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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Illinois Chief Illiniwek
Chief Illiniwek hasn't been Illinois' mascot since 2007—they still don't have a replacement—but it took the school over 80 years to realize how offensive he was and get rid of it. Some didn't agree with the decision—see super-(in)sensitive students on the right.
