Name/Title
Bill the Goat [Photograph]Description
Original photograph from the scrapbook of Seaman Apprentice Orval Orchard Bartlow, who served aboard the USS Texas from 1928 to 1932. The photograph captures two young men with a blue "NAVY" emblazoned on their athletic jerseys, kneeling beside “Bill the Goat,” the US Naval Academy mascot, in Baltimore Memorial Stadium during the fifth game between the Navy and Notre Dame, held in on November 14, 1931. Notre Dame won 20-0.
(This picture was next to the photo depicting the Navy-Notre Dame Football Game from Seaman Apprentice Bartlow’s scrapbook).Context
In 1893, a live goat made his debut as a mascot at the fourth Army-Navy game and it was young naval officers who supplied the mids with their sea-faring pet. The USS New York dropped anchor off Annapolis and the ship’s mascot, a goat bearing the name El Cid (The Chief), was brought ashore for the service clash. The West Pointers were defeated for the third time, and the midshipmen feted El Cid along with the team.
The first service match of the 20th century brought out both teams’ traditional mascots for the first time. The mids again borrowed the goat from the USS New York and decked him out in a fine blanket with a gold "NAVY" emblazoned on both sides.