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Bear-shaped mascot wearing a jacket that says "Barney" standing between 2 cheerleaders on a basketball court

Barney, Blitz, and the Bearcat

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Written by Juliette Burns

Blitz the Bearcat, the well-liked Willamette mascot with a confusing animal origin, has a mascot history going back over a century. The bearcat itself was named Willamette University’s mascot to represent the school in sports events in 1915.1 For those not in the know, the bearcat is a real animal, also known as a binturong. They are native to South and Southeast Asia, and live in tropical forests. Perhaps surprisingly, they have little to do with bears and cats, instead being part of the civet and mongoose family.2 Bearcat can also refer to red pandas. These were likely not what was in mind when the name was chosen—Willamette President Doney, who came up with the name, has been quoted as talking about the fight and strength of bears and cats.3

The name was quickly picked up and has endured, referring to the various Willamette sports teams and athletes. From the early years at Willamette, sports were a main topic of the student newspaper The Collegian and the yearbook Wallulah, giving the bearcat name much usage for decades. By 1920, the term ‘Bearcat’ was ubiquitous, used in chants, songs, and sports team names.4 By the 1940s, the term was used for all students, regardless of their athleticism.5 By 1947, students had acquired a bear. Yes, an actual baby bear borrowed from a zoo. His name was Boscoe, and he appeared a few times in 1947 and 1948 before the school got its official mascot costume.6 Further information on Boscoe the bear could not be found. 

The new costume was rather rudimentary, being a dark baggy suit with small ears on top of the head and small eyes close to the large mouth. The Bearcat—sometimes called Mr. Bearcat—was not officially named, and it’s uncertain how often he was brought out.7

Publicity director Nancy Stuart is credited with being in charge of the image and name which was used in the November 14th, 1952 Collegian paper: cartoon Barney Bearcat standing on a beach in Hawaii to herald the trip of the Willamette football team for a match against the University of Hawaii.8 Some sources say that it was the traveling Willamette team who named the mascot Barney.9 There seemed to have been no written official announcement of this new mascot name. He simply sprang up as if he had always been. In fact, he was treated as such by referencing the Bearcat rivalry with the University of Hawaii, which apparently began in 1941, as Barney’s own long standing rivalry.10

In 1955, he was depicted in the Wallulah yearbook in both cartoon and costume form. His cartoon form—continuing from the 1952 original—is small, with large eyes and large fluffy ears, sometimes depicted with a ‘W.U.’ sweater. Above an image of his cartoonish self in this yearbook, he is described as the symbol of the spirit of Willamette.11  By 1957, his costume had gone through a big change—his flat face had been elongated, with his muzzle extending outward, his slightly open mouth below, and larger eyes back and above on the face, he soon began to look almost leopard-like.12 He remained the same for a while, undergoing some detail work in his facial features by the 1970s.13

Barney as a mascot was centered around—as can be expected—sports. He showed up at games, was used on signs for Mcculloch Stadium, was photographed with cheerleaders, and attended university sanctioned pre-games.14 During the 1980s, Barney dipped in the popularity he had enjoyed for almost three decades.15 Then, a senior, Anna Brief, started a Spirit Club and worked to bring about a new updated Barney Bearcat, purchasing a new costume herself in February 1986.16 This costume was very different from the older, formless one previously in use. This costume was brown, very like a cartoon bear in look and shape. He wore a red “W.U.” sweater, as often seen on Barney Bearcat in drawings. His head was much more detailed than before, with fur, a dog-like nose, and front facing eyes.17 Thus, a new Barney was born, but he would have a much shorter run than his predecessor. Still, by 1987, this mascot was making waves; Anna Brief having worked hard to revive the mascot spirit.18

In 1990, the university decided that in a new age of sports and sports promotion, Barney needed an update. Many alumni who had come to know and love the cuddly, sweatered Barney protested the focus on Barney as for ‘athletes only’ and disliked the idea that he needed to be fiercer.19 The project was put on hiatus, and seems to have been dropped during the 1990s. Changes, though, were afoot. In 1997, the Barney costume made what would be its last appearance at a national football championship game, and in March 1999, the university was looking to make changes to university logos and images, including changes to Barney.20 Finally, in October 1999, the new mascot ‘Blitz’ was announced, who was meant to be more modern, more fierce, more like a bear and a cat.21 He debuted on October 9th at the Parent and Family Weekend football game.22 The name “Blitz” was selected through a student vote, and was explicitly ungendered. The Willamette alumni magazine asserted the importance of this fact, since the mascot is for both male and female sports teams.23 

Any pronouns may used when referencing Blitz; though in his earlier years, this was in debate.24 The new mascot costume was another new take on the bearcat: Blitz was a reddish brown with fuzzy white fur on most of his face, a stronger muzzle, slightly open mouth (with mesh to see through), and less padded out in the body than before. In 2009, a new Blitz costume was purchased; the main differences in the costumes being the widening his mouth for visibility and to show off his fangs.25 Blitz was also given a sleeker look, less ruffled and uneven. In regard to the mascot’s overall look, Blitz is currently enjoying the stability similar to that of the Barney costume of the 1960s and 70s. 

A very specific change also occurred around the time of Blitz’ inception. For many years, the Student Handbook had come with a list of Willamette Lingo for new students to read up on, including the names of certain areas, buildings, and programs on campus. Barney the Bearcat had been included, always with the phrase “a mystery animal to everyone.”26 However, starting in the 1999 handbook, at the same time Barney was retired, the handbook switched to a mention of the binturong, the animal mentioned at the beginning of this entry.27 Blitz is not a true binturong; the handbook entry is more a fun fact than an assignment of Blitz’s species.

As the 2000s progressed, Blitz began to move the mascot role away from sports alone. The mascot had never been completely confined to the field, but even in the 2000s the people who donned the suit noted the larger role of the mascot in non-sporting events.28 Around 2003-2004, Blitz not only went off the football field but went international, promoting the Tokyo International University of America in Japan.29 But by 2010, the mascot program had dwindled once again, and Blitz was not much of a presence on campus. Bryan Schmidt, Director of Campus Recreation, as well as ASWU, began work to revitalize the mascot, such as efforts to make the task of bringing him to life a paid job.30 In September 2010, ASWU passed the “Act to make Blitz the Bearcat a Paid Position,” which provided funds for the salary of the wearer and maintenance costs of the costume.31 In 2012, this act was supplanted by the “Blitz the Bearcat Stipend Act” and was passed.32

Blitz the Bearcat continues to be a strong presence on campus, showing up both at games and official campus events, as well as at student request. Blitz poses for photos, joins clubs, and promotes the university; continuing to expand the role as social media grows and student events remain constant. Every year, at graduation, the graduating Blitz performers wear Blitz feet to reveal their otherwise anonymous identity behind the Blitz costume.33 They leave for new opportunities, but the bearcat mascot continues to hype up the campus as he has in all his forms for years past and as he will in years to come. 

Endnotes

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  1. ˆ  “Official Mascot Chosen,” Willamette Collegian, November 17, 1915.
  2. ˆ  “Bearcat (Binturong): Arctitis binturong,” Cincinnati Zoo
  3. ˆ  “Barney Bearcat: An important part of Willamette history,” Willamette Collegian, April 8, 1976, 6.; “Barney the Bearcat,” The Scene, Spring 1990, 17.
  4. ˆ Wallulah 1920.
  5. ˆ Willamette Collegian, October 25, 1946.
  6. ˆ  “Boomer is Back,” Willamette Collegian, October 24, 1947.; “No Tie This Time…” Willamette Collegian, November 14, 1947,; “Picnic Tomorrow – Maybe,” Willamette Collegian, May 14, 1948.
  7. ˆ  “Collegian Sports,” Willamette Collegian, March 12, 1948.
  8. ˆ  “Bearcats end League play,” Willamette Collegian, November 14, 1952.
  9. ˆ “Barney’s Early Days,” Barney Bearcat, Willamette University Archives.
  10. ˆ “Tomorrow’s passenger list to total 57,” Willamette Collegian, November 21, 1952.
  11. ˆ  “Seniors,” Wallulah 1955, (Willamette University), 1.
  12. ˆ “There was time to give,” Wallulah 1957, (Willamette University), 110.
  13. ˆ  “Delta Tau Delta,” Wallulah 1974, (Willamette University), 46.
  14. ˆ  “Lettermen to build sign at Mcculloch,” Willamette Collegian, May 6, 1966.; “Rally Squad,” Wallulah 1955, (Willamette University), 130.; Pregame Headquarters,” Willamette Collegian, October 7, 1971.
  15. ˆ “In search of the home field advantage,” Wallulah 1986,  (Willamette University), 123.
  16. ˆ Anna Brief, “Spirit Club can make a difference,” Willamette Collegian, October 17, 1986.
  17. ˆ Student Handbooks and Rook Bible Willamette University 1986-1987, Willamette University.
  18. ˆ Personal communication with author, October 1, 2024
  19. ˆ  Chris Rogers, “Alumni protests halt Barney Bearcat overhaul,” Willamette Collegian, September 7, 1990.
  20. ˆ Allison Myers, “Barney the Bearcat puts on blue suede shoes,” Willamette Collegian, October 10, 1999.; Holly Gion, “Office of Communications seeks new logo,” Willamette Collegian, March, 19, 1999.
  21. ˆ Allison Myers, “Barney was not first Bearcat mascot,” Willamette Collegian, October 7, 1999.; “Special Feature: Sports,” The Scene, Willamette University, January 1, 2000.
  22. ˆ “Dear Barney, Dear Blitz,” Willamette Magazine, Spring 2017.
  23. ˆ “Special Feature: Sports,” The Scene, January 1, 2000.
  24. ˆ Wallulah 2001.
  25. ˆ  “Blitz’s #1 reason you should support Willamette,” The Scene, Willamette University, January 1, 2012.
  26. ˆ  “Willamette Lingo,” Student Handbook 1998-1999, Willamette University.
  27. ˆ  Ibid
  28. ˆ Shannah Fields, “One-on-One with Blitz,” Willamette Collegian, April 5, 2001.; Stephanie Soares, “Montag opening draws hundreds,” Willamette Collegian, September 27, 2001.
  29. ˆ  Steve Fiala, “Increasing athletic attendance with Saturday night lights,” Willamette Collegian, October 13, 2004.
  30. ˆ  Rachel Woods, “Meet the gang, presenting your ASWU officers,” Willamette Collegian, September 8, 2009.; Maddy Grainger, “The ‘Cat, the myth, the legend,” Willamette Collegian, September 21, 2011.
  31. ˆ Zane Sparling, “ASWU refines bylaws for student body,” February 27, 2012, Willamette Collegian.
  32. ˆ Ibid
  33. ˆ Alan Cohen, “Seniors honor school spirit by wearing Blitz’s feet at graduation,” Willamette Collegian (Salem, OR), May 6, 2024.

Works Referenced

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