Klawz - The Official Mascot of UNC Athletics
Klawz is the newest addition to the long line of Bears' mascots
over the years at the University of Northern Colorado. He was
recruited after Gunter Bear became exhausted from his duties and
retired which left some big shoes to fill. Klawz made his first
appearance in Nottingham Field on August 30, 2003 before the UNC
football team opened their season against New Mexico Highlands.
Klawz has been providing spirit to the UNC athletes and student
body ever since.
Not unlike other college mascots, the bear has represented the
University of Northern Colorado for over half a century. In the
late 1940's the mascot for UNC was the teacher but the University
felt that this only represented a segment of their now rapidly
expanding student body so they decided to make a dramatic change.
Bears have been in Colorado since neolithic times and have been
revered for their tremendous strength and ferocity, as well as
their knowledge and wisdom of the natural world. The University
decided the bear was a much more suitable mascot and has since
promoted the image of UNC through the mighty bear.
Bears are very spiritual creatures that depict the raw purity of
nature. There are several myths throughout the world that are
associated with bears and nearly every culture displays some form
of early bear cult or rituals. In Scandinavia, it was believed that
if a warrior were to don the skin of a bear which had been treated
in oils and herbs, they would gain the bears strength, stamina and
power. It is said these warriors were driven into such frenzy that
they were capable of biting through their enemy's shields and
walking through fire without injury. This bear skin was called a
bear-sark and from this originated the word berserk in the English
language. There is even a constellation devoted to the bear; Ursa
Major and Ursa Minor are the gigantic bears made up of distant
stars that prowl the night sky.
Colorado is home to the black bear, a smaller distant cousin of
the brown bear. There is also a small population of brown bears in
Colorado but they are very rare and on the verge of disappearing in
the lower 48 states. Brown bears are enormous creatures weighing
between 300 and 860 pounds and standing nearly eight-feet-tall when
on two legs.
If you would like Klawz to make an appearance at your event,
please contact UNC Marketing Department at (970) 351-2185.
