History of UL Mascot

[CajunFun]

What Is the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Mascot?

As of April 2025, the Ragin’ Cajuns lack an official mascot. Their most recent spirit leader, Cayenne, debuted in 2000 as an anthropomorphic cayenne pepper.

https://www.newsbreak.com/college-sp...-cajuns-mascot

[Turbine]

They lost me at "iconic."

More like 'much maligned.'

[CajunNation]

When your nickname is a group of people, you either have to have a representation of that people as a mascot or your mascot needs to be a background figure that further defines who you are as a university and possibly be a spirit leader as well.

If we can't have Cajun Man, I would prefer the Catahoula. State dog. Furthers our identity as Louisiana. It's history IS the history of our state in the flesh. Plus, everybody loves dogs.

If we can't have the Catahoula, I would have no problems bringing back Cayenne or The Fabulous Cajun Chicken.

[Turbine]

When your nickname is a group of people, you either have to have a representation of that people as a mascot or your mascot needs to be a background figure that further defines who you are as a university and possibly be a spirit leader as well.

If we can't have Cajun Man, I would prefer the Catahoula. State dog. Furthers our identity as Louisiana. It's history IS the history of our state in the flesh. Plus, everybody loves dogs.

If we can't have the Catahoula, I would have no problems bringing back Cayenne or The Fabulous Cajun Chicken.

Also shown to fit your criteria is when any non gulf coast resident visit Louisiana, the first thing they want go see is the State Representative Reptile.

[CajunNation]

Also shown to fit your criteria is when any non gulf coast resident visit Louisiana, the first thing they want go see is the State Representative Reptile.

Didn't the school vote no on that? I believe they did.

[Turbine]

Didn't the school vote no on that? I believe they did.

No they haven't even discussed it.

[HoustonCajun]

When your nickname is a group of people, you either have to have a representation of that people as a mascot or your mascot needs to be a background figure that further defines who you are as a university and possibly be a spirit leader as well.

If we can't have Cajun Man, I would prefer the Catahoula. State dog. Furthers our identity as Louisiana. It's history IS the history of our state in the flesh. Plus, everybody loves dogs.

If we can't have the Catahoula, I would have no problems bringing back Cayenne or The Fabulous Cajun Chicken.

Cayenne was horrible and what does the Cajun chicken have to do with the university? Sure, he had great antics but still no connection.
The Gator is the perfect mascot. It is our connection to the university, to the on-campus swamp and stadium swamp and it is commonly associated with Louisiana. JMO.

[SMD7636]

100% I couldn’t agree more. A dark green gator is the perfect Louisiana mascot. Geaux Cajuns!

[locoguano]

There is literally a swamp with alligators on campus. This is screaming branding. You make your mascot a gator.

[CajunFun]

There is literally a swamp with alligators on campus. This is screaming branding. You make your mascot a gator.

Our sports nickname is unique... and it propels our image around the world. On the other hand, most schools have unimaginative iterations of copied identities. The most common mascots in the country are tigers, bulldogs, and eagles.

I am glad we left 'bulldogs' behind us. And I am less than enthusiastic about copying Florida's mascot.

Leaders don't follow.

Better one's own path though imperfect, than another's well-made.
—Bhagavad Gita

[SMD7636]

UL finally assigning a gator as a mascot is not about copying Florida. It’s about embracing our natural habitat, culture, and the most identifiable animal within our on campus swamp. It’s a no brainer!

[Marvin]

100% I couldn’t agree more. A dark green gator is the perfect Louisiana mascot. Geaux Cajuns!

I came across a recent article discussing how any alligators were harvested during the 2024 hunting season. In addition, I think it mentioned that Louisiana has 3-4 times the alligators as Florida. A dark green gator would be perfect. Can all of the work on the white gator be changed to a green one?