View source for Rocky the Bull

{{Short description|Mascot of the University of South Florida}}
{{Infobox College Mascot
| name = Rocky
| image = USF Rocky.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = 
| university = University of South Florida
| conference = American Athletic Conference
| conference_short = The American
| description = [[Bull]]
| name_origin =
| first_seen = 1965<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usf.edu/about-usf/traditions.aspx|title = Traditions &#124; University of South Florida}}</ref>
| related_mascots = 
| official_website = 
}}

'''Rocky the Bull''' (officially '''Rocky D. Bull''')  is the mascot of the [[University of South Florida]]. He is an [[anthropomorphic|anthropomorphized]] [[bull]] who can typically be seen at athletic dressed in USF athletic gear--usually a [[American football|football]] or [[basketball]] jersey, but occasionally other attire like a USF [[T-shirt]].

==History==
Shortly after the university's inception in 1956, a contest was held that would determine the university's mascot. Among the finalists were the [[Brahman (cattle)|Brahman]], the [[Olympic Games|Olympian]], the [[cougar]], the [[buccaneer]], and the [[golden eagle]], and the Brahman bull was ultimately selected and unveiled as the mascot on November 17, 1962.<ref>[http://usfweb2.usf.edu/history/rocky.html Chickens, Camels and a Bull named Rocky]</ref><ref>[http://usfweb2.usf.edu/50/Timeline/default.asp?decade=1960 University of South Florida: The First 50 Years]</ref> Rocky's name was chosen as a play on the popular American delicacy [[Rocky Mountain oysters]]. His middle initial "D" stands for "dogie", a term referring to a motherless [[Calf (animal)|calf]], reflecting Rocky's past.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Traditions {{!}} University of South Florida |url=https://www.usf.edu/about-usf/traditions.aspx |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=www.usf.edu}}</ref>

Rocky started out in 1965 as a toy sold by the USF bookstore. His image was officially trademarked by the university in 1974, and debuted the next year. His birthday is celebrated every year during USF Week in April.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Schedule {{!}} USF Week|url=https://www.usf.edu/student-affairs/usfweek/schedule/index.aspx#birthday-bash|access-date=2020-10-17|website=www.usf.edu}}</ref> 

The USF athletics teams were known as the Golden Brahmans until the earlier 1980s, when the name was simplified to the Bulls. Rocky was redesigned in 1986 and 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rocky the Bull {{!}} University of South Florida|url=https://www.usf.edu/about-usf/rocky.aspx|access-date=2020-10-17|website=www.usf.edu}}</ref>

Rocky won the Capital One Mascot Challenge in 2013, besting Mike the Tiger (LSU), Sparty (Michigan State), and, in the finals, Raider Red (Texas Tech). Rocky is the first mascot to go undefeated in the Capital One Mascot Challenge.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rocky Wins Capital One Mascot Challenge|url=https://gousfbulls.com/news/2014/1/1/209355679.aspx|access-date=2020-10-17|website=USF Athletics|date=January 2014 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://usfweb2.usf.edu/history/rocky.html History of Rocky the Bull]

{{University of South Florida}}
{{South Florida Bulls football navbox}}
{{South Florida Bulls men's basketball navbox}}
{{South Florida Bulls women's basketball navbox}}
{{South Florida Bulls men's soccer navbox}}
{{American Athletic Conference mascot navbox}}

[[Category:American Athletic Conference mascots]]
[[Category:University of South Florida]]
[[Category:Fictional bulls]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Cattle mascots]]
[[Category:Anthropomorphic cattle]]
[[Category:Mascots introduced in 1965]]