The University of Montana is bringing back "Otto the Slobbering Bear" this weekend, and his throwback re-emergence now gives the football team two grizzly mascots heading into Saturday's homecoming game against Cal Poly.
Otto is a cartoon bear that originated as a goofy cartoon ambassador for grizzly basketball. This weekend, Otto’s image will adorn the side of the team’s helmets, helping mark the 30th anniversary of UM’s 1995 national championship.
The logo, which features what can only be described as a bear having either the best or worst day of its life, originated in the 1970s and ’80s and once graced center court at Dahlberg Arena, but somehow never made it onto the football field.
Until now.
Name Game
The origin of the name "Otto" is peak small-town America: There used to be a car dealership in Missoula called Grizzly Auto — sounds like "Otto” — and they sponsored Montana's first in-person mascot costume for the team’s other grizzly.
Otto has since been replaced by Monte (short for Montana), who has achieved what Otto is just now experiencing: fan recognition.
Monte was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame last year and has won a couple of national mascot championships. All performers inside the Monte suit on the sidelines are gymnasts, so instead of doing push-ups like other mascots, Monte does cartwheels and flips.
When asked if there was tension between Monte and Otto over Otto getting the spotlight, Eric Taber, the team’s communication director, laughed it off.
Last year's Hall of Fame induction brought together all the students who'd worn the Monte costume over the years — "It's sort of a fraternity," Taber said, before correcting himself: “We've had one female wear the costume — I think one or two.
Why Change?
The university's original colors were maroon and silver, adopted in 1905. But in the 1960s, as Taber put it, there was "a hodgepodge of different teams wearing different colors" with "not a lot of organization."
Enter Jack Swarthout, a Montana alumnus who'd coached at Texas and wanted to flash something more like the burnt orange of Longhorn fame. He chose copper, silver and gold to honor Montana's mining history.
"The legend goes," Taber said, “is that we were in the triple option and he wanted to have those orange jerseys because they look the same color as a football. So nobody knows where the football is."
The copper and gold era peaked in 1995 when head coach Don Read led the Grizzlies to their first national championship.
And then, in a move that still has grizzlies scratching their heads, the university changed everything back to maroon and silver the following year.
"’'What the hell?'" Taber said. "Everything's going great, you win a national championship for the first time, and then the year after that you do a total rebrand. That's a pretty wild decision for any marketing person or any organization to make."
Going Viral
The throwback uniforms were revealed Monday on social media and have racked up more than 3 million views. The response has been mostly positive, said Taber.
The university rolled out a full line of throwback merchandise featuring Otto's slobbering mug on everything from T-shirts to sweaters. However, no soft and cuddly stuffed Otto bears will be available during homecoming.
The Grizzlies (5-0) will wear the uniforms Saturday at 2 p.m. when they clash with the Cal Poly Mustangs at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The homecoming theme is "Party Like It's 1995" — and that apparently means wear a helmet graced with a cartoon depiction of a slobbering bear.
Otto’s image has inspired passionate reactions online, with some fans divided over whether Otto is adorable or appalling.
One enthusiastic poster on the eGriz fan forum delivered perhaps the most detailed defense of the logo: "No way, dude. That's the best logo in all of sports. Very unique. Reared up and ready to swat. The slobber. Teeth. Claws. Scruff. It's got it all and it's perfect. He looks cross-eyed and pissed off. Not a big tattoo fan, but if I ever got one, this would be it."
Not everyone feels love for Otto.
On the uniform analysis site Uni Watch, reactions ranged from "I love the colors, but am not thrilled with the cartoon bear" to the succinct dismissal: "That bear will make their rivals laugh. Awful."
One commenter, taking the slobber as a sign of something darker than school spirit, offered this on Uni Watch: "We've had Cocaine Bear… introducing Meth Bear!"
David Madison can be reached at david@cowboystatedaily.com.
