Tarzán (mascot)
| Tarzán | |
|---|---|
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| University | University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus |
| Conference | L.A.I. |
| Description | English bulldog |
| Origin of name | Johnny Weissmüller as Tarzan |
| First seen | 1950 |
| Related mascot(s) | Jane |
Tarzán is the official mascot of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, also known as "Colegio".
In 1946 the "Colegio" was one of the most successful Universities in sports in Puerto Rico. By that time Johnny Weissmüller had made the character of Tarzan very popular, his character incarnated masculinity, courage and athleticism and for that reason up until 1946 the university would dress a student up as the loincloth Tarzan to cheer on the Mayagüez student-athletes. In later years a lion and even a puma where considered for school mascots, but those were ruled out because of the laws would not be allowed to be paraded.
Towards mid 1940’s with the second world war coming to an end, and among the many people that for one reason or another had grabbed the attention of the world press was Winston Churchill. Because of his heroism the people started calling him the “English Bulldog”. Three men; Sixto Ramírez, Libertario Avilés and Héctor Huyke decided that by analogy the mascot named Tarzán would be a Bulldog. The University administration made the relevant efforts to obtain the bulldog which would be baptized Tarzan, however, these efforts were unsuccessful and instead had to parade the boxer belonging to the ROTC Colonel Victor Domenech. This became the first “Colegio” team mascot.
When the first bulldog or Tarzán I arrived in 1950 the university received him with an ROTC and Marching band parade with the attendance of the entire university. He was tended to in a particular manner; a cage was prepared under a mango tree and the freshmen students had to venerate the dog. A year later Tarzán I died of asphyxiation, victim of a bone he swallowed. Immediately after the demise of the first Tarzan, the students began a collection to replace the unfortunate original. So that Tarzán II would receive better care, he was placed under the custody of don Enrique Huyke, his meritorious work continued until 1975, year when the professor retired.
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