Why the Beavers?

In the late 1920s A.C. Burcky, long-time coach and athletic director, suggested using the beaver as mascot because it represented the spirit of Bluffton student-athletes in the following ways:

  • Resourceful
  • Indefatigable (doesn't tire easily)
  • Small
  • Accomplishes more with less ("works with twigs, building up large things from small")
  • Works to leave the world a better place ("never does things any worse than its ancestors did")
    Taken from Dancing with the Kobzar, Bluffton's centennial history


Bucky Beaver, Bluffton's mascot, retired in 2007-08 after more than 20 years of service. He asked to retire with little fanfare so he could return to the banks of The Riley with little intrusion from the local paparazzi. In a recent alumnote update, he mentioned enjoying his retirement, building dams with tree limbs broken from storm damage and spending time visiting with friends on the banks near the Mennonite Home Communities of Bluffton.

More about the search for a new mascot:


 

J. Denny Beaver videos

Sports montage
Lonely mascot video 
J. Denny Beaver is introduced 
J. Denny Beaver meets J. Denny Weaver 
Merry Christmas from J. Denny 
Who is the "real" J. Denny? 
2011-2012 J. Denny Beaver "beheading"