Mississippi State names bulldog mascot after Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. ‘It’s humbling.’
Mississippi State officially introduced their newest live English bulldog mascot at halftime of the 2023 spring football game on Saturday, and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was on hand for the crowning of his namesake.
“Jak,” the retiring mascot, worked the first half of the spring game before handing over the harness to “Dak” during halftime ceremony, all to the delight of a admittedly humbled Prescott.
“How about it?” Prescott said. “They’ve named the mascot after me, so I had to come back and see that. ... For the mascot of Mississippi State, of this university, to be named after me, it’s humbling. It’s something I hold very special to me.”
Since 1935 Mississippi State has had a tradition of selecting an English bulldog for their mascot. The Bulldogs are given the title of Bully and also given a name.
“Dak” is the 22nd bulldog to have the title Bully and derives his lineage from “Tonka” (Bully XIX) and “Champ” (Bully XX).
It’s fitting that the latest mascot was named after Prescott, who is arguably the school’s most famous and popular alumnus after becoming the most decorated football player in Mississippi State history following a three-year career as the starting quarterback from 2013-2015.
A two-time All-American and two-time first-team all-SEC quarterback, Prescott owns 38 school records.
He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Cowboys and has been the team’s starting quarterback for the past seven seasons.
This story was originally published April 17, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
