Congratulations on making it to another Friday, Oilers! Did you know that our UF mascot took on different names before "Derrick the Oiler?" Before Findlay College's athletic teams adopted the name "Oilers" in 1937, they were commonly called "The Orange" or "Kisselmen" (The Argus, 1993). This is likely where UF's colors (orange and black) originated. Check out the photos below to see our previous mascots and what they looked like. You may be surprised to see how it has changed!

Oiler Man (1984)

Oiler Man 1984

Findlay College had a very basic mascot in the 1980s. It mostly required a volunteer or student to wear an "Oiler Man" t-shirt and a head costume. Oiler Man was commonly spotted at campus events, such as pep rallies and homecoming festivities.

 

Ollie the Oiler (1991)

Ollie and Walt 1993

Ollie the Oiler joins in on campus festivities in the gymnasium. What do you think of the costume head?

 

Original Drawing of New Mascot (2000)

original drawing sarah king 2000

In fall 2000, UF held a "Design the Mascot" contest where students submitted creative designs to become the new mascot. The winner was Sarah King (class of 2002) with the iconic drawing above. It became UF's official mascot in 2001 as "Derrick the Oiler," named after an oil derrick.

 

Derrick the Oiler (2016)

derrick 2016

Since 2001, Derrick the Oiler has been involved in several events on campus including homecoming, athletic events, and more! To learn more about the history of UF's mascot, click here.

You can also follow the official UF mascot Instagram by clicking here.