UMaine's Diverse UMaine's Diverse - the University of Maine Alumni ...

Alumni Winter 2012_Layout 1 1/6/12 10:32 AM Page 16
Maine Remembers
A Tale of
Two Mascots
By Susan E. Mullaney, CBC
Fans of UMaine athletics love to see the
University’s mascot, Bananas T. Bear, in
his various attire leading the cheers at
Alfond Arena or Morse Field. Thanks to
the brothers of Alpha Phi Omega,
Bananas comes to life on a regular basis
and brings delight to everyone.
But Bananas, even when he was an
actual live bear, wasn’t the University’s
first mascot. That honor belongs to an
elephant, dubbed The Great Bolivar. According
to the legend espoused by Edward Everett Chase, Class of 1903,
one Seldon and two fraternity brothers nicknamed Spike Stewart
and Razoo Bunker, liberated Bolivar from a Bangor clothing store.
Seldon had decided that as a lowly freshman, he needed to make a
big impression on campus, and what was bigger than an elephant?
With axes in hand, the young men cut the large metal sign loose
and transported it back to Orono behind a trolley car.
The sign was painted light blue and white, and paraded
around the football field during the next game. The delighted fans
cheered their UMaine team on to victory, making Seldon the hero
of the hour. However, word of Bolivar’s appearance at the game
reached the store owner, who came to campus with a police escort
to reclaim his property. But word of his coming reached the fraternity
house in time, and the brothers hid Bolivar in the Stillwater,
marked by a buoy. The following Saturday, Bolivar appeared again
during the game. And again, the store owner vowed to return. The
crafty brothers cut out a wooden replica, painted it and nailed it to
the bleachers. When the store owner and police escort returned, all
they found was the wooden elephant. Eventually the Bolivar sign
was stolen or destroyed, legend has it by either the Colby or
Bowdoin fans. Chase describes a brawl at the train station in
Brunswick after a losing game, in defense of Bolivar. In the following
10 years, Bolivar appeared at games as a sheetmetal replica,
powered by two students, that was paraded around the field at
games and rallies until it was replaced in 1912 by the first Bananas.
Legend has it that Bolivar was buried under the stands, or perhaps
returned to the Stillwater. No one has ever found his remains.
A small bear cub named Jeff was presented to the University by
police chief O.B. Fernandez of Old Town. He made his debut at a
rally before the Colby game. The crowd’s response was so enthusiastic
to the bear’s antics, it was said “they went bananas.” And the
Bolivar in 1908 was a painted wooden cut out (above). By 1911, Bolivar had become a
sheetmetal mascot outfit worn by two students (below), which was paraded around the athletic
field.
16 MAINE Alumni Magazine