Being a lifelong Michigan State fan comes with benefits. Growing up, I would attend Spartans football camps where I got to "train" with the team. While the football team has been up and down as of late, I have always been able to count on Tom Izzo to bring MSU Basketball to the March Madness tournament. The other cool part? Have an incredibly iconic mascot.

Middle Tennessee v Michigan State
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No matter what MSU team you're supporting, in every home game you'll see Sparty. Plenty of powerhouse schools have mascots, too: Wisconsin's "Bucky the Badger", Ohio State's "Brutus Buckeye", and Oregon's "The Duck" are all in the Big10, Georgia has Uga (a customed mascot and cute bulldog), and Texas has a live mascot in the form of Bevo.

Georgia v Texas
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While Michigan State is generally a good team, the University of Michigan (UoM) has been a dominant team for years, claiming the NCAAF Championship in 2024 and having the most wins of any program in D1 sports. With the school's success, you'd think the school would choose an icon to represent what makes UoM so great. I mean, the "wolverines" is such a mascot-able brand the school is practically begging for one.

READ MORE: 10 Years Ago You Could See Michigan Football For 2 Coca-Colas |

However, the athletic department has been vehemently against creating a mascot or using a live mascot like Texas, stating that

"a symbol is unnecessary and undignified and would not properly reflect the spirit and values of Michigan athletics"

The school has made a point of letting the team's successes and the size of its trophy case intimidate its rivals rather than someone in a costume. Curiously, it isn't known how a wolverine came to be associated with the University of Michigan, but that doesn't mean the school has never tried having a mascot.

Ball State Cardinals v Michigan Wolverines
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Back in the early 1920s, the school took a similar route that Texas has and welcomed Bennie and Biff, two live wolverines, to the stadium in metal cages. This lasted only a single year as the wolverines grew up and became, well, wild animals like they are. In 2025, it doesn't seem like many fans are bothered by the lack of a mascot for college athletics' most dominant school.

The Evolution of the University of Michigan Wolverines Logo

The University of Michigan's athletic logo has changed dramatically over the last 100-plus years. It has gone through 7 different evolutions since 1912. Let's take a look at how the U of M athletic logo has changed over the last 100-plus years.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

Michigan State and University of Michigan Heisman Trophy Winners and Finalists

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