ETSU President Brian Noland gives Bucky the Buccaneer a birthday cake during Saturday's surprise birthday bash for the university's beloved mascot. The university marked the event with the unveiling of a new bronze Buccaneer statue next to William B. Greene Jr. Stadium.
ETSU President Brian Noland gives Bucky the Buccaneer a birthday cake during Saturday's surprise birthday bash for the university's beloved mascot. The university marked the event with the unveiling of a new bronze Buccaneer statue next to William B. Greene Jr. Stadium.
BRANDON PAYKAMIAN/SIX RIVERS MEDIA
ETSU President Brian Noland gives Bucky the Buccaneer a birthday cake during Saturday's surprise birthday bash for the university's beloved mascot. The university marked the event with the unveiling of a new bronze Buccaneer statue next to William B. Greene Jr. Stadium.
BRANDON PAYKAMIAN/SIX RIVERS MEDIA
ETSU President Brian Noland reads a birthday proclamation for ETSU mascot Bucky Saturday marking the unveiling of a new Buccaneer statue on campus.Â
East Tennessee State University celebrated the birthday of its beloved mascot Bucky on Saturday with the unveiling of a new 8-foot-tall bronze Buccaneer statue.
The surprise reveal of the new campus landmark was made possible through an anonymous gift to the university, according to ETSU leaders. The event was attended by hundreds of students, alumni, faculty and campus community members during ETSU’s Preview activities to welcome new students to campus this fall semester.
ETSU leaders said the statue marks the conclusion of phase two renovations to University Commons near ETSU’s William B. Greene Jr. Stadium.
ETSU Student Government Association President Shelby Koerten said the statue is a perfect finishing touch to ETSU’s University Commons green space created in 2021, a main gathering point for students and fans on game day.
“It’s a really great way to cap it off,†she said. “It’s the perfect location because it’s right by our stadium. As people are on their way to game day, they get to pass this shining example of our Buccaneer pride.â€
The birthday unveiling event also featured appearances from ETSU’s Cheer and Dance teams and ETSU President Brian Noland, who issued a proclamation to mark the occasion. Noland and other ETSU leaders said they hope the statue will become a new “Instagrammable†spot on ETSU’s main campus.
“This statue is more than a tribute to our mascot – it’s a lasting symbol of Buccaneer pride,†Noland said ahead of the unveiling.
The unveiling comes before ETSU’s football home opener against Murray State on Saturday, Aug. 30.
