Butler mascots

Butler University was founded as North Western Christian by Ovid Butler in 1855. 

He choose "Christians" as the school mascot. 

Sometime after the school had been rename in honor of its founder, Butler was suffering a poor football season in 1919. As losses mounted, people grew wary of the "Christians" nickname. Before a big game against the rival Franklin "Baptists", the Butler Collegian was trying to conceive of a way to fire people up when "Shimmy", a bulldog owned by one of the fraternities, wandered into their office. Shimmy inspired cartoonist George Dickson to draw a bulldog labeled "Butler" taking a bite out of John The Baptist. 

Butler lost the game, but the nickname "Bulldogs" stuck.

Eventually, the bulldog was selected as the official mascot of the university. For many years, Butler had unofficial live bulldog mascots that kept by various fraternities. 

In 2000, Butler Blue became the school's first official live mascot. 

To date, there have been three dogs to carry the name "Blue", the university's primary color.

Butler Blue I (September 23, 2000 - May 30, 2014) - one NCAA Sweet 16 appearance (2003) and two Horizon League McCafferty All-Sports Championships (2002, 2003). 

Term of service: 2000–2003

Butler Blue II (March 27, 2004 - August 31, 2013) - Two NCAA National Championship appearances (2010 & 2011), three Sweet 16 appearances (2007, 2010, 2011) and three Horizon League McCafferty All-Sports Championships (2007, 2010, & 2011). 

Term of service: 2004–2013

Butler Blue III ("Trip") (December 23, 2011 - ) - Became Butler's new mascot on May 20, 2013. Trip had been announced as Blue II's successor on March 9, immediately before the school's last home men's basketball game of the season.