Bill the Goat

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Bill the Goat

Bill the Goat is the mascot of the United States Naval Academy. The mascot is a live goat and is also represented by a costumed midshipman. There is also a bronze statue of the goat just inside Gate 1, the main gate to the Academy grounds. This statue also plays a role in "Army Week" traditions.

The first Bill the Goat appeared in 1893. Currently, Bill XXXI reigns as the 34th mascot and is the 30th goat to be named Bill. Its backup is Bill XXXII.

1 The legend of Bill the Goat
2 The early years
3 Many goats, one mission
4 The kidnapping of Bill
5 Team Bill
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] The legend of Bill the Goat

In the 1880s, ships sailed with livestock in order to provide sailors with fresh food.

There is a legend that a Navy ship sailed with a pet goat. The goat died during the cruise. The officers preserved the skin, to have it mounted when they returned to port.

Two young ensigns were entrusted with the skin. On the way to the taxidermist, they stopped by the United States Naval Academy to watch a football game. At half time, one ensign decided to dress up in the goat skin. The crowd appreciated the effort. Navy won the game and the victory was attributed to the late, lamented goat.

[edit] The early years

In 1893, however, a live goat named El Cid made his debut as a mascot at the fourth Army-Navy game. El Cid was a gift to the Brigade of Midshipmen from officers of the USS New York. The goat helped Navy win 6-3 over Army that year, so he was adopted as part of the team.

There were other mascots in those years, including two cats, a bulldog, and a carrier pigeon. However, the goat has served without interruption since 1904.

In the early 1900s, the beloved mascot was finally given a name. On the return trip to the Naval Academy after Annapolis' triumph over West Point, the goat was led on a victory lap through the train and did not leave the midshipmen until they reached Baltimore.

It was then that the goat was given the name "Bill", which was the same name of a pet goat kept by Commander Colby M. Chester, Commandant of Midshipmen, from 1891-1894. [1]

[edit] Many goats, one mission

In 1968 Bill XVI, a gift from the United States Air Force Academy, died of accidental poisoning after weed killer was sprayed too closely to his pen.
Bill XVII, met the same fate in 1971
Bill XIX and Bill XX died of natural causes after each served three years of faithful service, in 1975 and 1978 respectively
In 1978, Bill XXI led the midshipmen to a victorious season, including a 23-16 victory over Brigham Young University. He is also credited with two Navy wins over Army.
Bill XXVIII reigned from October 1995 until his death in November 2001, when he was succeeded by Bill XXIX.

[edit] The kidnapping of Bill

Bill at the 2004 Army-Navy Game.

On November 5, 1995, a month before the Army-Navy football game, a group of seniors from the West Point staged a pre-dawn raid on the Naval Academy dairy farm in Gambrills, Maryland and kidnapped Bill the Goat XXVI, XXVIII and XXIX. The Pentagon was notified, and the three goats were returned under a policy forged by general officers of the Army and Navy that stipulates that the "kidnapping of cadets, midshipmen or mascots will not be tolerated".

The first recorded kidnapping of Bill in modern times was accomplished on a raid by three Air Force Academy (AFA) cadets a month prior to the first Air Force/Navy football game in 1960. Bill was flown to the AFA in the bomb bay of an Air Force B-26, where he resided on a farm until Naval intelligence tracked him to Colorado. The superintendent of the AFA learned of the mission through intimidation of the Cadet Wing, and forced the return of Bill to Annapolis. The event was reported by several national media outlets, including Life, at the time.

[edit] Team Bill

In addition to the costumed mascot, a live goat attends the United States Naval Academy football games. There are several goats and backup goats that are cared for by midshipmen of "Team Bill".