Big Jay is one of the costume mascots of the Kansas Jayhawks.[1] Together, Big Jay and Baby Jay are Jayhawks and are the mascots used by the University of Kansas.[1] Another mascot named Centennial Jay was temporarily used in 2012.[2][3]
Big Jay | |
---|---|
University | University of Kansas |
Conference | Big 12 |
Description | Larger Jayhawk costume |
First seen | 1960s |
Related mascot(s) | Baby Jay |
The original mascot for the Kansas Jayhawks was a bulldog. In 1912, the Jayhawk was first seen in a cartoon by Henry Maloy in The University Daily Kansan. [4]
In November 1958, the Jayhawk became the official mascot for Kansas University. [5] The "Jayhawk" idea came from the combination of a blue jay and a sparrow hawk. [4]