INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—He is the Butler Bulldog, Indy’s four-legged ambassador, the undisputed State Dawg, a model among all live mascots, and now, Butler Blue IV has assumed yet another title: the Mayor of March.

As the entirety of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament descends upon the city and state this March, including games at Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse, Blue is stepping up to make sure his followers around the country don’t miss a minute of the Madness.

“Blue already represents all of the best parts of NCAA Basketball,” said Evan Krauss, Blue’s handler and Senior Marketing Manager at Butler. “Combine that with the love of his hometown, Indianapolis, and you have a slam dunk.”

Blue will employ a four-paw’d approach as the Mayor of March, acting as part host, part ambassador, part reporter, and part college hoops fanatic. So, in addition to his prolific presence on social media, the young English bulldog will be readily visible around Indianapolis during the month. 

As a Dawg about town, Blue will attend fan rallies hosted by Indiana Sports Corp., participate in community events organized by Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, extend hospitality to guests and visiting media with Visit Indy, and much more.

But the I-465 loop won’t be fencing this Dawg in. With opening-round games in Bloomington and West Lafayette, Blue will also load up the BlueMobile and hit the road. From north to south, Blue will be out to get the scoops on hoops while capturing the sights, sounds, and smells of March from the Hoosier state.

“Our live Bulldog mascots are no strangers to road trips,” Krauss said. “We’ve covered thousands of miles over the last several years on the heels of the Butler Basketball team to surprise prospective students, visit alumni, and spread some Butler cheer. This is a continuation of that, but with a special focus on our own backyard. I think Blue was born for March in Indy!”

And born not long ago, Blue made his campus debut before a Butler Men’s Basketball game on January 24, 2020, with a sold-out Hinkle Fieldhouse crowd in attendance. Now, that same historic hoops cathedral will play host to first- and second-round games, as well as a share of the Sweet Sixteen matchups for this year’s NCAA Tournament. 

One of just six game sites, Butler University is proud to have Hinkle serve in such a prominent capacity for this year’s Tournament. And known for its NCAA Tournament success in recent years, including consecutive Final Four and national championship game appearances in 2010 and 2011, Butler is embracing it’s latest role as a host of Tournament play.

Fans are encouraged to follow @TheButlerBlue and #MayorOfMarch on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for additional Butler Blue IV content.
 

About the Butler Blue Live Mascot Program
An idea was born the first time a bulldog shimmied into the offices of the Butler Collegian in 1919. The idea would lift the spirits of the student body and instill pride in alumni for decades. Today, the idea is stronger than ever. Since 2000, Butler Blue has been the face of Butler University, a champion of education, an advocate for the arts and sciences, a fervent supporter of student-athletes, and cultural influencer. Butler Blue is, and always will be, the four-legged embodiment of The Butler Way.
 

Media Contact:
Mark Apple
Interim Director of Strategic Communications
mapple1@butler.edu
317-519-8592
 

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Butler Blue IV, official mascot of Butler University, proclaims himself the Mayor of March

TO ALL WHOM THESE HOOPS MAY COME, GREETINGS:

WHEREAS, the State of Indiana, and primarily the City of Indianapolis, will host the entirety of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, thus becoming the epicenter of March Madness^®.

WHEREAS, I, Butler Blue IV, am an AKC-registered, live English bulldog mascot representing Butler University, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the fourth in succession among a line of nationally recognized Butler Bulldog mascots.

WHEREAS, I, Butler Blue IV, am the host of hosts; the heartwarming host of Hinkle Fieldhouse, and the honorable hoops host to hardwood hobbyists around the globe.

WHEREAS, I, Butler Blue IV, am an ambassador, or Ambassa-Dawg, officially representing my school, my city, my state, and my game as doggy diplomat.

WHEREAS, I, Butler Blue IV, am a reporter, or repawter, offering scoops on hoops, along with ears-up, eyes-wide, nose-to-the-ground, and tail-wagging observations of collegiate mascot life.

WHEREAS, I, Butler Blue IV, a bone-a-fide college hoops fanatic, a beast of brackets, mongrel of madness, Dawg of dunks, rover of rebounds, pupper of put-backs, and bully of buzzer-beaters.

WHEREAS, Butler University, home of historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, is a nationally recognized university, rated by U.S. News as the No. 1 Regional University in the Midwest and No. 1 Most Innovative School, featuring six academic colleges, and known for small class sizes, student access to faculty, real-world internships experiences, research opportunities, and an educational experience that provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in life after college.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BUTLER BLUE IV, OFFICIAL MASCOT OF BUTLER UNIVERSITY, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MYSELF TO BE:

MAYOR OF MARCH

On the campus of Butler University, in the City of Indianapolis, throughout the State of Indiana, and wherever college hoops are revered and celebrated, I ask all fans of basketball to join in this observance.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I HAVE
HEREUNTO SET MY PAW AND CAUSED TO
BE AFFIXED THE SEAL OF THE
MAYOR OF MARCH ON THIS 1ST DAY OF
MARCH IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY ONE.

BUTLER BLUE IV
MAYOR OF MARCH
MASCOT, BUTLER UNIVERSITY