Yale students adopt the first college mascot, Handsome Dan, a ferocious and enthusiastic fan at early football games. Handsome Dan inspired Cole Porter to write Yale’s famous fight song, “Bulldog, Bulldog.” Today, the original Handsome Dan continues his reign from the lobby of Payne Whitney Gymnasium, while Handsome Dan XVI leads the cheers on the field. Yale students also adopted the first school colors (1853), fielded the first cheerleaders (1890), and developed the first school fight song (1892). Handsome Dan I, after a painting from life by Yale football tackle Andrew B. Graves (Sheffield Scientific School 1892).
