Big Blue (mascot)

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Big Blue
University	Old Dominion University
Conference	Sun Belt
Description	Anthropomorphic Lion

Big Blue is the official mascot for the Old Dominion Monarchs. He is an anthropomorphic lion that performs at Old Dominion University athletic events, fundraisers, and commencement ceremonies. The nickname and mascot for the "Monarchs" was adopted just prior to ODU's split from the College of William & Mary system in 1961.^[1] In 1971, Old Dominion officially crowned Big Blue as their mascot to represent symbols of pride and courage for the expanding athletic program.^[2]

While the first iterations of the mascot created split reactions from Monarchs fans, a more friendly appearance of the mascot was introduced in the 1980s.^[3] He is typically seen wearing a basketball or football jersey with the number '00' and a blue crown.

In 2011, Big Blue won Capital One National Mascot of the Year, which awarded $20,000 to Old Dominion's mascot program.^[4]

In 2013, A statue of Big Blue was placed in the university's Webb Center, where students are encouraged to rub his belly for good luck and prosperity.^[5]

Big Blue is incorporated within the university's athletic foundation, which includes a kids club and locally sponsored 5K run named in his honor.^[6]^[7]

References

^ "ODU Athletics History Timeline". Old Dominion University. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
^ Old Dominion University Magazine | Fall 2011
^ "The Many Faces of BIG BLUE · Celebrating BIG BLUE · ODU Libraries Online Exhibitions". exhibits.lib.odu.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
^ "ODU's Big Blue is Mascot of the Year". The Virginian-Pilot. 2 January 2011. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
^ "Big Blue Gets His Own Statue". Old Dominion University. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
^ "Big Blue's Kids Club". Old Dominion University. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
^ "Charities". Big Blue 5k. Retrieved 2023-02-22.

External links

Big Blue statue unveiled WAVY-10

v t e Old Dominion University
Located in: Norfolk, Virginia
Academics	Programs Arts and Letters Business College of Education College of Engineering and Technology Health Sciences Sciences Miscellaneous Center for Advanced Engineering Environments Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center Waldo Lectures
Athletics	Sports Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Field hockey Football Men's soccer Facilities Bud Metheny Baseball Complex Chartway Arena L.R. Hill Sports Complex ODU Fieldhouse ODU Soccer Complex S.B. Ballard Stadium Related Royal Rivalry Sun Belt Conference
Grounds	Libraries Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library F. Ludwig Diehn Composers Room Elise N. Hofheimer Art Library Robert M. Hughes Memorial Library Campus Growth Images Maglev system Student Recreation University Village
History	History King Charles II College of William & Mary The Colleges of William & Mary Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Media	Monarch Magazine The Mace & Crown Monarch Vision WODU
People	Alumni Faculty
Student life	Big Blue Greek life ROTC Rowing program Organizations Monarch Marching Band Traditions
Founded: 1930 Students: 24,670 Endowment: 213.7 million Commons Category

v t e Old Dominion Monarchs football
Venues	Bain Field (1930–1933, 1935) S.B. Ballard Stadium (1936–1940, 2009–present) L.R. Hill Sports Complex (practice)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games James Madison Norfolk State William & Mary
Culture & lore	Big Blue Monarch Pep Band
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders NFL draftees
Seasons	1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941–2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 ~~2020~~ 2021 2022 2023 2024

v t e Old Dominion Monarchs men's basketball
Venues	Norfolk Municipal Auditorium (1943–1969) ODU Fieldhouse (1970–1977, 1990–2002) Norfolk Scope (alternate: 1971–1977, 1990–2002; full-time: 1977–1990) Hampton Coliseum (alternate: 1970–1995) Chartway Arena (2002–present)
Rivalries	James Madison Norfolk State VCU William & Mary
Culture & lore	Big Blue Monarch Pep Band
People	Head coaches NBA players Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
NCAA national championship in bold

Mascots of the Sun Belt Conference