Mascots are supposed to bring luck and rouse competitive energy for the team that they represent—usually, they range from ferocious animals to warriors who embody the spirit of the school. How hard can that be? Still, some schools insist on keeping mascots who remain uninspiring, nonsensical and downright insulting. From oranges to blobs to animals who are better suited for a petting zoo, here are the most absurd mascots of the top 68 teams vying for the NCAA Championship this Year.
The 17 Worst Mascots of March Madness
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Iona Gaels
The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes a Gael as: 1. a Scottish highlander or 2. a Celtic, especially a Gaelic-speaking inhabitant of Ireland, Scotland, or the Isle of Man. It's a mystery if anyone out there in Scotland, Ireland or the Island of Man cares about Iona basketball, but we think they probably don't.