The creation of artistic duo FASTWURMS, in partnership with then-graduate students Nicole Vogelzang and Dustin Wilson, the 5-meter-tall brass Gryphon statue sitting on the edge of campus has become a frequently photographed landmark for students and community members alike since its unveiling at the University’s 50th anniversary in 2014.
Modelled after the popular Guelph Gryphon mascot, while the statue is relatively young, many may not know that our mascot, Gryph, is as old as the university itself. Despite this growing age, his origins are still a bit of a mystery when compared to other collegiate mascots.
While the Ontario Agricultural College had previously held its own mascot (the Redmen, which featured a Native man as the symbol), upon the amalgamation of the colleges a new mascot was chosen.
Originally a nickname for the softball team by 1967, for reasons not quite known, Gryphons as a school-wide nickname began to grow in popularity prompting a vote that would see the student body adopt the moniker formally. Some say it was due to the successes of the school’s teams who held the name, while others attribute it to the Gryphon in mythology representing strength and fidelity.
Whatever the reason and inspiration, the mystery only serves to add additional intrigue to the history of the beloved mascot.