Utah State University is calling on its alumni and local community to partake in a bit of nostalgia, digging into its archives for anything related to GUS and GUS II. These mascots, a live bull and its costume successor, were not just fixtures at games but icons embodying the spirit of the institution in the 1970s and 1980s. According to USU Today, the university is particularly looking for stories, documents, photos, and memorabilia to give life to this bygone era through an oral history project.
The USU Libraries Special Collections & Archives spearheads this endeavor. GUS, short for Go Utah State, emerged as a symbol of Aggie identity after the USU Athletic Council gave a nod to the bull as the official mascot in 1974. A young bull acquired in 1976 and dubbed GUS by student vote became known for its on-field appearances and energetic displays, capturing the agricultural roots and camaraderie of USU. By 1980, the challenges of managing a live animal were evident, paving the way for GUS II, a costumed student mascot, which laid the foundation for the current Big Blue.
For those interested in contributing, be it through stories or physical artifacts, they can reach out directly to University Archivist Kelly Rovegno at [email protected]. The goal is to stitch together a comprehensive tapestry of this unique period in the university's narrative. The Special Collections & Archives' doors are open for personal anecdotes, and any GUS-related paraphernalia that Aggies might have stashed away in their memories or their attics. In their words, it's all about preserving "an important piece of Utah State University’s heritage for future generations of Aggies," as per USU Today.
