REXBURG—It took 25 years, but BYU-Idaho has a mascot again. Thor the Viking has returned. The mascot is familiar to the BYU-Idaho campus. He was the mascot when BYU-Idaho was Ricks College.
The university unveiled Thor at its Spirit Cup lighting ceremony and fireworks and drone show Friday night.
"Our team spent a lot of time talking to students, faculty and alumni to make sure we could introduce a mascot that would unify Ricks College alumni with generations of BYU-Idaho students both now and well into the future,” said Amy Renee, Vice President of Student Life, in a news release from BYU-Idaho. “We look forward to adding to the energy and school spirit by introducing Thor the Viking.”
The university says Thor will appear at events around campus, such as Spirit Week events, New Student Orientation, Date Night and other high-energy student activities. The Viking mascot will also appear on merchandise at the BYU-Idaho University Store.
An important note on the introduction of the mascot is this does not mean BYU-Idaho is returning to intercollegiate sports. Thor will, however, get his own Instagram page. You can follow his adventures at @byui_thor.