However, that doesn't make him any less strange. His big Tiki head walking around strikes people right away and makes him a prime target for a photo op with fans. Count him as one of the most creative mascots in college athletics.

16. Cal State Long Beach Dirtbags - Prospector Pete

Prospector Pete is nowhere to be seen, so he's a little bit of a mystery, but the nickname "Dirtbags" is a bit of a head scratcher. It makes people think that anyone playing for this team must be a dirtbag, which usually has a negative connotation attached to it.

16. Cal State Long Beach Dirtbags - Prospector Pete

Prospector Pete is nowhere to be seen, so he's a little bit of a mystery, but the nickname "Dirtbags" is a bit of a head scratcher. It makes people think that anyone playing for this team must be a dirtbag, which usually has a negative connotation attached to it.

15. Dartmouth Big Green - Keggy the Keg

Now, this is a great, straightforward mascot. More colleges should adopt this straightforward approach, really. An Ivy League school having a mascot modeled after beer and drinking is pretty hilarious. The mascot itself actually looks pretty cool too, although it looks like he's been sipping a bit from his own keg.

15. Dartmouth Big Green - Keggy the Keg

Now, this is a great, straightforward mascot. More colleges should adopt this straightforward approach, really. An Ivy League school having a mascot modeled after beer and drinking is pretty hilarious. The mascot itself actually looks pretty cool too, although it looks like he's been sipping a bit from his own keg.

14. Syracuse Orange - Otto

Nothing says "we're going to beat you" than having an item you can find in the grocery store as your mascot. Yes, the orange involved in Syracuse's uniforms makes them look really cool, but Otto is a very weird, bumbling mascot. The biggest question is, how does the person inside see through that costume?

14. Syracuse Orange - Otto

Nothing says "we're going to beat you" than having an item you can find in the grocery store as your mascot. Yes, the orange involved in Syracuse's uniforms makes them look really cool, but Otto is a very weird, bumbling mascot. The biggest question is, how does the person inside see through that costume?

13. Tulsa Golden Hurricane - Captain Cane

Like Iowa State, Tulsa didn't exactly know how to make a mascot based on a natural disaster, but the choice they went with is very weird. Someone who looks like Captain America shouldn't be representing a "golden hurricane", whatever that is. For that matter, Golden Hurricane sounds a bit like an inappropriate nickname.

13. Tulsa Golden Hurricane - Captain Cane

Like Iowa State, Tulsa didn't exactly know how to make a mascot based on a natural disaster, but the choice they went with is very weird. Someone who looks like Captain America shouldn't be representing a "golden hurricane", whatever that is. For that matter, Golden Hurricane sounds a bit like an inappropriate nickname.

12. Ohio State Buckeyes - Brutus

Brutus is a beloved mascot that is very popular because of the Buckeyes' athletic success, but take a second to realize how strange he is. Essentially, his head is an actual buckeye from a buckeye tree, which is kind of cool, but it also makes him look like one of the goofiest mascots in college sports.

12. Ohio State Buckeyes - Brutus

Brutus is a beloved mascot that is very popular because of the Buckeyes' athletic success, but take a second to realize how strange he is. Essentially, his head is an actual buckeye from a buckeye tree, which is kind of cool, but it also makes him look like one of the goofiest mascots in college sports.

11. Toledo Rockets - Rocky the Rocket

This is a slick looking mascot. Rocky really looks like something out of the future. Why Toledo, in particular, has this mascot doesn't really make sense, but hey, more power to them.

11. Toledo Rockets - Rocky the Rocket

This is a slick looking mascot. Rocky really looks like something out of the future. Why Toledo, in particular, has this mascot doesn't really make sense, but hey, more power to them.

10. Stanford Cardinal - Stanford Tree

Forever the goofiest mascot of all time, the Stanford Tree looks like something you should be decorating on Christmas, not something that should be representing a sports team. The poor guy doesn't even have any arms, how sad is that?

10. Stanford Cardinal - Stanford Tree

Forever the goofiest mascot of all time, the Stanford Tree looks like something you should be decorating on Christmas, not something that should be representing a sports team. The poor guy doesn't even have any arms, how sad is that?

9. Wichita State Shockers - WuShock

In Kansas, this mascot makes sense, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense anywhere else. Just in this picture, he's eating corn. For an agricultural symbol, though, he looks a bit aggressive.

9. Wichita State Shockers - WuShock

In Kansas, this mascot makes sense, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense anywhere else. Just in this picture, he's eating corn. For an agricultural symbol, though, he looks a bit aggressive.

8. Louisiana Lafayette - Cayenne

Cayenne gives off the "spicy" vibe, which apparently is what Louisiana Lafayette is going for, but he looks so weird. The way his eyes look makes it seem like perhaps the spiciness is getting to him, which probably wasn't the intention.

8. Louisiana Lafayette - Cayenne

Cayenne gives off the "spicy" vibe, which apparently is what Louisiana Lafayette is going for, but he looks so weird. The way his eyes look makes it seem like perhaps the spiciness is getting to him, which probably wasn't the intention.

7. UC Irvine Anteaters - Peter the Anteater

Anteaters sleep 20 hours a day, so why would you want your team mascot to be one? UC Irvine apparently wants to be represented by it and their mascot looks so weird. You can't deny based on this picture, though, it looks like he gets his work in at the gym.

7. UC Irvine Anteaters - Peter the Anteater

Anteaters sleep 20 hours a day, so why would you want your team mascot to be one? UC Irvine apparently wants to be represented by it and their mascot looks so weird. You can't deny based on this picture, though, it looks like he gets his work in at the gym.

6. Penn State Nittany Lions - The Nittany Lion

There might not be a creepier mascot in college sports than the Nittany Lion at Penn State. It looks like a bad Halloween costume with a bizarre mask attached to it. For having such a cool logo, Penn State really seems to have screwed up its mascot's look.

6. Penn State Nittany Lions - The Nittany Lion

There might not be a creepier mascot in college sports than the Nittany Lion at Penn State. It looks like a bad Halloween costume with a bizarre mask attached to it. For having such a cool logo, Penn State really seems to have screwed up its mascot's look.

5. Xavier - The Blue Blob

When he's moving around, he looks hilarious and is certainly entertaining. The inspiration for the costume, though, the world may never know.

5. Xavier - The Blue Blob

When he's moving around, he looks hilarious and is certainly entertaining. The inspiration for the costume, though, the world may never know.

4. Nebraska - 'Lil Red

The few schools that use inflatable mascots are very weird and Nebraska's is the weirdest of the bunch. A little kid as your mascot for a team with a bizarre nickname is just confusing. To get back to their winning ways, maybe they should adopt a mascot closer to the age of most of its athletes.

4. Nebraska - 'Lil Red

The few schools that use inflatable mascots are very weird and Nebraska's is the weirdest of the bunch. A little kid as your mascot for a team with a bizarre nickname is just confusing. To get back to their winning ways, maybe they should adopt a mascot closer to the age of most of its athletes.

3. UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs - Sammy the Slug

If anyone knows what a banana slug is, please let UC Santa Cruz know that it should not be their mascot. Sammy the Slug looks like something you'd shoot out of your nose when you have a cold. Basically, not the ideal mascot for a college sports team.

3. UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs - Sammy the Slug

If anyone knows what a banana slug is, please let UC Santa Cruz know that it should not be their mascot. Sammy the Slug looks like something you'd shoot out of your nose when you have a cold. Basically, not the ideal mascot for a college sports team.

2. Williams College Ephs - The Purple Cow

D-III Williams College has such a strange mascot, it had to make the list. This purple cow is a living legend, despite the fact he makes no sense. Sometimes, having a mascot that doesn't make sense, actually makes it a little bit funnier.

2. Williams College Ephs - The Purple Cow

D-III Williams College has such a strange mascot, it had to make the list. This purple cow is a living legend, despite the fact he makes no sense. Sometimes, having a mascot that doesn't make sense, actually makes it a little bit funnier.

1. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers - Big Red

Any mascot that looks like he can eat a fan at any time that he wants is a strange one. Big Red might be the only one in college sports that fits that description. He looks so goofy with no jaw and a mouth that is huge, but his red body brings together the entire costume that makes him the strangest mascot in college sports.

1. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers - Big Red

Any mascot that looks like he can eat a fan at any time that he wants is a strange one. Big Red might be the only one in college sports that fits that description. He looks so goofy with no jaw and a mouth that is huge, but his red body brings together the entire costume that makes him the strangest mascot in college sports.