St. Louis, MO, Mar 19: Quirky, unique, and undeniably lucky, the Saint Louis University (SLU) Billiken continues to capture the imagination of sports fans and students alike. The mythical mascot, representing “things as they ought to be,” has been a symbol of SLU athletics since the early 1900s and remains one of the most celebrated mascots in college sports.
This year, with the Billiken cheering them on, the SLU men’s basketball team achieved a perfect 19-0 record at Chaifetz Arena, setting a school record for home-court wins. The Billiken will be front and center as the No. 9 Billikens face the No. 8 Georgia Bulldogs in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, airing Thursday, March 19, at 8:45 p.m. CST on CBS.
Fun Facts About the Billiken:
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The Billiken is consistently ranked among the most unusual and interesting mascots, appearing on USA Today’s 2025 list of “unusual mascots you have to see” and Newsweek’s 20 most unique mascots.
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The creature was invented in 1908 by Florence Pretz, a 21-year-old Missouri art teacher, who later patented the design.
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The Billiken quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, inspiring dolls, figurines, candies, hatpins, and even songs and vaudeville acts.
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Fans historically considered the Billiken a good luck charm, rubbing its belly for luck and even placing Billiken hood ornaments on cars for protection. This tradition continues today at SLU, where students rub the belly of the campus Billiken statue for good luck before exams and games.
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SLU is the only university in the world to adopt the Billiken as its official mascot.
“At SLU, we take our Jesuit values very seriously. We send our students out into the world to make it better, to make it as it ought to be, so it’s really special to have the Billiken reflect those values in a unique way,” said Katie Mascari, SLU archivist.
The Billiken’s enduring charm and the men’s basketball team’s record-breaking performance highlight the spirit and tradition of Saint Louis University, inspiring students, alumni, and fans as they cheer on the Billikens in the NCAA tournament.
