Gallery: The antics of Butch T. Cougar

by WSM staff

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…

Butch 1977 — During the first years of the costumed Butch, Crimson Rally Squad members switched off suiting up. (Photo from 1977 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1978 — Butch with the Crimson Rally Squad members (Photo from 1978 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1979 — Showing off some early dance moves (Photo from 1979 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1980 — Peggy Robison, a member of the Crimson Rally Squad, began the tradition and was Butch T. Cougar for two years. (Photo from 1980 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1980 — Imitating referees is a crowd favorite for Butch T. Cougar. (Photo from 1980 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1981 — From the beginning, Butch T. Cougar was a spirited presence at football games. (Photo from 1981 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1982 — And maybe the friendliest cat a fan can meet. (Photo from 1982 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1983 — Cougar spirit no matter what season (Photo from 1983 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1984 — Kendall Williams was Butch (T. Cougar) for the ’83–’84 season. (Photo from 1984 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1985 — Butch with the Cougar “Mike Squad”—responsible for generating crowd spirit and coaxing crowd chants and cheers at games. Steve Boe (left), Ray Moffatte (right). (Photo from 1985 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1986 — Geoff Walker was picked for the role when auditions were opened to the entire campus. In the past, Butch was chosen from the second-year rally squad members. (Photos from The Daily Evergreen, March 20, 1986)

Butch 1987 — Butch helps the Cougs make a grand entrance to do battle in Martin Stadium. (Photo from 1987 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1988 — Butch having some fun shooting against the Oregon State Beaver mascot. (Underneath the suit was Kent Kovalenko—who had the opportunity to travel to Tokyo for the Coca-Cola Bowl. Photo from 1988 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1989 — Butch meets the San Diego Chicken while on national television. (Photo from 1989 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1990 — A freewheeling Butch in 1990 (Courtesy WSU Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections)

Butch 1991 — Giving away candy at a seasonal event (Photo from 1991 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1992 — Posing with the WSU Rally Squad (Photo from 1992 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 1993 — Colin Findlay’s friends encouraged him to be Butch—because they thought he was obnoxious! (Photo cutout from The Daily Evergreen, March 30, 1993)

Butch 1994 — Butch almost leaves his mark on the cornerstone for the first academic building at Riverpoint (Spokane campus) with WSU President Sam Smith (at right) looking on. (Photo from WSU Hilltopics, November 1994)

Butch 1995 — Butch in 1995 (Courtesy WSU Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections)

Butch 1996 — Butch beats Joe Vandal in 1-on-1 at halftime. (Photo from The Daily Evergreen, December 16, 1996)

Butch 1997 — Photo from 1997 WSU Chinook yearbook

Butch 1998 — Before a women’s basketball game, Butch takes to the court with the Dairy Queen Junior Cougar Club. (Photo from The Daily Evergreen, February 2, 1998)

Butch 1999 — Butch goes commercial with the WSU Nike Project. (Photo from 1999 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 2000 — Third-year Butch Garrett Thiemens proposes to his girlfriend during a basketball game halftime. (Photo from The Daily Evergreen, March 3, 2000)

Butch 2001 — Butch crowd surfing at a football game (2001 photo by Shelly Hanks/WSU Photo Services)

Butch 2001 — Butch and fans enjoy beating the Purdue Boilermakers in the 2001 Sun Bowl. (Courtesy WSU Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections)

Butch 2002 — Another Sun Bowl highlight: Butch and a Cougar fan plotting an assault on Purdue Pete, the Boilermakers’ mascot. (Photo from The Daily Evergreen, January 24, 2002)

Butch 2003 — Butch and Seahawk mascot Blitz mix it up to entertain the crowd in the Seahawks Stadium. (Photo from The Daily Evergreen, September 2, 2003)

Butch 2004 — Butch gives high-fives to the Cougars fans at the pre-game pep rally in San Diego. (Photo from The Daily Evergreen, January 12, 2004)

Butch 2005 — Butch is named to the Capital One All-American Mascot Team in 2005, and the following year wins Mascot of the Year. (Source WSU News; photo The Daily Evergreen)

Butch 2006 — A little girl smiles up at Butch at the WSU Children’s Center Halloween party. (Photo from The Daily Evergreen, October 31, 2006)

Butch 2007 — Photo of Butch T. Cougar from 2007 WSU Chinook yearbook

Butch 2008 — Butch T. Cougar poses for the camera before a football game. (Photo from The Daily Evergreen, March 20, 2008)

Butch 2009 — A miniature Coug fan high fives Butch after a first down. (Photo from 2009 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 2010 — Butch travels the state but is quite comfortable in the Palouse. (2010 photo by Shelly Hanks/WSU Photo Services)

Butch 2011 — Butch makes the cover of the WSU Chinook 2011 yearbook.

Butch 2012 — A cartoonish Butch serves as a tireless promoter for WSU. (Advertisement from The Daily Evergreen, February 21, 2012)

Butch 2013 — The Butch T. Cougar costume is updated—this time for safety (one of many versions throughout its history). (Photos from The Daily Evergreen, August 21, 2013)

Butch 2014 — Bryan Clark—Butch from 2010 to 2014—saying goodbye to Cougar fans. (Photo from 2016 WSU Chinook yearbook)

Butch 2015 — Butch at the Apple Cup with late President Elson S. Floyd. (Photo from The Daily Evergreen, September 4, 2015)

Butch 2016 — Butch with Ol’ Crimson before the Holiday Bowl game December 27, 2016, in San Diego (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

Butch 2017 — Frame from 2017–2018 Butch T. Cougar Highlights video (Courtesy Chris Opheim/WSU Athletics [YouTube])

Butch 2018 — Waving the Stars and Stripes on Independence Day 2018 (Photo from Twitter @ButchTCougar)

Butch 2019 — Butch as a WSU Science Ambassador at an elementary school science fair in 2019 (Courtesy Collins Research Group/WSU Department of Physics and Astronomy)

Butch 2020 — 2020: Butch background image for the Zoom videoconferencing application (Courtesy Washington State University Athletics)

Read more about Butch in “Cougar Confidential” and “Behind the Mask: Profiles of Cougs who were Butch T. Cougar.”