Bill the Goat (Mascot)

Bill the Goat, also known as Billy Goat, is the mascot of the United States Naval Academy. The mascot is a live goat and is also represented by a costumed midshipman. A bronze statue called "Navy Bill" of the goat resides in the north end zone of Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.

The Navy Monkey (which was really a gorilla) was the first Navy mascot. It was the favorite animal of U.S. Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft. During the administration of President James K. Polk, in 1845, Bancroft established the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. Bancroft's favorite animal, the monkey stayed the primary Navy mascot—along with a cat—from 1847 to 1851. In the late 1800s, goats began first appearing as a Navy mascot. Goats were an integral part of Navy life since livestock was often kept aboard some sea-going naval vessels to provide sailors with food, milk, eggs and, in some cases, pets.

The first Bill the Goat appeared in 1893 when a live goat made his debut as a mascot at the fourth Army-Navy football game. The USS New York dropped anchor off Annapolis and the ship’s mascot, a goat bearing the name El Cid (The Chief) who was a pet of some of the naval officers, was brought ashore for the service clash. The West Pointers were defeated for the third time, and the Navy midshipmen feted El Cid along with the team. Since 1893, there have been a series of live Bill the Goats represented at Navy events, particularly the annual Army-Navy college football games. A team of Navy midshipmen called Team Bill gussie him up on football game days with a thorough brushing, and tape his horns blue and gold. He struts about the sideline wearing a jacket bearing Navy’s emblem, attracting his own celebrity following.

Throughout Bill the Goat's existence, he has been a subject of occasional kidnapping plots, which have occurred multiple times since 1953. Most of the kidnappings were undertook by sporting rivals of the Navy, usually by the Army, but also by Air Force, Maryland, Johns Hopkins, Columbia and St. John’s College. Bill the Goat lives on a top-secret farm with other retired or training mascots. Because of the kidnapping occurences and attempts, Navy officials no longer disclose where Bill is housed and the military service academies have a formal truce against mascot stealing.