INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA Hall of Champions will host a tribute to college sports mascots, their history and their traditions this weekend at Mascot Mania: Mascots Live, which includes appearances from university mascots and live animals from the Indianapolis Zoo, Saturday, June 18, in White River State Park. Mascot Mania: Mascots Live will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central time. Admission to the Hall of Champions will be $2 for the day.

Mascots have long been considered a major focal point for fans, a source of excitement and a unifying icon for colleges and universities. Campus mascots attending Mascot Mania: Mascots Live include Sparty from Michigan State University; Big Red from Western Kentucky University; the Butler University Bulldog; Purdue Pete from Purdue University; the University of Notre Dame Leprechaun; Brutus Buckeye from Ohio State University; the Xavier University Muscateer; and J.J. Jumper, the NCAA’s championship mascot. Mascot replicas and costumes also will be on display throughout the day.

In addition to the animated characters, the NCAA will feature live zoo animals that represent various college and university mascots. On display will be spiders (University of Richmond); owls (Temple University); terrapins (University of Maryland, College Park); a dragon (Drexel University); a hawk [Saint Joseph’s College (Indiana)]; and snakes [Florida A&M University and St. Mary’s University (Texas) Rattlers].

Other activities for the general public include creating and designing a mascot; discussions on mascot training; autograph and photo opportunities with the mascots; voting for your favorite mascot; trying on mascot costumes; and a grand finale parade that features many of the mascots and animals appearing at Mascot Mania: Mascots Live. Radio Disney also will be onsite with Muppet toy giveaways, music and karaoke contests.

The NCAA Hall of Champions developed the idea for Mascot Mania: Mascots Live and the summer long mascot exhibit from an NCAA News story dated September 13, 2004. The story noted that more than 1,000 NCAA institutions have mascots or interesting nicknames, and the emblems are a source of entertainment and identity for sports fans and families.

The summer long mascot exhibit will detail the century-old stories of how schools selected their mascots, nicknames and school colors and how some traditions have changed over the years. Visitors also will have the opportunity to test their knowledge of school mascots and nicknames.