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University of Washington

Pictured Alaskan Malamute
The Origin of "Huskies":
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The Huskies were called Sun Dodg- ers starting in 1919. The nickname originated
when a college magazine of the same name was banned from campus and, in protest, students ado- pted the name for their teams. But
the Sun Dodgers did not do much for the Northwest's image, so a commit- tee set out in 1921 to pick a new
nickname.
While no progress was being made on the name change, athletic officia- ls adopted Vikings during the seme- ster
break in December of 1921. When the students returned to cam- pus, they immediately protested the name change.
In an attempt to determine a mascot, the committee came down to two final choices -- Malamutes and Huskies.
The committee felt those were appro- priate because of Seattle's nearness to the Alaskan frontier. The Husky was
voted the most appropriate.
The nickname was selected by a joint comittee of students, coaches, facult- y, alumni and businessmen.
Other suggested nicknames were Wolves, Malamutes, Tyees, Vikings, Northmen and Olympics.
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"Harry the Husky and
Whitepaw's Arlut Spirit of Gold Dust (Spirit) "
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Whitepaw's Arlut Spirit of Gold Dust ("Spirit") made his
debut as Washington's mascot in 1999. He is the 10th Alaskan Malamute to have served as the Husky mascot. He
lea- ds the team out of the tunnel before every home football game and wand- ers the sidelines during the contest
accompanied by trainer Kim Cross and several of Cross' children, who act as handlers. The previous masc- ots were
Frosty I (1922-29), Frosty II (1930-36), Wasky (1946), Wasky II (1947-53), Ski (1954-57), Denali (1958), King
Chinook (1959-68), Regent Denali (1969-80), Sundodger (1981-91), King Redoubt (1992-97) and Prince Redoubt
(1998). The Sig- ma Alpha Epsilon fraternity acquired the first dog, Frosty I, and acted as its handlers. In 1959,
Harry Cross, a professor of law at the University, took over the dog handler duties with King Chinook. Chinook's
first appe- arance was the Idaho game that seas- on. Cross' son, Kim, watched the dog on the sidelines. |
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