Drake University’s men’s basketball team is charging into their third straight NCAA Tournament, but their beloved live mascot, Griff II, is going to sit at home watching the games.
Griff is a six-year-old English bulldog who’s stuck in the doghouse because of an NCAA rule banning live mascots until the Final Four. Which seems like a huge missed opportunity, if you ask me.
Fans, furious that Griff won’t be joining the Bulldogs for their first-round clash against Missouri in Wichita, have launched a petition on Change.org titled “March Madness Needs Griff.”
They argue that he’s not just a mascot but the “heart and soul” of the team, boosting players and dazzling TV audiences. Not to mention, he’s just so cute.
“Griff isn’t just a mascot — he’s an essential part of Drake’s identity,” the petition states. “Fans love him, players feed off his energy and TV cameras can’t get enough of him.”
NCAA Crushing Griff’s Tournament Dreams
The NCAA is standing firm on its live mascot ban for the early rounds of the 2025 Men’s Basketball Tournament, crushing Drake University fans’ hopes of seeing Griff II courtside as the Bulldogs tip-off today.
Their explanation makes sense, though.
“Griff II the bulldog is undeniably adorable, and to the disappointment of dog lovers everywhere, including many NCAA staff, we unfortunately must apply the rules fairly for all teams,” an NCAA spokesperson told TMZ.
“We couldn’t have a Texas longhorn like Bevo or a North American bison like Ralphie sitting courtside in the early rounds, so unfortunately we cannot permit any live mascots despite Griff II being far cuter.”
Makes sense, but I bet you’d get higher ratings if you allowed the Oakland Grizzlies to bring a live Grizzly bear into the arena.
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There’s A Glimmer Of Hope
There is a silver lining to this story. Griff might still be able to appear courtside during the NCAA Tournament.
The Butler Bulldogs got an exception for their pup, Blue II, to be courtside during the Final Four in 2010. They got another exception the following year when they danced their way back into the Final Four.
So, that seems to be the line.
“Should Drake make it all the way to the Final Four, we encourage Griff II to apply for an exception because the venue and game schedules can accommodate a bulldog,” the NCAA said.
Drake is an 11-seed. They are currently +50,000 odds as a potential sleeper.
What if Arkansas, who is +30,000, makes it? Will they get an exception for Tusk, their Russian boar, to be in the arena?
I sure hope so.
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