# Significance of Navy Mascot? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 10, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-navy-mascot/668468 "2013-09-10T02:23:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-navy-mascot/668468/1 "2013-09-10T02:23:22Z")
Why is the mascot of the US Navy’s sports teams the Goat? Or, ram? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-navy-mascot/668468/2 "2013-09-10T02:26:07Z")
> **[Bill the Goat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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 in the north end zone of Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. This statue also plays a role in "Army Week" traditions. > The first Bill the Goat appeared in 1893. Currently, Bill XXXVI reigns as the 39th mascot and is the 36th goat to be named Bill. His backup is Bill XXXVII. > For centuries, ships sailed with livestoc... ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-navy-mascot/668468/3 "2013-09-10T11:23:35Z")
I always figured it was because Navy Chief Petty Officers are known as old goats. The CPO Mess is always called the Goat Locker. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significance-of-navy-mascot/668468/4 "2013-09-11T21:35:54Z")
It gets mighty lonely on ships out at sea…