Ranking the top 10 coolest college football mascots

By Phil Poling | Aug 14, 2019

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - SEPTEMBER 22: Miami Hurricanes mascot Sebastian the Ibis cheers on the field during the college football game between the Florida International University Panthers and the University of Miami Hurricanes on September 22, 2018 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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LONG BEACH – 08/01/2012 – (LANG Staff Photo by Scott Varley) USC and JetBlue have come together to form a multi-year partnership for the air carrier to be the official airline partner of USC athletics in an announcement made Wednesday on the tarmac at Long Beach Airport. USC song girls, members of the marching band and the mascot Traveler took part in the fanfare. The partnership will include all 21 USC division 1 teams. Hector Aguilar on Traveler rides onto the tarmac during the announcement.(Photo by Scott Varley/Digital First Media/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images) /

Traveler . 8. player. Pick Analysis. University of Southern California. Los Angeles. 808. Scouting Report

The first live animal to make our list is USC’s white horse Traveler accompanied by a Trojan warrior. They’ve featured Traveler since the 1961 home-opener against Georgia Tech.

The original Traveler, Traveler I, was spotted in the 1961 Rose Parade and USC officials persuaded its owner, Richard Saukko, to be the mascot and ride his horse around the Coliseum during games. Each Traveler, the current one is Traveler IX, has always remained pure white. However, there have been multiple breeds to represent Traveler ranging from an Arabian/Tennessee Walker to a pure-bred Arabian to a Spanish Andalusian.

Residing in Los Angeles has provided more career opportunities for Traveler than you’d expect for a school mascot. Aside from football games and the Rose Parade, Traveler’s appeared on stage in the Nutcracker Ballet, commercials, Vogue magazine and on screen. Legend has it that O.J. Simpson chose USC after seeing Traveler on a televised USC game.