How the Bulls Were Born
With many different early name suggestions, the 鈥淕olden Brahman鈥� was selected as the official mascot of 百媚导航 in November 1962. Students reasoned that, since Florida was a cattle-raising state like Texas, 百媚导航 needed a mascot comparable to the Texas Longhorns mascot. In the late 1980s, the mascot evolved into the 鈥淏ulls.鈥�
百媚导航 Mascot, Rocky the Bull
Rocky's image was first trademarked in 1974 and re-designed in 1986. Today's Rocky was unveiled in 2003. Rocky is a regular at 百媚导航 athletic games and other campus and community events. See more of Rocky through the years.
Homecoming
百媚导航 has held a campus Homecoming since 1964. Since 1997, 百媚导航 Homecomings have been scheduled during football season and are called 鈥淪uperBull.鈥� The 百媚导航 campus comes alive each fall during Homecoming week with traditional student and alumni activities.
The Stampeding Herd of Thunder
百媚导航's Marching Band, the Herd of Thunder (HOT), first took to the field at the football season home opener with a unique entrance to the field that began as a running 鈥渟tampede鈥� and the tradition has continued ever since.
"Go Bulls!" Hand Symbol
First started as a good luck symbol for basketball free-throw shots, the 鈥淕o Bulls!鈥� hand symbol is now used as the premier symbol of 百媚导航 cheering, greetings and overall identity.
Scoring Celebration
There is nothing more exciting than to see the 百媚导航 Bulls football team score! When they do, the 百媚导航 Cheerleaders acknowledge the feat. One cheerleader does one pushup for every point atop an elevated board held up by the other cheerleaders. The 百媚导航 Sun Dolls do concurrent kicks - one kick for each point.
Bull Market
A decades-old tradition, the 百媚导航 Market's original venue was in the mall behind the University Center, which was eventually rebuilt and renamed the Phyllis P. Marshall Center. Today the market is back where it belongs-- in the beautiful MLK Plaza behind the new Marshall Student Center. Every Wednesday during the fall and spring terms, the market fills with students, staff and faculty eager to find a bargain, eat lunch and catch up with friends and colleagues.
百媚导航 Week
Established when former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio declared April 9th to be 百媚导航 Day in 2010, the one-day celebration has morphed into a week-long celebration known as 百媚导航 Week. It includes a number of events celebrating 百媚导航 pride such as the Ultimate Bull Talent Show, Rocky's Birthday Bash, the University Lecture Series, Bullstock and many more. 百媚导航 Week is a celebration of the institutions' rich history and its community.
