Mascots are supposed to be hyper. But that?s just not the case with Nicholas III, Loyola?s live Greyhound mascot.
“He?s a couch potato,” said the Rev. Francis Nash, Loyola?s Alumni Chaplain and Nicholas? owner. “When we go home into the apartment, he just goes right up on the sofa.”
It?s easy to see why people love Nicholas, a former racer from Florida. A light tan, grey and white Greyhound, Nicholas is extremely calm and attentive.
There are other U.S. colleges that have live animals as mascots. The University of Georgia has “Uga VI,” an English bulldog, and Tennessee houses “Smokey,” a Bluetick hound. Auburn University in Alabama has “Tiger” the War Eagle, Louisiana State University has “Mike” the Royal Bengal tiger, and the University of Texas has “Bevo” the longhorn bovine.
The idea to adopt a live mascot at Loyola came to Nash about 20 years ago, when a student suggested they rescue a greyhound. “Then I opened my big mouth and I said, ?If we?re getting a dog, I?m keeping it,? because I?m a dog lover,” Nash said.
There have been four dogs since ?Nicholas, Nicholas II, Alexandra and now, Nicholas III, all adopted from greyhound rescues.
Having a dog in campus ministry is advantageous to everyone, Nash said. “You can come in and play with the dog, and not have to talk about God. So it was a great come-on.”
At games and events, Nicholas sits patiently, basking in the attention from students, parents and especially children. “He just gets this look on his face like, ?I don?t need this myself, but I know it?s good for you, so I?ll do it,?” Nash said.
Having a live mascot makes a huge impact on parents of Loyola students. “Just about an hour ago, a student told me that he is only here because his mother fell in love with the dog,” Nash said.
Jennifer Crouse, a sophomore at Loyola, takes Nicholas when Nash is unable to or is away on school business. “Nicholas is a people person,” she said. “In fact, the only time he is trouble is when you leave him alone,” she said.
Nicholas arrived at Loyola on Feb. 9, and Nash said they are still getting used to each other.
“We?re both A-types, and we haven?t quite established the fact that I?m a better A-type than he is,” he laughed. “It?s a bit of struggle, but he lives by my rules more or less. Or at least I like to think so.”
