Gus T. & the history of the Golden Hurricane mascot
Compiling The University of Tulsa’s mascot history was a joint effort between the Office of Strategic Marketing & Communications and the Athletic Department. While the mascot’s look has evolved quite a bit over the decades, its mission has remained the same: Showing pride for TU while cheering on the Golden Hurricane.
1922 – “The Golden Hurricane” is born
The University of Tulsa’s football team had gone by names like “The Yellow Jackets” and “Kendallites” prior to adopting the identity of The Golden Hurricane. But in 1922, before TU played Texas A&M, a sports reporter asked the TU football coach at the time, Howard Archer, what his team was called. He said TU was “The Golden Hurricane,” and that name stuck.
1977 – TU creates a mascot that personifies “The Golden Hurricane”
The first Tulsa Hurricane mascot debuted in 1977 and its name was “Hurc, The Golden Hurricane.” Hurc had an unforgettable angry face and was covered in golden fur. He wore a long, blue coat with the red letters “TU” on either side. Later, Hurc began to be referred to as Huffy.
1987 – Huffy under attack
TU nearly traded in Huffy for the Tasmanian devil after the School Spirit Committee of the Student Association decided that Huffy just wasn’t cutting it as a mascot. There was a student vote, which the Tasmanian devil technically won. However, voter turnout was so low that the vice president of Student Affairs at the time decided that the mascot election was invalid. Huffy stuck around, but the election foreshadowed his eventual fate.
1988 – Huffy finds a friend in Captain Cane
In 1988, as a result of student concept art, Captain Cane was born as a suggested partner of Huffy. Although never actually used as an official mascot, Captain Cane was drawn as an old, pipe-wielding sailor, said to have survived the hurricane. Captain Cane was fitted with a hurricane flag attached to a harpoon and was covered head to toe in rain gear. Coincidentally, TU officially brought life to Captain Cane nearly a decade later.
1997 – Captain Cane takes over as TU’s mascot
In 1997, Huffy’s jacket was exchanged for a pair of football pants and a Tulsa shirt. At this point, the name “Huffy” was retired and Captain Cane was officially created. Captain Cane’s redesign included a loss of his fur and a more sleek Golden Hurricane design. Similar to Huffy, Captain Cane maintained a stern look and a gold base.
2004 & 2007 – Captain Cane wardrobe updates
Captain Cane took on an updated look in 2004 and again in 2007; first swapping his Tulsa shirt for a basketball jersey and later a football jersey. Captain Cane retained the slim look and gold base, but dropped the angry expression and traded it for a smile.
2009 – A “hero” is born
In 2009, Captain Cane took another form, this time as a superhero dressed in a blue and gold suit that came complete with a Hurricane Summoning Sword, Lightning Bolt Blaster Gloves, and a cape. The back story of Captain Cane involved Colin Cane, a freshman at TU who worked in IT support at night to help pay his way through college. During an electrical storm one night, Colin was called to the TU sports complex to fix a malfunctioning satellite that was broadcasting a live game. As he adjusted the satellite, the roar of the crowd coursed through the transmitter just as it was zapped with static electricity from the storm. The atmospheric oddity known as a “binary vortex” mutated Colin over the course of several years. He eventually gained super-human powers and became Captain Cane, a champion athlete and highly educated zealot of all things TU.
2023 – A new mascot with a new name
Gus T. made a grand entrance as the official mascot for the Golden Hurricane this August at the football home opener. A freshman himself, Gus T. led the team onto the field alongside the freshman class, a TU tradition known as the Freshmen Storm. Reminiscent of the late 90s and early 2000s, TU has brought back a mascot that personifies a hurricane. The muscular supporter is decked out in TU apparel and is topped with a smiling hurricane head. Selected after a fan vote, the name “Gus T.” emerged victorious in the polls. Following the retirement of Captain Cane, Gus T. now proudly represents the Golden Hurricane and is winning over fans wherever he goes.
If you have any photos, memories or information about TU’s previous mascots that you’d like to contribute, please fill out the form below and it may be included in this timeline.