True Grit (mascot)

True Grit is the name of the mascot at UMBC. True Grit appears in two forms: Both as a statue in front of the Retriever Activities Center of a Chesapeake Bay retriever and as a costumed mascot, an anthropomorphized Chesapeake Bay retriever. The latter can typically be seen in attire of whatever sport he is currently attending; this is most often basketball or lacrosse.

History

The Chesapeake Bay retriever is the state dog of Maryland and has been the mascot of UMBC since weeks after its founding in 1966.^[1] The costumed mascot was alternately known as "Fever the Retriever" in the late 1990s. The University also once had a live mascot, upon whom the True Grit statue is based, named Campus Sam.^[2] At the beginning of the 2008 fall semester, a Chesapeake Bay retriever puppy was chosen as a new mascot. He attends many athletic events and an online poll was held on the Retriever Activities Center website to choose his name, which was ultimately decided as "Gritty".

The costumed mascot has been fairly consistent throughout the years, with one notable exception. At convocation at the beginning of the 2002-2003 academic year, a new mascot costume was unveiled that was quite different from the previous costume. This mascot was active throughout the rest of the school year, but following that year a familiar-looking mascot returned--the new costume was similar to the first edition with a slightly darker brown coat.

References

↑ "Traditions and Spirit Groups". UMBC Retrievers official website. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
↑ "A Brief Early History of UMBC". UMBC Founders Oral History Project. Retrieved April 29, 2011.

External links

http://www.umbcretrievers.com

UMBC Retrievers men's basketball

Venues	Retriever Activities Center (1973–present)

Culture & lore	True Grit Dawg Pound

People	Head coaches

Seasons	1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Academics

Athletics

Teams	Baseball Basketball Lacrosse Soccer Cross Country Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field Volleyball

Facilities	Retriever Soccer Park The Baseball Factory Field at UMBC UMBC Aquatic Complex UMBC Stadium

Campus

Landmarks	Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery Earl and Darielle Linehan Concert Hall The Commons CERA Erickson Field Giffen Hill Joseph Beuys Sculpture Park Retriever Activities Center The Silo Spring Grove Hospital Center Research Park

Communities	Arbutus Baltimore Beechfield Catonsville Ellicott City Irvington Oaklee Oella Yale Heights

Transportation	UMBC Transit MTA (Line 77, Line 35) Halethorpe (MARC station) BWI Airport (Amtrak) Baltimore Light Rail

Centers

People

Student life

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