Mascots aren’t supposed to be scary. Their whole purpose is to pump up the fans and will the team to victory, which shouldn’t require fear. But mascots are inherently scary. Some are downright frightening. Whether it’s the unsettling, soulless eyes, the disconcerting combination of a real body and a fake head, or a mixture of factors, here are the 10 creepiest mascots in college sports.
10. The Billiken (Saint Louis)
The problem with the Billiken is it’s not a thing of this known world. It’s not something with which we’re familiar or can ascribe meaning, and that taps into a deep human fear of the unknown.