Truman the Tiger

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 2004.^[2]

Truman is best-known to Mizzou fans for his "tail-whip" 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 state-wide 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, and are pulled from the general cheerleading squad.

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.

See also

• History of the University of Missouri

References

External links

• Missouri's Mascot and Colors