Truman the Tiger
Encyclopedia
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Truman the Tiger is the official mascot of the athletic teams of the University of Missouri
Tigers
. Truman is named after U.S. President Harry S. Truman
, who was from the U.S. state
of Missouri
. The mascot was named on September 12, 1986, though the use of a Bengal Tiger
as Missouri's mascot is traced to the 1890s. Truman has been awarded "best mascot in the nation" several times, most recently in 2004.
Truman is best known to Mizzou fans for his "tail-spin" during the Missouri Waltz
, doing push-ups with the ROTC after Tiger scores, and for riding into home football games on a 1950s-vintage Boone County
fire truck ("Truman's Taxi"), painted gold and black and outfitted with several Missouri flags. The mascot makes hundreds of appearances state-wide at university functions, sporting events and at private parties, where he can be hired for a small donation. Actors playing Truman, in contrast to at other schools, are semi-public: they are usually introduced as "Truman" during Senior Night festivities at the last home football and basketball games of the year.
, the board of curators suspended operations of the University. It was during this time that the residents of Columbia formed a "home guard" unit that became notoriously known as the "Fighting Tigers of Columbia". This name was given because of the group's steadfast readiness to fight against Confederate bushwhackers, hoping to plunder the city and university, under the command of "Bloody Bill" Anderson
. Later, in 1890, an alumnus suggested the University's newly formed football team be called the "Tigers" out of respect for those who fought to defend Columbia.
. "The Tiger" was officially replaced by the more family-friendly "Truman The Tiger" before the 1986 football season. Since his retirement, the University of Missouri
has quietly tried to erase "The Tiger" from all forms of its media; in fact, the only place where evidence of him can be found is in Missouri football gameday programs from the era.
Truman the Tiger is the official mascot of the athletic teams of the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
Tigers
Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Missouri, located in Columbia, Missouri, United States...
. Truman is named after U.S. President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
, who was from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. The mascot was named on September 12, 1986, though the use of a Bengal Tiger
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
as Missouri's mascot is traced to the 1890s. Truman has been awarded "best mascot in the nation" several times, most recently in 2004.
Truman is best known to Mizzou fans for his "tail-spin" during the Missouri Waltz
Missouri Waltz
Missouri Waltz is the official state song of Missouri and is associated with the University of Missouri.-History of the song:The "Missouri Waltz," which had essentially been a minstrel song, became the state song under an act adopted by the General Assembly on June 30, 1949...
, doing push-ups with the ROTC after Tiger scores, and for riding into home football games on a 1950s-vintage Boone County
Boone County, Missouri
Boone County is a county centrally located in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is the eighth most populous county in Missouri. In 2010, the population was 162,642. Its county seat, Columbia, is the fifth largest city in Missouri and the anchor city of the Columbia Metropolitan Area.-History:Boone...
fire truck ("Truman's Taxi"), painted gold and black and outfitted with several Missouri flags. The mascot makes hundreds of appearances state-wide at university functions, sporting events and at private parties, where he can be hired for a small donation. Actors playing Truman, in contrast to at other schools, are semi-public: they are usually introduced as "Truman" during Senior Night festivities at the last home football and basketball games of the year.
History
In 1864, while in the midst of the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the board of curators suspended operations of the University. It was during this time that the residents of Columbia formed a "home guard" unit that became notoriously known as the "Fighting Tigers of Columbia". This name was given because of the group's steadfast readiness to fight against Confederate bushwhackers, hoping to plunder the city and university, under the command of "Bloody Bill" Anderson
William T. Anderson
William T. "Bloody Bill" Anderson was a pro-Confederate guerrilla leader in the American Civil War.Anderson was known for his brutality towards Union soldiers, and pro Union partisans, who were called Jayhawkers. Anderson participated in Quantrill's raid on Lawrence, Kansas on August 21, 1863...
. Later, in 1890, an alumnus suggested the University's newly formed football team be called the "Tigers" out of respect for those who fought to defend Columbia.
The Tiger
"The Tiger" was the official mascot of the University of Missouri before Truman took his place in 1986. Truman's predecessor was a "plain grey" tiger with black stripes that was simply known as "The Tiger". During his tenure in the 1970's and early 1980's, "The Tiger" came to be known, among other things, for his "lewd" behavior toward opposing teams and fans on the sidelines of Missouri football games, especially for pulling his tail between his legs and making a gesture of masturbationMasturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
. "The Tiger" was officially replaced by the more family-friendly "Truman The Tiger" before the 1986 football season. Since his retirement, the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
has quietly tried to erase "The Tiger" from all forms of its media; in fact, the only place where evidence of him can be found is in Missouri football gameday programs from the era.