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In 2026, the Saint Louis Billikens earned their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2019.
While some college basketball fans have heard of Saint Louis player Robbie Avila, most known for donning his classic sports goggles, many are unsure what to think about the school's mascot. Saint Louis is represented by a light grey and blue Billiken.
Is it a troll? Is it an elf? What exactly is that thing that reps SLU merch?
Let's take a closer look at what a Billiken is and the history behind Saint Louis' mascot.
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Why is Saint Louis' nickname the Billikens?
While the exact reason to connect Saint Louis with a Billiken is unknown, most believe it was tied to the school's 1910 and 1911 football seasons.
John Bender, SLU's football coach, was mentioned to carry the likeness of a Billiken. Charles McNamara, a SLU law student, drew a cartoon picture portraying Coach Bender as a Billiken.
After placing the cartoon in the window of a drugstore, people saw McNamara’s picture and began calling the football team “Bender’s Billikens.”
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What is a Billiken?
A Billiken was an early 1900s figurine that symbolized good luck. The design was reproduced as dolls, marshmallow candies, metal banks, hatpins, pickle forks, belt buckles, auto-hood ornaments, salt and pepper shakers, and more. Florence Pretz, a Missouri art teacher and illustrator, saw a mysterious figure in a dream and patented her creation in 1908.
While Pretz patented the Billiken, similar figures also appear in Alaska, Japan, and China. "Happy Jack," an Alaskan ivory carver, created a Billiken inspired by an Inuit god of good luck. In Osaka, Japan, shrines feature a Billiken that symbolizes good luck. The figure was also inspired by a Chinese god of fortune.
According to legend, buying a Billiken brings luck, but having one given to you brings even better luck.
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What is Saint Louis' mascot?
Saint Louis' mascot is a light grey Billiken that often wears a blue SLU shirt. A Billiken is a folklore creature that symbolizes "things as they ought to be."
The symbol was created in 1908 by art teacher Florence Pretz.
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