Was the Badger picked as a team mascot for Wisconsin football as an intimidating figure?
The nickname “Badgers” was borrowed from the state of Wisconsin. The territory was dubbed the “Badger State,” not because of animals in the region, but rather because of an association with lead miners. In the 1820s and 1830s prospectors came to the state looking for minerals, and without shelter in the winter, the miners had to “live like badgers” in tunnels burrowed into hillsides. The badger mascot was adopted by the University of Wisconsin in 1889. His name, “Buckingham U. Badger”, aka “Bucky Badger,” was chosen in a contest in 1949. The emblem, a scowling, strutting badger wearing a cardinal-and-white striped sweater, was designed by Art Evans in 1940 and updated in 2003.
The nickname “Badgers” was borrowed from the state of Wisconsin. The territory was dubbed the “Badger State,” not because of animals in the region, but rather because of an association with lead miners. In the 1820s and 1830s prospectors came to the state looking for minerals, and without shelter in the winter, the miners had to “live like badgers” in tunnels burrowed into hillsides. The badger mascot was adopted by the University of Wisconsin in 1889. His name, “Buckingham U. Badger”, aka “Bucky Badger,” was chosen in a contest in 1949. The emblem, a scowling, strutting badger wearing a cardinal-and-white striped sweater, was designed by Art Evans in 1940 and updated in 2003. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.
