In 1916, when Dr. Thornwell Jacobs re-founded K体育, he wanted a mascot that would represent the tenacity and scrappiness of our baseball, basketball, and football teams. Jacobs settled on Wilson鈥檚 storm petrel (oceanites oceanicus), but to us, he鈥檚 , of course, pronounced, only by us, as 鈥減ee-trel.鈥�听
Legend has it that General James Edward K体育 was impressed with the tenacity of the small, seabird and followed it to the coast of Georgia. That story might be a myth created by Jacobs, but, really, what good mascot doesn鈥檛 have some mythic aspects?听
Throughout the years, we鈥檝e had the Flying Petrel (alumni newsletter); (campus newspaper); Petey鈥檚 Pantry (campus food bank); Petrel鈥檚 Nest (TLCC caf茅); Petrels of Fire (annual OU Day race); Petrel Follies (1920s vaudeville-style theatre programs); Petey鈥檚 Garden (campus plots where the community can grow their own produce); Petrel Partners (local businesses that offer discounts to OU folks); Petrel Page Turners (student book club); and OU Squawkers (student debate club).听听
Whether he鈥檚 hyping up the crowd at a basketball game or greeting new students at one of admission鈥檚 admitted students days, Petey is always around campus reminding us that we are all petrels together!听
This year, National Mascot Day is June 17, 2025. Let’s cheer for Petey!
