Summer 2021
Bring out the best
George Raveling, Washington State University’s head men’s basketball coach from 1972 to 1983, loved every second of it. » More ...
Intercollegiate
Winter 2020
The Butch Brawl
The plan seemed simple enough: launch Kenyon “Ken” Bement into the air at just the right moment so the Cougs could reclaim their cougar.
University of Washington fans had stolen it more than a decade earlier. And Bement and his friends on the Yell Squad decided enough was enough. It was time to bring the stuffed cougar mascot back home to Pullman.
They spread the word through the student section of the stands at Husky Stadium during the rainy, muddy Apple Cup on November 12, 1932. And almost everything went according to plan.
“The basic idea is to pick up Ken—he’s the smallest of the cheerleaders—and, as the Huskies parade by at halftime with the stuffed cougar, he’s going to go up … » More …
Winter 2020
Butchmen memories
They got Butch where the cougar needed to be: on the field for football games.
Some forty years after Washington State University ended the tradition of a live cougar mascot and the Butchmen disbanded, alumni share memories of the spirit group.
Al Kirkpatrick
“Our job was to get the cougar to the football games and then, after we would score a touchdown or field goal, we would take him around the track,” recalls retired Colfax dentist Al Kirkpatrick (’75 Zool.), a member of the Butchmen for three years.
One time, he and his fellow Butchmen simply couldn’t get the cougar out of his cage and into its trailer. “We were the ones … » More …
Winter 2020
Guiding a transition game
Kyle Smith, the new WSU men's basketball coach, sees potential in the team. » More ...
Winter 2020
Talkback for Winter 2020
Letters from WSU alumni on Butch Cougar mascot, media misinformation, and fostering insect-friendly habitats » More ...
Fall 2020
Butch looks back
From tryouts and training to the big reveal and fortieth anniversary reunion, Butch T. Cougar alumni look back on key moments during their mascot careers.
Tryouts and training
“I didn’t really have to try out other than what I had to do to get on Rally Squad”—which was name all of the mascots of the Pac-10 schools and perform an impression of his favorite cartoon character: Elmer J. Fudd. “And I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, literally and figuratively.”
— Darrell Turner, Butch from 1981 to 1982
“It’s a completely different program now. It’s much more involved than it was … » More …
Fall 2020
Gallery: The antics of Butch T. Cougar
Butch T. Cougar is a WSU celebrity, in the spotlight at games, rallies, parades, and other events both on campus and off, including appearances at elementary schools and the wedding receptions of die-hard alumni.
Here is that legendary icon throughout all his (or her) costumed years at WSU…
Read more about Butch in “Cougar Confidential” and “Behind the Mask: Profiles of Cougs who were Butch T. Cougar.”
Fall 2020
Behind the mask
Meet some of the people behind the mask of WSU’s iconic mascot.
Dean N. Grevé
Dean N. Grevé (’81 Comm.) is credited with creating the character’s signature swagger. As the first student dedicated to playing the role, he’s referred to as the Butch godfather—or “furfather”—and beginning of the lineage. “I was the first full-time Butch,” he says. “I always will be. I’m very proud of that.”
Dean N. Grevé
Grevé portrayed Butch from 1979 to 1981, his junior and … » More …
Fall 2020
Listen to the voice
Glenn Johnson has been the Voice of the Cougs for 40 years. Listen to a few highlights below.
The Pac-12 Networks celebrated Glenn Johnson’s 36th year as the “Voice of the Cougs” (YouTube):
Glenn Johnson leads a 1980 Cougar Electronic Journal celebrating WSU’s 90th anniversary:
A short 2012 tribute to Glenn Johnson from Murrow College:
Fall 2020
“The Voice”
Glenn Johnson has arguably the most recognizable voice in Pullman. » More ...