Home / Education / ASU Mascot's Wild Ride: From Owls to Devils
ASU Mascot's Wild Ride: From Owls to Devils
19 Sep
Summary
- The ASU mascot was once an owl and later a bulldog.
- Sparky's design was influenced by a dust devil sighting.
- Some alumni objected to Sparky's resemblance to Satan.
Arizona State University's mascot, Sparky the Sun Devil, boasts a unique and evolving history. The university's student body originally selected the Owls as its mascot when it was known as Tempe Normal School in 1889. This was later changed to Bulldogs after the institution became Arizona State Teachers College.
In 1946, a decisive student vote of 819 to 196 ushered in the era of the Sun Devil. School lore attributes the inspiration to a track coach's sighting of a dust devil along the Salt River. The basketball team was the first to represent the university under the new Sun Devil name.
Sparky's visual identity was solidified in 1946 with a cartoon creation by ASU alum Berk Anthony, who also had ties to Disney. A human iteration of Sparky debuted in 1951, accompanied by the Sparkettes. The mascot's appearance shifted over the decades, notably sparking controversy in 1971 when an updated design featuring horns drew objections from religious alumni concerned about its resemblance to Satan.
Further design changes in 2013 also elicited a strong reaction from the student body, including a Change.org petition. Despite these historical shifts and debates, the commitment of ASU students and alumni to their Sun Devil mascot remains unwavering.
