Saint Joseph High School ditches Indians, announces new mascot

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- After months of deliberation, Saint Joseph High School in South Bend has announced a new mascot. Formally known as the Saint Joseph Indians, they will now compete under the flag of the Saint Joseph Huskies.

"We are especially grateful to the Mascot Adoption Committee, who worked tirelessly to seek input from our school community, evaluate data from each survey, and carefully consider all mascot options," the school said in a letter to alumni. 

That committee had to decide between three options: Buffalo, Huskies, and Rams.

"On Feb. 21, J2 Marketing presented the case for each of the three finalists to the Mascot Adoption Committee, which engaged in a robust and thoughtful evaluation of each, considered survey data, community feedback, and how each mascot embodied the school’s core values and animating principle," the school said.

"While all three finalists exhibited positive attributes, after thorough debate, the Mascot Adoption Committee recommended to the School Board that Saint Joseph High School adopt Huskies as the new mascot. The School Board unanimously accepted this recommendation."

School officials say now that a new mascot has been chosen, the next step is to develop the design.

"We will continue to work with our partner, J2 Marketing, and look forward to unveiling the look and feel of the Saint Joe Huskies in the months ahead," the school said. "By Fall 2024, we will introduce new spirit wear, team gear, and merchandise available for the Saint Joe family."

Last month, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and its Four Winds Casinos donated $100,000 to support the retiring and re-branding of the school’s mascot.

Check out the school's announcement video here.