September 29th: On this date...

... in 2000, it was determined by internet voting the University’s new three year-old male bobcat would be named “Blue”. Fans of all ages went to UKathletics.com and voted over 48,000 times. The voters had three names in which to choose: Blue, Tucky, and Champ. “Blue” edged out “Tucky” by just under 1,300 votes. “Blue” lives his life just west of Frankfort at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Salato Wildlife Center. He is also available for public viewing. According to UKathletics.com, “Blue” was not the first official live mascot as the first one was given to the University in 1921. His name was “Tom”. Other names for the live mascot have been: “TNT”, “Whiskers”, “Hot Tamale”, “Colonel”. “Blue” was born and will continue to be raised in captivity. For more information on the Kentucky Wildcat mascot, contact Wildcat or Scratch.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach